One of the key responsibilities of the finance minister is the annual federal budget speech. But it turns out Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne didn’t write the speech. Neither did his staff.

Instead, the government paid an outside contractor $12,000 to help write it, despite promising to spend less on outside contractors.

“Why are taxpayers paying so much money for communications bureaucrats if we’re then forced to pay thousands getting outside help to do their homework?” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “If Winston Churchill found time to write speeches while fighting the Nazis, it’s a good bet Champagne can find some time to write his own speeches.

“It’s particularly insulting that the finance minister promised to spend less on consultants in the budget but spent $12,000 contracting out his budget speech.”

The finance department spent $12,168 on a “speechwriting contract” to help write the finance minister’s budget speech, according to government records reviewed by the CTF.

Taxpayers already spend millions of dollars on the finance department’s communications staff.

The finance department and Champagne have a press secretary, John Fragos, a communications director, Audrey Milette, an acting director general of communications and public affairs, a communications manager and an actual “legislative speech writer.” Salaries for these positions range from about $100,000 to about $170,000 per year.

The finance department also employs four “communications officers,” five “communications advisors,” four “correspondence analysts” and four “communications strategists.” 

All told, the finance department employs 23 in-house communications staff paid an estimated $2 million in total.

Yet the department still paid more than $12,000 for external speechwriting for the budget speech.

Champagne’s $12,000 outsourced speech, delivered in the House of Commons on Nov. 4, 2025, lasted about one hour, including pauses for applause and cheers from the Liberal bench. That’s $200 per minute.

Meanwhile, the federal government borrowed $67 billion in 2025-26. That means the federal debt increased $7.6 million during Champagne’s hour-long speech.

“Why are taxpayers paying for so many communications staff if the finance minister and all of his staff can’t even write their own budget speech?” Terrazzano said. “If your boss can contract out your key job, then what’s the point of having you on payroll?

“Either we get rid of the bureaucrats or we get rid of the contractors because taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for both to do the same thing.”

While the finance department spent $12,000 contracting out the finance minister’s budget speech, the actual budget said the government is “limiting spending on … external consultants.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney has also said his government would be “significantly reducing reliance on external consultants.”

Despite Carney’s promise, his government is increasing spending on consultants, contractors and outsourcing to almost $27 billion in 2026. The cost of the federal bureaucracy is also increasing by another five per cent this year, according to the Main Estimates.

“Taxpayers are sick and tired of hearing politicians promise to spend less while they continue to spend more,” Terrazzano said. “Here’s a free way for the finance department to save money on contractors: Write your own speeches.”