Close X
Friday, November 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Will Ottawa meet its fiscal target? Economists split as deficit tracks higher

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Mar, 2024 10:26 AM
  • Will Ottawa meet its fiscal target? Economists split as deficit tracks higher

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has pledged that the government will meet its fiscal targets in the upcoming federal budget, but economists say achieving that goal will be challenging as the deficit tracks higher. 

Amid mounting pressure to rein in spending, the Liberals unveiled new fiscal guardrails in the fall that aim to limit deficits. Among the government's promises was that this year's deficit will not exceed $40.1 billion.

In new reports previewing the federal budget, TD and Desjardins offer different takes on whether the government will meet its goal for the current fiscal year. 

TD says although the deficit appears to be tracking closer to $55 billion, it is projecting it will be capped at $40 billion. 

"I think the government has an ability to do this," said James Orlando, TD's director of economics. 

Meanwhile, Desjardins is projecting the deficit to come in at $47 billion, not far off from the parliamentary budget officer's forecast published last week. 

"When we look at the information that the government publishes, for the current fiscal year it seems as though unless there's a big surprise it will be very difficult for the federal government to meet its fiscal anchor," said Randall Bartlett, senior director of Canadian economics at Desjardins.

The PBO's projections suggest the federal deficit will grow to $46.8 billion for the current fiscal year, provided no new measures are introduced and existing temporary measures expire as scheduled.

According to the Finance Department, the federal deficit for the current fiscal year stood at $23.6 billion by the end of December.

Last month, Freeland doubled down on the government's commitment to its new spending rules during a news conference in Poland. 

"For our government, it is very, very important to invest in Canada and Canadians … and to do so in a fiscally responsible way," she said.

"We laid out in the fall economic statement some fiscal guideposts, and we will meet them."

The government is also looking to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio in 2024-25 relative to the projection in the fall economic statement, and keep deficits below one per cent of GDP beginning in 2026-27.

The federal budget, which Freeland is set to present on April 16, comes at a time when cost-of-living issues continue to dominate Canadian politics and the Conservatives maintain a healthy lead in the polls. 

The Liberal government has signalled the budget will focus on challenges facing young people, with housing topping that list. 

It's also expected to contain more details on the newly announced pharmacare program, which promises to cover contraceptive and diabetes medication. 

But does the government have any money to spend on these priorities?

Orlando said TD expects the government will have about $5- to $10 billion of fiscal room that could help fund some of their priorities. 

"This would mean that the government could either bank this amount of money and reduce the budget deficit for future years, or they could maintain their current deficit outlook. And that would mean that they would be spending a little bit more money," Orlando said. 

Both economists said the government has benefited from stronger-than-expected economic growth. At the same time, however, they noted program spending and public debt charges have risen faster than the government had projected. 

Although things are looking difficult, Bartlett said it's not impossible for the government to find a way to keep this year's deficit from rising beyond $40 billion.

For example, the federal government could sell off assets, he said. Alternatively, there could be lapsed spending — which refers to money allocated to departments that goes unspent. 

But Bartlett said those wouldn't amount to real savings.

"We need to see something more long-term in nature, as to get a sense of … if they do reach some fiscal target this year, how they're going to do it next year, and how they're going to keep doing it in the future," Bartlett said. 

MORE National ARTICLES

2 deliberately hit by car in Abbotsford

2 deliberately hit by car in Abbotsford
Two youth in Abbotsford who said they were deliberately hit by a car were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Officers were called to a neighbourhood yesterday and found the teens who said the driver struck them after a disturbance.  

2 deliberately hit by car in Abbotsford

RCMP forms team to combat extortion

RCMP forms team to combat extortion
The RCMP says it has established a national team to help co-ordinate investigations and information sharing about extortion schemes targeting South Asian businesses in B.C., Alberta and Ontario. Mounties say the team is a "nationwide alliance" of police agencies that are all investigating extortion and violent threats, which have been tied to shootings and arson. 

RCMP forms team to combat extortion

Falcon says BC United's housing plan includes rent-to-own initiative, drops taxes Victoria

Falcon says BC United's housing plan includes rent-to-own initiative, drops taxes Victoria
British Columbia's Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon is pitching a housing plan that aims to get more first-time buyers into homes, and it comes just days after Premier David Eby promised to build more affordable rental units for the middle class. Falcon says the BC United's "Fix Housing" plan includes four initiatives to reduce the high cost of housing and increase supply, which he pledges to introduce if his party takes power in this fall's election.

Falcon says BC United's housing plan includes rent-to-own initiative, drops taxes Victoria

Inadequate security led to federal breach that compromised Canadians' info: watchdog

Inadequate security led to federal breach that compromised Canadians' info: watchdog
The federal privacy watchdog says government departments lacked adequate protections to prevent a cyberbreach that compromised the sensitive information of tens of thousands of Canadians. In a report tabled today, privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne describes how the lapse at the Canada Revenue Agency and Employment and Social Development Canada in summer 2020 allowed hackers to fraudulently collect payments.

Inadequate security led to federal breach that compromised Canadians' info: watchdog

Business council forecasts slower growth of 0.7 per cent in B.C. ahead of budget

Business council forecasts slower growth of 0.7 per cent in B.C. ahead of budget
A new report ahead of next week's B.C. budget is forecasting slower economic growth for the province this year. The Business Council of British Columbia says "lacklustre" growth globally, high interest rates and weak private-sector job and investment numbers all add up to "a drag on prosperity" in 2024.

Business council forecasts slower growth of 0.7 per cent in B.C. ahead of budget

Canada-led NATO mission gets boost

Canada-led NATO mission gets boost
The federal government is spending more than $273 million to acquire new military equipment for NATO's Canada-led battle group in Latvia. That includes $227.5 million for a short-range air defence system from Saab Canada Inc., intended to defend against fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and drones, and another $46 million for counter-drone equipment.

Canada-led NATO mission gets boost