Tories Promise to Cut Consultant Spending, Liberals Say This Election ‘Most Consequential'
As advance polling entered the third day on April 20, the Conservatives pledged to eliminate the '
Speaking at a
'Ten billion dollars less for high-priced consultants means $10 billion less inflation means $10 billion more affordable life for Canadians,' the Tory leader told reporters.
The move is part of the broader plan to end the 'out-of-control inflationary spending' by the Liberal government in the past decade and to 'bring home affordable prices and food for all Canadians,' he said.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) reported in 2023 that
–
23, with the largest spendings in categories such as engineering and architectural services, business services, information services, health and welfare services, and management consulting.
Poilievre said 'overspending' by the Liberal government has driven up taxes as well as food and housing costs.
Related Stories
4/19/2025
4/19/2025
'Inflation is what happens when governments spend money they don't have, so they just print the cash. More money bidding on a fixed supply of goods equals higher prices for everything,' he said.
Statistics Canada on April 15
Besides capping spending, Poilievre pledged he would get rid of the Impact Assessment Act, previously known as
'We will unleash our economy by removing anti-development laws, red tape, and destructive taxes to add a half a trillion dollars of extra economic growth over the next five years,' he said. His proposals will generate an extra $70 billion in tax revenue, 'without higher taxes, but instead using higher growth,' he added.
The amount, Poilievre said, was a number
Poilievre also took aim at the
'A fourth Liberal government would bring in a quarter trillion dollars of additional debt. That's inflationary debt that will drive up the cost of food, housing, and everything else you buy,' the Conservative leader said.
Carney's platform forecasts adding some $225 billion to the federal debt over the same four-year period. The Liberal leader had defended the proposal during his platform announcement, saying it is 'not a normal fall update, budget lockup.'
'We are in the middle of the biggest crisis of our lifetimes, and this is a plan that meets that moment in a way that is very prudent with people's hard-earned tax dollars, but bold in terms of where this country can go,' Carney said while at a campaign stop in Whitby, Ontario, on April 19.
Carney commented that the Liberal government had been 'spending too much' previously and promised he would bring down the growth of federal spending from 9 percent to 2 percent.
'Most Consequential'
On Sunday afternoon, April 20, Carney held a
In line with remarks made at previous campaign stops, the Liberal leader framed the upcoming election as a critical moment for Canada's future, repeating one of his key lines—that 'we're in a crisis' because Canada's 'old relationship [with the United States] is over,' due to the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
'This is the most consequential vote of our lifetimes,' Carney told supporters. 'We need a leader who can stand up to [Trump].'
At one point during the rally, Carney touted his achievements as prime minister, such as ending the federal
Carney's campaign on the same day issued a
A day earlier, speaking at a
Poilievre has a press conference scheduled on Monday morning, April 21.
'Price Gouging'
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was in Victoria, B.C., on Sunday, where he promised to put 'emergency price caps' on food essentials and to legislate protections against what his party views as 'unjustified markups on Canadian goods' that constitute 'price gouging.'
'If you're raising prices on Canadian goods when the producers haven't changed a thing—that's not inflation. That's gouging,' Singh said in a
Singh's plan also includes a mandatory 'Grocery Code of Conduct,' which his party said will 'hold big retailers accountable and ensure workers aren't penalized.'
The NDP will also impose a 'windfall tax on grocery profits,' among the changes that the party said will be included in the first federal budget after the election if the NDP is elected to form government.
Chandra Philip contributed to this report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Financial fragility is deepening': Canadian credit card data for Q1 show growing strain
Signs of deteriorating credit health among the most financially vulnerable Canadians are a 'flashing signal,' credit analytics firm FICO says. New credit card data for the first quarter of 2025 show an increasing reliance on credit cards and more Canadians having trouble paying their balances, FICO says, with issues most pronounced among younger and 'thin-file' borrowers — people without much of a credit history. 'Consumers with fewer banking relationships — particularly younger individuals or those relying solely on credit products — are under increasing pressure,' FICO's report says. 'The surge in serious delinquencies among monoline borrowers' — people with credit cards issued by firms that don't offer other banking services — 'is a flashing signal: financial fragility is deepening where there is the least cushion.' Economists at financial institutions and the Bank of Canada (BoC) have been paying close attention to Canadians' spending and credit health as ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. roil the economy. In a speech in early June, BoC deputy governor Sharon Kozicki noted that credit card data is one way the Bank can better understand Canadians' 'real-time spending patterns.' FICO's data show Canadians are paying down less of their credit card balances on average, and note that 'average balances remain elevated' and are rising again from COVID-era lows, when spending was generally restrained. On average, Canadians repaid just over 47 per cent of their balances in March, down from a pandemic peak of 60 per cent in September 2022. Balances have risen to $3,098 from $2,938 during the pandemic. 'Although still below pre-pandemic highs, the recent upward trajectory signals renewed pressure on household finances, potentially from rising living costs or shifting spending habits,' FICO's report said. FICO notes that the rising balances aren't a consequence of higher spending — average monthly spending was down 4.2 per cent from the same period last year, to $1,549, which FICO says 'reflects more cautious consumer behaviour or financial constraint as households rebalance their budgets.' Overall, rates of missed payments are 'broadly stable,' FICO says, but risks are concentrated in some borrower segments. Those missing a single payment was up eight per cent from last year, which FICO says 'points to the beginning of strain among a growing portion of the population.' Among monoline borrowers, who can have lower credit ratings, FICO notes a 'key turning point' in January, when the proportion missing two or more payments hit a five-year high. 'This spike highlights sustained pressure on higher-risk segments — particularly those with limited financial history, fewer products with a financial institution, or recent entry into the credit market,' FICO's report says. John MacFarlane is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on X @jmacf. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Trump's TikTok ban extension slammed by Republicans
Amber Duke and Bofta Yemam discuss President Trump facing backlash from Conservatives for extending TikTok ban for another 90 days. #TikTok #Trump #MAGA
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Rising: June 20, 2025
Trump says he'll decide whether to attack Iran within 2 weeks | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yimam discuss President Trump announcing that he will make his decision whether or not to join the strikes on Iran within the next two weeks. #Israel #Iran #Trump Trump allowed to keep control of California National Guard: Appeals Court | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yimam discuss the ongoing beef between President Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) over the deployment of Nation Guard in Los Angles. #LAProtests #Newsom #Trump Trump blasts Fox News over immigration poll | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yimam discuss President Trump lashing out at Fox News over their new immigration polls. #ImmigrationCrackdown #Trump #FoxNews Report: DNC leader blasted by members; Rahm Emmanuel says committee is floundering | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yimam discuss the chaos and infighting within the DNC under its new chair Ken Martin. #Dems #DNC #KenMartin Zohran Mamdani faces backlash for 'intifada' comment, holds back tears during presser | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yimam discuss the criticism New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing over not denouncing the phrase 'globalize the intifada.' #Mamdani #NYC #MayoralRace Jasmine Crockett says people supporting Trump's moves are 'sick' | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yimam discuss a new data suggesting that conservatives are happier than liberals. #HappinessSurvey #Conservatives #Liberals Charlie Kirk tells teenager to attend college just to find a husband | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yimam discuss Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk advising a 14-year-old girl to treat college as merely an opportunity to obtain an 'MRS degree,' #CharlieKirk #MRSDegree #WomanRights Trump's TikTok ban extension slammed by Republicans | RISING Amber Duke and Bofta Yemam discuss President Trump facing backlash from Conservatives for extending TikTok ban for another 90 days. #TikTok #Trump #MAGA
