Trudeau Delays Infrastructure Money in Holding Deficits Steady

Justin Trudeau’s government is punting some infrastructure spending in the short term, replacing it with new money for veterans, indigenous Canadians, women and research in a budget that holds deficit projections steady.

The fiscal plan, unveiled in Ottawa by Finance Minister Bill Morneau, heavily emphasized gender equality while pushing back, but not cutting, C$7.2 billion ($5.7 billion) of the government’s hallmark infrastructure program, according to Bloomberg calculations. Officials argue the delay is an accounting quirk and that projects are being built already by cities and provinces, with the federal money sure to eventually flow.