OTTAWA, October 30 (Reuters) - Canada's budget deficit widened to C$170.52 billion ($129.32 billion) in the first five months of the 2020/21 fiscal year as the government paid out billions in pandemic aid, the finance ministry said on Friday.
By comparison, Canada's deficit was C$5.22 billion in the period from April to August 2019/20.
Revenues were down 29.0% reflecting a broad-based drop including lower tax revenues and other revenues, which include Crown corporation profits and returns on investments, among other things.
Program expenses, meanwhile, were up 97.1%, driven by government transfers to individuals and businesses in emergency COVID-19 aid. Public debt charges fell by 16.2%.
On a monthly basis, Canada's deficit was C$21.94 billion in August, compared with a deficit of C$3.67 billion in August 2019.
August revenues decreased by 5.4% reflecting lower "other" revenues.
Program expenses rose 61.4%, again driven by government transfers to individuals and businesses, along with others levels of government, as part of Canada's COVID-19 response measures.
The finance ministry noted there could be "substantial volatility in monthly results due to the timing of revenue receipts and expense recognition."
($1 = 1.3186 Canadian dollars)