Canadian stimulus deadline extended

Canada’s prime minister said he will extend the deadline to complete projects funded by its two-year US$61bn (€46bn) stimulus programme by seven months to help offset a slowing economy.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper said the programme’s deadline has been pushed back from March 31, 2011 by a full construction season to October 31, 2011 to provide more time for public infrastructure projects such as roads and transit to be completed.