C.D. Howe report: Federal Expenditure Review Welcome, But Flawed
A new C.D. Howe Institute report says the federal government’s planned spending review is too limited in scope, effectively covering only about one-third of program spending. The analysis by John Lester estimates the plan will save no more than $22 billion annually by 2028/29, far short of the roughly $50 billion that is needed for long-term fiscal stability. The report argues the review should include all forms of spending, even tax-based measures, and shift from across-the-board cuts to targeted reductions in underperforming programs. Without these changes, the report warns, the review will fail to meaningfully improve the country’s fiscal trajectory.
