When the Watchdog Barks, Canadians Should Listen

 Researched and written by ChatGPT

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) just issued a dire warning about Canada’s finances — calling the government’s fiscal path “alarming, stupefying, and unsustainable.” Those are his words, not mine. Yet here we are, in late 2025, with a Liberal government that doesn’t even have a working budget on the table, while continuing to welcome record numbers of newcomers into a system already stretched to the breaking point.

This isn’t xenophobia — it’s math. It’s logistics. It’s common sense. You can’t keep pouring water into a leaking bucket and act surprised when the floor floods.

A Fiscal Crisis in the Making

According to the PBO, Canada’s deficit is set to explode from roughly $51.7 billion in 2024–25 to $68.5 billion in 2025–26. The watchdog also warned that the government’s debt trajectory could soon outpace economic growth — meaning the country will be borrowing faster than it’s producing. That’s the red flashing light on the dashboard that every serious economist recognizes as unsustainable.

Even worse, the PBO points out that these grim numbers don’t yet include several big-ticket promises still waiting in the wings — which means the real picture could be far uglier.

And let’s be honest: this government has no fiscal anchor. They use slogans like “investing in Canadians” to hide the fact that they’re spending money they don’t have, on programs they can’t manage, while ignoring the sectors that need it most.

The Budget That Isn’t

It’s one thing to overspend. It’s another to do it without a budget at all. Right now, the Liberals have neither a finalized fiscal plan nor a clear timeline for presenting one. That’s not leadership — that’s negligence.

They’re asking Canadians to “brace for tough choices” without specifying what those choices are. Cuts? To what? “Efficiencies”? Where? When families are choosing between rent and groceries, government vagueness isn’t just frustrating — it’s insulting.

The Immigration Elephant in the Room

Here’s where things get politically uncomfortable. Every time someone questions Canada’s record-high immigration targets, they’re accused of being anti-immigrant. That’s lazy deflection. Canadians aren’t anti-immigrant — we’re anti-insanity.

Welcoming newcomers can be a good thing when the house is in order. But right now, the foundation is cracking. Housing is unaffordable, hospitals are overwhelmed, food banks are setting records, and cities can’t keep up with transit or infrastructure demands.

Bringing in more people without a functional plan to house, employ, or integrate them is not compassionate — it’s reckless. It dilutes services for everyone and fosters resentment that never needed to exist.

Even the new government under Mark Carney has quietly admitted the system’s breaking point, pledging to reduce the number of temporary residents and international students to below 5% of the population by 2027, down from around 7.3%. But pledges are wind until backed by policy — and so far, nothing concrete has changed.

The Human Cost of Fiscal Theater

While Ottawa congratulates itself on “growth,” regular Canadians are drowning in the real-world consequences of poor management. Mortgage renewals are crushing middle-class families. Seniors are choosing between food and heat. Hospitals are rationing care. Students are giving up on ever owning a home.

Meanwhile, politicians keep spending like it’s monopoly money, pretending that printing more bills will somehow produce prosperity.

It’s economic theater — and the act is wearing thin.

What Accountability Looks Like

The PBO’s role exists precisely for moments like this — to warn when governments spin stories instead of telling the truth. Canadians should be demanding not just answers, but accountability.

Here’s what that looks like:

1. A Real Budget. With transparent line-by-line spending, fiscal anchors, and measurable debt-to-GDP goals. No vague talking points, no election-year fog.

2. Prioritize Canadians. Before expanding programs or populations, ensure that health care, housing, and infrastructure for those already here are sustainable.

3. Independent Oversight. Keep the PBO’s office truly independent and fully funded. When a watchdog barks, you don’t muzzle it — you ask why it’s barking.

4. Honest Immigration Planning. Stop using immigration as a political shield or GDP prop. Integrate responsibly, at a pace our systems can handle.

Enough Spin

For years, the government has promised “inclusive growth” and “sustainable prosperity.” Yet the numbers — and the people — tell a different story. Canadians don’t need more press conferences or buzzwords. They need competence, clarity, and courage from the people managing their money.

If the budget watchdog is sounding the alarm, it’s because he sees smoke coming from Ottawa’s books. The question is whether Canadians will smell it before the whole thing catches fire.

Because when the watchdog barks, it’s not noise. It’s a warning.