BCBC Statement on Delayed Federal Budget

The federal government’s initial decision on May 14th to forgo a 2025 budget was deeply concerning. While the reversal to deliver a budget this fall is welcome, the very long delay remains unacceptable given the fiscal year begins on April 1. 

Federal budgets are typically released in March or April. Substantially delaying this year’s budget marks a significant departure from that norm. At a time when Canadians are closely watching their own household and business budgets, government transparency and leadership are more important than ever. 

This will be the second time in six years that the federal government has failed to produce a timely budget (there was no budget in 2020). In recent years, even when budgets or fiscal updates have been tabled, they have arrived late and made key information hard to find. The Fall Economic Statement of 2024 was no exception, followed shortly by the proroguing of Parliament – a decision BCBC also criticized at the time. 

To our knowledge, Canada is the only advanced country in the world where the national government is unwilling or unable to reliably disclose its plans for public spending and taxation over the coming year. 

BCBC has repeatedly called on the government to improve be more transparent about the nation’s finances. The C.D. Howe Institute rates the federal government among the worst of Canada’s senior governments for fiscal transparency over recent years, with letter grades of C (2024), D+ (2023), D+ (2022), and F (2021). 

Budgets are fundamental to parliamentary democracy and public accountability. Canadians deserve to know how their money will be spent—and whether the country is on a sustainable economic and fiscal path.