Jean-Denis Frechette, parliamentary budget officer, is pictured in Ottawa on Sept. 20, 2013. (Dave Chan For The Globe and Mail) Jean-Denis Frechette, parliamentary budget officer, is pictured in Ottawa on Sept. 20, 2013. (Dave Chan For The Globe and Mail)

OTTAWAThe Canadian Press

Published Thursday, Mar. 09, 2017 10:00AM EST

Last updated Thursday, Mar. 09, 2017 10:29AM EST

The parliamentary budget watchdog says it cant find billions in new infrastructure spending that is supposed to be in key federal spending projections released earlier this month.

The main spending estimates for the next 12 months were supposed to include $8 billion in new infrastructure spending, but a report this morning from parliamentary budget officer Jean-Denis Frechette says the documents only show $5.5 billion in infrastructure allocations.

The report lists multiple reasons for the missing $2.5 billion, including that the Liberals may defer some intended spending to future years.

For subscribers: To paint a rosy portrait of the Liberals federal budget, Morneau will have to get crafty

Another reason cited in the report is that the spending estimates are presented in such a complicated way that Frechettes office couldnt find the money.

The report is the latest in a series of studies from the PBO that have raised critical questions about the infrastructure program that is supposed to be a pillar of the governments economic growth strategy.

The report predicts that the Liberals will only be able to spend half of their planned federal infrastructure money this fiscal year.

March 22 federal budget will focus on job growth: Morneau (The Canadian Press)

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Liberal spending estimates short $2.5-billion on infrastructure: PBO - The Globe and Mail