Budget watchdog says federal debt is "something to worry about"

The anchors are really more like traffic lights instead of an anchor that holds down spending.

— Annette Ryan, parliamentary budget officer

Ryan projects Ottawa will miss its target of balancing the operating budget by 2027-28 by a year. Debt-servicing charges are "the fastest-growing piece of government spending right now", she said.

Going to Crown corporations, loans and special funds

400 $ billion

A $400-billion difference will go to Crown corporations, loans and special funds a step removed from parliamentary oversight, Ryan said.

Ottawa

The federal government tables its budget on Nov 5, and Ryan says she will look first at the deficit over the medium term.