OTTAWA - Fiscal experts say Ottawa will have to be transparent with Canadians in the upcoming fall budget to justify a seismic shift in spending away from government programs and toward defence and infrastructure.

The federal Liberals are expected to table the annual budget sometime this fall, possibly as early as next month, after forgoing the traditional spring budget.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government announced a series of spending measures in the truncated spring session of Parliament, including a one-percentage point income tax cut and plans to ramp up military investment to meet NATO member pledges in this and future years.

His government framed its Bill C-5, legislation meant to speed up approval of major projects, as a response to Canada's fracturing relationship with the

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