Liberal cabinet members are refusing to respond when pressed on when they will release the national deficit numbers, which are projected to grossly miss targets. The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) this week said the Liberals have missed deficit targets by $6.8 billion. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland promised the deficit would not surpass $40.1 billion. The Fall Economic Statement, due December 31, is usually published in October or November. The Liberals will not say when it will be published, but insist they will make the year-end deadline. Freeland and Treasury Board President Anita Anand this week faced increased pressure from opposition MPs and the press to release the statement and own up to the deficit. Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie at the Commons Government Operations Committee on Tuesday, after listing billions in frivolous Liberal spending, grilled Anand on the PBO’s deficit projection. “This is the most expensive government in the history of Canada,” said Kusie. “Your government has been completely irresponsible. You are the one minister who holds the purse strings. I'm actually shocked the prime minister gave you another job, considering the responsibility that you hold as president of the treasury board.”“Your effort should be entirely focused here on reducing the deficit.”“From April to September of this year, the deficit is already $8.2 billion higher than it was the year before. The PBO said that you will miss the deficit target by $6.8 billion.”“Is this number accurate?”After citing a succession of Liberal platitudes, Kusie interjected and told Anand if she knows the number, she would tell Canadians.”“We are definitely engaged with departments of the government,” replied Anand, shifting blame to Freeland’s finance department. Anand promised “the public accounts would be delivered by the end of the year.”. Conservative MP Adam Chambers in the Commons on Tuesday pointed out Freeland last year “made a commitment that the deficit would be no greater than $40.1 billion,” and asked the finance minister to confirm she met the target or “has broken yet another deficit promise.”Freeland did not acknowledge the deficit question, and instead responded by touting the Liberals GST tax holiday, so working moms can save the 40 cents on a rotisserie chicken on their way home from work..The finance minister at a press conference Tuesday evening was further pressed by reporters on the Liberals withholding the economic statement.After a reporter pushed Freeland for answers on “why” the numbers haven’t been published, Freeland responded “the public accounts will be published this year.”“As for the Fall Economic Statement, I don’t have an announcement to make about that today," said Freeland. Long pause.“We are very keen to deliver a Fall Economic Statement,” she said but blamed the delay on the parliamentary filibuster.“They’ll be published this year.”“We’ll present the full fiscal picture when we release the Fall Economic Statement.
