The budget could be delayed for at least half an hour
Canada’s federal budget may be delayed for at least half an hour as the Conservative opposition seeks to use a procedural motion to protest a decision by the government to end a government probe into a scandal involving SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.
The budget was expected to drop just after 4 p.m. as Finance Minister Bill Morneau stood up in the federal legislature to begin his speech. The Conservatives plan to delay that by triggering a vote on an unrelated procedural motion at 3:55 p.m. That vote would happen 25 minutes later, at 4:25 p.m., according to person familiar with the plan.
“We’re certainly going to make sure that Canadians understand that what is going on in Parliament regarding Justin Trudeau’s coverup is really important to know,” Conservative Member of Parliament Lisa Raitt, said in an interview with CBC News. The budget — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s last before Canada’s next election — comes as the Liberal government has been roiled by a scandal involving SNC-Lavalin that has seen four high profile resignations.
The budget is not expected to dramatically change the country’s fiscal course. Trudeau is expected to use a revenue windfall to increase spending on social programs — and the deficit — as the economy starts to wobble.
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