根據多家加媒報導，由加拿大總理卡尼（Mark Carney）領導的自由黨政府將於下週正式公布上任以來的首份聯邦預算案。然而，就在預算案即將揭曉之際，聯邦財政部在10月31日（週五）發布最新數據，顯示今年4月至8月期間，加拿大政府已錄得111億加元的財政赤字，較去年同期的98億加元赤字進一步擴大，引發外界對財政紀律與公務體系改革的高度關注。

根據聯邦財政部的月度《財政監測報告》（Fiscal Monitor），2025-26財政年度前五個月中，聯邦政府的總收入達到2012億加元，較去年同期的1963億加元增加49億。收入增長主要來自企業所得稅、個人所得稅與進口關稅的上升，反映出加拿大部分產業及進出口活動仍具韌性。然而，政府支出卻以更快的速度上升，達1872億加元，比去年同期增加了74億加元。

支出增長的主要原因包括老年福利（Old Age Security）及就業保險（EI）支出顯著提高，這在一定程度上與加拿大失業率上升有關。此外，儘管同期債務利息支出略有下降，從去年的232億加元減少至230億加元，且淨精算損失（Net Actuarial Loss）從32億加元降至21億，但整體開支的擴張仍使赤字規模進一步惡化，最終導致赤字比去年同期增加13億加元。

在財政壓力不斷增大的情況下，加拿大財政部長商鵬飛（François-Philippe Champagne）於10月29日（週三）公開表示，政府已決定在即將公布的預算案中啟動聯邦公務體系縮編計畫。他指出，近年來公部門人力過度膨脹，導致行政效率下降與公共開支增加，政府有必要“恢復到可持續的水準”。

據內部消息人士透露，本次裁員計畫的規模可能達到7萬名聯邦公務員，涵蓋多個部門與地區，將成為加拿大近二十年來最大規模的公務體系重組行動之一。此舉在全國公職系統內引發了強烈震動，不少工會已表示強烈反對，認為此舉將衝擊公共服務品質並影響上萬家庭的生計。

專家指出，卡尼政府此時提出財政緊縮與裁員政策，顯示其面對經濟壓力與政治信任危機的雙重挑戰。一方面，加拿大近年通膨壓力居高不下，民眾對生活成本上升的不滿加劇；另一方面，聯邦債務規模持續攀升，使政府必須尋求削減開支以維持信用評級。

隨著預算案即將公布，市場與民眾普遍關注卡尼政府將如何在刺激經濟增長與控制財政赤字之間取得平衡，並觀察裁員政策是否會引發進一步的社會與政治反彈。

According to multiple Canadian media outlets, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is set to unveil its first federal budget next week. However, just days before the announcement, the Department of Finance Canada released data on October 31, showing that the federal government recorded a fiscal deficit of CAD 11.1 billion between April and August 2025 — higher than the CAD 9.8 billion deficit during the same period last year. The widening shortfall has fueled growing concerns over fiscal discipline and looming public sector reforms.

In its Fiscal Monitor report, the Finance Department stated that total federal revenue reached CAD 201.2 billion in the first five months of the 2025–26 fiscal year, up CAD 4.9 billion from the previous year’s CAD 196.3 billion. The increase was mainly driven by stronger corporate and personal income tax revenues, as well as customs duties — reflecting the continued resilience of certain industries and trade activities.

However, government expenditures rose even more sharply, climbing to CAD 187.2 billion, an increase of CAD 7.4 billion compared with the same period last year. The main contributors were higher payments for Old Age Security (OAS) and Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, which mirror Canada’s rising unemployment rate.

While public debt charges fell slightly to CAD 23.0 billion (from CAD 23.2 billion last year) and net actuarial losses declined from CAD 3.2 billion to CAD 2.1 billion, the overall spending surge outpaced revenue growth, resulting in a larger fiscal deficit — up by CAD 1.3 billion year over year.

Amid mounting fiscal pressure, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced on October 29 that the upcoming federal budget will include a major downsizing of the federal workforce, aiming to restore the public sector to what he described as a “sustainable level.”

According to insider reports, the plan could result in up to 70,000 federal job cuts, affecting multiple departments and provinces. If confirmed, it would mark one of the largest civil service reductions in Canada in two decades. The proposal has already caused widespread anxiety within the public sector, and several unions have voiced strong opposition, warning that such large-scale layoffs could undermine service quality and threaten the livelihoods of tens of thousands of families.

Analysts say that Carney’s government is caught between economic and political challenges — balancing the need to control spending and reduce debt while addressing public frustration over the rising cost of living. With inflation still high and interest expenses straining the federal budget, Ottawa faces growing pressure to demonstrate fiscal responsibility without triggering economic stagnation or mass unemployment.

As the 2025 federal budget approaches, both economists and the public are closely watching whether the government can strike a viable balance between stimulating growth and curbing deficits, and whether its austerity measures will provoke further political backlash and social unrest.