Wednesday, March 18, 2026
ADVT 
National

Details of federal spending review to be released in 'coming days'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Mar, 2026 10:20 AM
  • Details of federal spending review to be released in 'coming days'

Canadians are expected to learn soon which programs will be affected by the federal government's cost-cutting review.

Appearing before the House committee on government operations Tuesday, Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada Bill Matthews said departmental plans for programs affected by cuts should be tabled "in the coming days."

The government's Comprehensive Expenditure Review was launched in July 2025, and most ministers have been asked to find ways to cut their departments' program spending by 15 per cent over three years.

Matthews said federal organizations were told to find "operational efficiencies" and to target programs and activities that are underperforming, overlap with other programs or are not aligned with government priorities.

Appearing before the same committee today, Public Service Alliance of Canada national president Sharon DeSousa said the government needs to be honest about which programs and services will be affected.

She said cutting public services can cost taxpayers more in the long term and can lead to slower service delivery, reduced administrative capacity and stalled progress on departmental and legal obligations.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MORE National ARTICLES

Conservatives, Poilievre seek to carry convention momentum back into Parliament

Conservatives, Poilievre seek to carry convention momentum back into Parliament
Political analysts say the federal Conservatives and leader Pierre Poilievre have momentum coming off a unifying convention in Calgary but the party still has a hill to climb in Parliament to one-up Prime Minster Mark Carney and the Liberals.

Conservatives, Poilievre seek to carry convention momentum back into Parliament

Conservatives vote to keep Pierre Poilievre as leader after speech in Calgary

Conservatives vote to keep Pierre Poilievre as leader after speech in Calgary
Pierre Poilievre's position as Conservative leader was cemented Friday after 87.4 per cent of delegates voted in a mandatory leadership review to keep him at the helm of their party.

Conservatives vote to keep Pierre Poilievre as leader after speech in Calgary

Canada denied Jeffrey Epstein permission to visit B.C. in 2018: documents

Canada denied Jeffrey Epstein permission to visit B.C. in 2018: documents
The Canadian government denied convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein permission to enter the country in 2018 due to his criminal past, newly released U.S. government documents reveal.

Canada denied Jeffrey Epstein permission to visit B.C. in 2018: documents

Canadian man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting 100-plus girls in the United States

Canadian man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting 100-plus girls in the United States
A 40-year-old man from Toronto has pleaded guilty in the United States for sexually exploiting more than 100 children on social media.

Canadian man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting 100-plus girls in the United States

Conservatives converge on downtown Calgary, eager to hear from party leader Poilievre

Conservatives converge on downtown Calgary, eager to hear from party leader Poilievre
Conservatives have kicked off their national convention in Calgary focused on hope for the future and presenting a vision of a party that is united in the face of Liberal attempts to divide.

Conservatives converge on downtown Calgary, eager to hear from party leader Poilievre

Economy stalled in November, may have contracted in Q4 amid manufacturing decline

Economy stalled in November, may have contracted in Q4 amid manufacturing decline
A beleaguered manufacturing sector was weighing on the economy heading into the end of 2025, Statistics Canada said Friday.

Economy stalled in November, may have contracted in Q4 amid manufacturing decline