The federal government will unveil its first budget in more than two years on April 19, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said in the House of Commons today.
"We will continue to do whatever it takes to support Canadians and Canadian businesses. And we have a plan for jobs and robust growth," Freeland said. The federal government last delivered a budget in March of 2019. This will be Freeland's first budget as finance minister; she took on the portfolio last summer after Bill Morneau's resignation. The budget is expected to provide a full accounting of all government spending through the pandemic, which has sent the deficit for the fiscal year to almost $400 billion.
It is also expected to outline the Liberals' plan to spend between $70 billion and $100 billion over the coming years on stimulus to help the economy recover. The government has said the spending plan will include measures to create a national child care system, improve skills training and build a greener economy.
This is an excerpt from the CBC published on March 23, 2020.