National Defence Hit With Biggest Cut in Feds’ First Round of Spending Review

Treasury Board President Anita Anand says the spending review was based on ‘discretionary spending’ of federal departments.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces march during the Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary on July 8, 2016. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Canada’s national defence department is facing the biggest hit in federal spending reduction in the first iteration of promised cuts released by the Liberal government on Nov. 9.

Speaking at a press conference that day, Treasury Board President Anita Anand outlined her government’s plan to slash $500 million from federal spending for the current fiscal year, which runs from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.