Spending Up in Harper's First Five Years

Looks like Canada still spends way more per capita than the average OECD member.

Some of the first official figures about government spending were released this week as the annual federal government performance report was presented in the House of Commons. In Harper’s first five years as prime minister, federal spending has risen 22 per cent, totalling $270 billion in 2010-2011, compared to $222 billion in 2006-2007. Most of the extra expenditures came from stimulus spending to counteract the global economic crisis, with the rest attributed to the rising costs of health care, which is roughly worth $135 billion. Harper’s government is now looking to cut billions in spending in the coming years.