Tuesday’s federal budget will jumpstart Canadian economic growth, but many of its benefits could take several years to materialize, according to several economists surveyed by the Star.

Mark Carney’s government announced a $78.3 billion deficit for 2025-26, a number that surpassed earlier projections made by the independent Parliamentary Budget Officer. At the same time, the government pledged $141.4 billion in new spending — mainly on infrastructure and national defence — over the next five years.

The feds said the expenditures are needed to make the Canadian economy more self-sufficient in light of American tariffs , trade tensions and global economic uncertainty.

But the budget provided little new relief for Canada’s tariff-hit sectors , while the broader economy is showing signs

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