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) <\/p>\n
OTTAWAThe Canadian Press <\/p>\n
Published Thursday, Mar. 09, 2017 10:00AM EST <\/p>\n
Last updated Thursday, Mar. 09, 2017 10:29AM EST <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The report lists multiple reasons for the missing $2.5 billion, including that the Liberals may defer some intended spending to future years. <\/p>\n
For subscribers: To paint a rosy portrait of the Liberals federal budget, Morneau will have to get crafty <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The report predicts that the Liberals will only be able to spend half of their planned federal infrastructure money this fiscal year. <\/p>\n
March 22 federal budget will focus on job growth: Morneau (The Canadian Press) <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Liberal spending estimates short $2.5-billion on infrastructure: PBO - The Globe and Mail<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jean-Denis Frechette, parliamentary budget officer, is pictured in Ottawa on Sept. 20, 2013. Continue reading