OTTAWA — Ottawa's fiscal watchdog says that while there are good measures in the new budget framework the federal government announced this week, its definition of capital spending could blur the picture of federal finances.

Finance Minster François-Philippe Champagne yesterday unveiled a series of changes to Ottawa's fiscal planning, including a permanent shift to a fall budget schedule starting with the release of the Liberals' Nov. 4 spending plan.

Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques says in a brief report today that he's in favour of the move away from the traditional spring budget, arguing it will give parliamentarians better clarity on the government's budget before they vote on spending proposals in the main estimates around March.

Jacques also says he's glad to se

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