Friday, March 13, 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

Anand: U.S., Israel have 'no blank cheque' in Iran and are bound by international law

Anand: U.S., Israel have 'no blank cheque' in Iran and are bound by international law
The United States and Israel do not have a "blank cheque" in their bombing campaign in Iran, and are still bound by international law, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said on Friday, as the war in the Middle East approaches the seven-day mark.

Anand: U.S., Israel have 'no blank cheque' in Iran and are bound by international law

Eby says OpenAI's Altman will apologize to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in wake of shootings

Eby says OpenAI's Altman will apologize to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in wake of shootings
British Columbia Premier David Eby said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has agreed to apologize to the people of Tumbler Ridge after the mass shooting by a user of the firm's technology, whose worrisome online behaviour wasn't flagged to police by the company.

Eby says OpenAI's Altman will apologize to Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in wake of shootings

Ottawa, Alberta reach prospective agreement to streamline major project assessments

Ottawa, Alberta reach prospective agreement to streamline major project assessments
Ottawa and Alberta have reached a prospective deal that they say will see major projects be approved more efficiently.

Ottawa, Alberta reach prospective agreement to streamline major project assessments

Vancouver police chase down yacht to rescue woman from 'violent suspect'

Vancouver police chase down yacht to rescue woman from 'violent suspect'
Vancouver police say they chased down a yacht in heavy seas to rescue a woman from a "violent suspect," after she called 911 and reported being attacked.

Vancouver police chase down yacht to rescue woman from 'violent suspect'

Driver flees after hitting pedestrians in Surrey, B.C., one in critical condition

Driver flees after hitting pedestrians in Surrey, B.C., one in critical condition
A man is fighting for his life after hit-and-run in the Metro Vancouver city of Surrey overnight that saw a vehicle strike two pedestrians.

Driver flees after hitting pedestrians in Surrey, B.C., one in critical condition

Chartered flights and buses helping to get Canadians out of the Middle East: Anand

Chartered flights and buses helping to get Canadians out of the Middle East: Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Friday a chartered flight is set to take 180 Canadians fleeing the Middle East war zone from Dubai to Istanbul on Saturday. 

Chartered flights and buses helping to get Canadians out of the Middle East: Anand