National Newswatch

A federal official is distancing the Conservative government from Jason Kenney’s public musings over the weekend that spending cuts might be required to balance the budget.

In a series of interviews, the employment minister said the government would have to entertain budget cuts, such as extending its operational spending freeze, in order to stay in surplus territory as planned for this fiscal year.

He also said the government would not dip into its $3-billion contingency reserve, which it sets aside for unexpected circumstances.

But a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says there are no budget cuts in the works.

The Canadian Press
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