New Programs Cost Canadians $576 Billion Since Pandemic: Budget Watchdog

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland responds to questions from the opposition after delivering the federal budget in the House of Commons on April 7, 2022. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Federal government spending has ballooned since the onset of the pandemic, and the budget watchdog says over 35 percent of new measures are not related to the pandemic response.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released its report on the 2022 budget on April 22, highlighting related issues for parliamentarians.