March madness: $1.5-billion federal spending in final 10 days of fiscal year

The federal government rushed to spend over $1.5 billion in taxpayer money in the last 10 days of the 2024–25 fiscal year before the March 31 deadline, according to new records obtained by the CTF.

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The federal government rushed to spend over $1.5 billion in taxpayer money in the last 10 days of the 2024–25 fiscal year before the March 31 deadline, according to new records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The figures, released in response to an order paper question from Conservative MP Connie Cody, show the federal government spent $382 million on materials and supplies and $1.1 billion on machinery and equipment between March 22 and 31.

The CTF said the spending reflects what it calls Ottawa’s recurring “March madness” cycle.

National Defence reported the largest total, with $771 million in purchases during the 10-day window, including gasoline, machinery parts, paint, plumbing materials and about $205,000 in office furniture. Fisheries and Oceans Canada reported $99.3 million in spending, the RCMP $89 million and Shared Services Canada $78.5 million.

Other expenses disclosed included $1.5 million for new iPhones for VIA Rail staff, nearly $50,000 in “long service awards” for Canada Revenue Agency employees and more than $12,000 in non-monetary awards from Canadian Heritage. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada spent more than $152,000 on office furniture, while the Privy Council Office spent $60,000.

Global Affairs Canada recorded $128,500 in spending on household appliances and $4,220 on artwork. Justice Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat spent $2.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively, on computer equipment.

Several departments — including the RCMP, Correctional Service Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada — disclosed only aggregated totals without itemized breakdowns.

Multiple agencies and Crown corporations, including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Parks Canada, the CBC, Canada Post and the National Capital Commission, did not provide any figures in response to the request.

The CTF said the data raises questions about year-end spending practices. “It sure seems like government bureaucrats look for ways to burn through cash at the end of each year so they can keep demanding more money from taxpayers the next year,” said Franco Terrazzano, the group’s federal director.

The disclosure follows other recent reports highlighting the cost of the federal public service. Earlier this month, the CTF noted that Canadians are paying about 80 per cent more for the federal bureaucracy than a decade ago, based on Public Accounts data showing the cost of government administration rose by $6 billion last year alone.

Separate figures released Tuesday by the Parliamentary Budget Officer show the federal workforce reached arecord 445,000 employees in 2024–25 — an increase of more than 13,000 from the previous year’s plans, with the Canada Revenue Agency accounting for about one-third of the growth.