Liberals must show results in spring economic update: former PBO

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney's government will table an update to its fiscal outlook on Tuesday, one year after securing a minority mandate. The Liberals have since gained majority status with three new MPs expected to be sworn into office. The update is expected to show results from the government's economic agenda, which has focused on ramped-up defence and infrastructure spending. Former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page said the government will be under pressure to show transparency on its spending plans, including how moves to meet NATO spending targets are affecting the government's outlook. The update will also provide a look at how new spending items and the energy price shock from the war in Iran are affecting Ottawa's finances. The government's fiscal picture has been influenced by revisions to past economic data, which raised the nominal level of gross domestic product over the past three years.