In these reports, CFIB looks at the budgetary situation of the federal government since 2012/2013. We examine the federal government's recurring deficits and their impact on the federal debt, which has more than doubled since 2012/2013. Additionally, we present business owners' preferred approaches to balancing the federal budget.
The federal public service plays a vital role in implementing policies and delivering services that affect Canadians’ daily lives, such as designing and administering employment insurance and old age security benefits. From 2013-2023, the federal public service has expanded by 36%, however, is such a rapid expansion economically sustainable?
Over the past decade, the size of the federal public service has surged, growing by 36% between 2013 and 2023. While one might expect such a significant expansion of the federal workforce to result in improved services for Canadians and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), that has not been the case.
This report dives into BC’s regional district spending growth since 2018, with a focus on the growing cost of bureaucracy and lack of oversight mechanisms. Its main findings reveal varying administrative spending between regional districts that, on average, largely outpace major economic benchmarks.
British Columbia’s financial balance sheet is currently dripping in red ink with mounting operating deficits. Elected officials will find themselves hard-pressed to chart a path back to balanced budgets over the near term, especially in the middle of the U.S.-Canada trade war, a sluggish economy, and volatile small business confidence.