Federal deficit during each prime minister's tenure
Every prime minister since 1991, ranked by how the federal deficit changed from their first day in office. Politare shows what happened during a tenure; it does not claim the office-holder caused it.
| # | Prime minister | In office | Total | Per year | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LPC Justin Trudeau | 4 Nov 2015 – 14 Mar 2025 | +2.9 pp 2015 → 2024 | +0.3 pp/yr | |
| 2 | CPC Stephen Harper | 6 Feb 2006 – 4 Nov 2015 | −0.4 pp 2005 → 2015 | 0.0 pp/yr | |
| 3 | LPC Jean Chrétien | 4 Nov 1993 – 12 Dec 2003 | −5.7 pp 1993 → 2003 | −0.6 pp/yr |
Sorted by total, highest first. Every row is indexed to the last count complete before the first day in office ("from" marks a start that had to move because that count had no data, or because the period cut it); Levels are per cent changes, rates are differences in pp; "per year" compounds levels and divides rates. Tenures with under 12 months, or under three observations, are left out. % of GDP · Statistics Canada, government finance statistics (table 10-10-0172), federal government net borrowing, calendar years, over nominal GDP (36-10-0104) · Canada data · as of Sep 2026.