Poilievre demands urgent economic statement from Freeland

In Canada, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has made a significant offer to allow Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to present the fall economic statement. This offer comes during a time allocated for the Conservatives to introduce their own motions in the House of Commons. Poilievre's willingness to give up two hours of this time highlights his desire for greater transparency from the government about its fiscal policies. Specifically, he wants to know if the government has adhered to its promise of capping the federal deficit at $40 billion, amidst concerns that actual figures will exceed this threshold as projected by the parliamentary budget officer. The budget officer estimates that the deficit for the previous fiscal year reached $46.8 billion, breaking the government's stated fiscal guardrail. This discrepancy raises questions about the credibility of government fiscal management and the potential implications for Canadian taxpayers. Critics argue that exceeding the deficit cap could undermine the government’s fiscal credibility and economic stability, particularly in the face of rising interest rates and inflationary pressures. In a twist to the situation, the government has responded to Poilievre's offer. A senior government official has branded the suggestion to deliver a fiscal update just two days before a crucial Bank of Canada interest rate announcement as