Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is forecasting “tough choices” in this fall’s federal budget, as the government reviews billions of dollars in proposed spending reductions that he suggested would lead to job losses in the civil service.

Speaking to reporters a day after Prime Minister Mark Carney said his Liberal administration’s first annual budget would include both “austerity” and investments to grow the economy, Champagne said the ongoing push to find $25 billion worth of annual spending savings across much of the federal government would lead to “adjustments” in the public service.

“I want to be straight with Canadians. The Prime Minister was straight yesterday: tough choices ahead. But you know, ambition when it comes to investment, rigour when it comes to spending

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