Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland yesterday proposed billions in new mid-term deficit spending at rates up to 95 percent higher than forecast only a year ago. Freeland revised all deficit projections upwards despite writing in her budget document that “it would be irresponsible and unfair to pass more debt to the next generation.”

“This budget is our path forward,” Freeland told reporters. The budget document Fairness For Every Generation did not set any date for eliminating the deficit. Parliament has not balanced a budget since 2007.

“We absolutely believe it is important for the federal government, or any government, to be careful in the way we spend money,” said Freeland. “It is not our money, it is the money of Canadians, and they quite rightly expect us to be really thoughtful.”