Various reporters explain how they do their job of covering a budget.

Join reporter John Robson in the journalist’s lock-up on Budget Day, and endure the silliness of Canada’s annual ‘mission impossible’ for political reporters to turn hundreds of pages of numbers into sound bites and news stories.

Where do fish keep their money? Try a river bank. But if it’s government money, well, that’s guaranteed to be swallowed up hook, line and sinker.

John Robson explains how much money the federal government spends every single day of the year.

John Robson speaks to Canada’s current Auditor General, Sheila Fraser.

Host John Robson explores the office of Auditor General.

Who better to ask if we’re getting a ‘bang for our federal bucks’ than Canada’s Auditor General? IYG blows a little dust of some of the early books and discovers that even the cost of ice was once accounted for. Now fast forward to today’s complicated performance and financial audits. How does Sheila Fraser do it?

John Robson explains what happens to your tax dollars.

Breakout’s John Robson talks to Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page about his job and the challenges he faces.

What are middle class entitlements? Filip Palda and William Mackness explain. From Days of Reckoning.