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Hello,
Federal cabinet ministers have been given less than two months to find about $15-billion in spending cuts.
New Treasury Board President Anita Anand gave her colleagues an Oct. 2 deadline to find the savings from existing spending plans, according to a letter obtained by The Globe and Mail.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s March budget booked the $15-billion in savings before identifying where all of those cuts would be made.
“I am seeking your support to develop proposals to achieve these targets,” Anand told fellow cabinet ministers in the letter.
“In particular, organizations should review their programming to identify where there might be duplication, programs with lower value for money, or programs that do not address top priorities of the government.”
The federal budget announced a goal of saving $7.1-billion over five years through a 15-per-cent cut to discretionary spending on consulting, professional services and travel. It also announced a planned phase-in of a 3-per-cent spending cut by departments and agencies by 2026-27, with a goal of saving $7-billion over four years.
As well, both plans are expected to produce continuing savings in future years. And Crown corporations are expected to find a combined $1.3-billion in savings over four years.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre reacted to the exclusive story from The Globe’s Bill Curry on Tuesday, saying he had no faith that the government of Justin Trudeau would follow through on the promised cuts because of its record of overspending.
“He won’t achieve the savings because he never does,” Mr. Poilievre said at a press conference in Toronto.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh pointed to outsourcing contracts Tuesday as an area where the federal government could find savings. However, Mr. Singh, whose party is supporting the minority Liberals, said he’s concerned by the direction of the spending review.
“I’m concerned that in a time when people are already feeling so squeezed, that these cuts might mean cuts to things that Canadians need,” Mr. Singh told reporters in Edmonton.
