Liberals push deficit to $11.5B over 11 months

OTTAWA — The federal government ran a deficit of $11.5 billion over the first 11 months of its 2016-17 fiscal year, putting it well ahead of its spring budget forecast with one month to go.

The result compared with a surplus of $7.5 billion during the April-to-February period a year earlier. Not counting a $3-billion contingency cushion, Ottawa’s spring budget projected a deficit of $23 billion for 2016-17.

Robert Kavcic, senior economist at the Bank of Montreal, cautioned that the government generally runs a large deficit in March as Canadians file their tax returns and receive their refunds.

“It is going to take us closer, and the remainder is probably something that we’ve been seeing already for awhile in that a lot of the stimulus spending is taking a little bit longer to get out the door than maybe originally thought,” he said.

In a separate report Friday, the Parliamentary Budget Office forecast Ottawa will run a deficit of $20.7 billion for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

want to speak with families who may have used Tykes and Tots Day Home in Wetaskiwin.

The daycare, which has been operating since 2001, was searched by the unit and RCMP on Thursday.

Police say so far there is no information to suggest children at the daycare were involved in the child porn, but they are continuing to investigate.

Darren Reilly is accused of downloading and accessing child sexual exploitation materials. Police say he worked part time at the daycare and is also employed as a correctional peace officer.