OTTAWA - Federal government spending continues to lag behind last year's pace, with spending in October one-fifth of what it was one year ago.
Between April and October of the 2016-17 fiscal year, the Liberals ran a deficit of $6.3 billion compared to a $9.3 billion deficit during the same stretch in 2015-16.
, the government ran a budgetary deficit of $300 million, lower than the $1.5 billion recorded during the same month last year.
The monthly fiscal monitor report says government revenue between April and October of this year was up $7.9 billion to $171.8 billion, a 4.8 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Personal and corporate tax revenues climbed by 5.4 per cent and 8.7 per cent, respectively. Non-resident income tax increased by 23.3 per cent. Excise taxes and duties were up $2.8 billion, or 9.2 per cent, and GST revenues rose by $2.5 billion, or 12.3 per cent.
Energy taxes increased by about $100 million, or 2.9 per cent.
