Federal government directs National Gallery, Crown corporations to develop savings plans

The Carney government is asking Crown corporations to suggest where they will find savings amid deep cuts in federal spending. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

The National Capital Commission, the National Gallery of Canada, federal museums and other federally funded institutions are being directed to developing savings plans, as part of the Liberal government’s quest to find $25 billion in savings over the next three years.

Last week, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali issued letters to cabinet, directing ministers to identify savings of up to 15 per cent in all federal departments. The government says while statutory transfer payments to provinces, territories and individuals will be maintained, “most other government spending will be included in the review.”

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat confirmed to CTV News Ottawa on Thursday that Crown corporations are “subject to this exercise” for finding savings.

“Individual organizations are responsible for developing proposals for how best to meet their savings targets. No decisions on any savings proposals have been taken yet,” the decision said.

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The National Capital Commission, which oversees federal lands and is the principal steward of nationally significant public places, confirms to CTV News it falls under the federal government’s comprehensive expenditure review.

“As the saving proposals haven’t yet been developed, it is too early to offer any prediction on the potential impact on NCC programs and services,” the NCC said.

Crown corporations include the CBC, Bank of Canada, Export Development Canada and federal museums.

The National Research Council confirms it falls under the comprehensive expenditure review, and are “undertaking work to identify savings as required.”

Via Rail said in a statement it has been “actively working to identify and implement efficiencies” as part of its “continuous improvement plan” launched two years ago.

“As this is not a Via Rail announcement, we urge you to reach out to the Treasury Board Secretariat so they can provide more clarity on how their program applies to each specific Crown corporation,” a Via Rail spokesperson said in a statement.

The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa says it has been asked to develop proposals to identify potential savings of 15 per cent over the next three years.

“Over the coming weeks, the Gallery will work with government to identify areas for potential savings with the goal of limiting their impacts on our operations and mandate,” a spokesperson for the National Gallery said.

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The National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Nature and Ingenium, which operates the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the Canada Science and Technology Museum and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, confirmed Thursday afternoon they have been tasked with developing savings proposals of up to 15 per cent over the next three years.

The Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of History have also been asked to identify potential savings.

“This work is in the early stages, so there are no further details at this time,” a museum spokesperson told CTV News Ottawa on Friday.

The Parole Board of Canada says it has been asked to bring forward savings proposals.

“The PBC is currently in the process of developing its savings proposals, in line with the government’s directive, and is committed to doing so in a way that preserves the delivery of the Board’s core mandated programs and operations,” a spokesperson for the Parole Board of Canada said in a statement.

“Approved savings amounts will be presented in the Government’s 2026-27 Main Estimates.”

Statistics Canada says it will reduce its budget by 15 per cent by 2028-29.

“We are currently analyzing the implications of this reduction and are not able to provide further details at this time,” the agency said.

Federally appointed organizations are also required to find budget savings, but several departments have been exempted, including agents of Parliament, Courts Administration Service, and the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada. A lower savings target of two per cent has been set for the Department of National Defence, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

With files from CTV News Stephanie Ha and CTV News Ottawa’s Dylan Dyson