OTTAWA — Don’t look for any new spending or tax breaks in next week’s federal budget.
That’s the word from a senior government official, who is also dismissing any cuts to bureaucrats’ pensions, health care or education transfers.
Public servants have been girding for a battle with the Conservative government to protect their pension plans from the axe.
The March 4 budget will outline how Ottawa plans to slow its rate of spending to begin chipping away at the deficit, which will hit $56 billion this fiscal year.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he prorogued Parliament to recalibrate the government’s agenda.
The throne speech slated for March 3 will likely be the vehicle for the government’s new ideas.