Carney says if all goes to plan, he could balance Canada budget in 4 or 5 years

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand during his Liberal Party election campaign tour at Cafe de Paris in Quebec City, Quebec Canada April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec (Reuters) - Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday said if his Liberals won an April 28 election and all went to plan, it would be realistic to expect the budget to return to surplus in four or five years' time.

Carney released his economic plan on Saturday but made no mention of a return to surplus. Asked by reporters in Quebec why that was the case, he replied "because we have to be prudent when we're presenting numbers".