Going, going, gone: 2012 budget axed millions but deeper cuts on the way

OTTAWA – A year’s worth of budget cuts saw dozens of federal programs eliminated in 2012.

But when it comes to paring down the deficit, it’s not the first cut that’s the deepest.

Departments are now onto Round Two of deficit-reduction measures and Thursday’s federal budget is unlikely to give them much relief from eventually cutting $5.2 billion in spending.

The first year of cuts required departments to scale back around $1.47 billion. This year it doubles, to over $3 billion.

Treasury Board President Tony Clement characterized the first year as productive and the cuts as reflecting Canadian priorities.

But the NDP said from their perspective, the cuts seemed to have no overarching goal and are hurting services for Canadians.