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Defence sources say the budget decision could affect later portions of the project.

In other cases, such as the recently upgraded Halifax Class frigates, the Canadian Navy had planned a series of follow-on enhancements to keep the ships sailing until they can be replaced starting sometime after 2026.

During the election the Liberals promised to immediately launch a project to buy replacement aircraft for the CF-18s.

But the CF-18 fighter replacement project is one of the areas in which spending is being delayed, indicating that it won’t move as quickly as the Liberals originally claimed, said Shadwick.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau has insisted that moving the funding to a later date does not mean the defence budget is being cut.

The Liberal government recently launched a review of the country’s defence priorities, one expected to be ready sometime in early 2017.

Meantime, government officials say the department won’t be in a position to spend the $3.7 billion until well into the future.

“In order to make sure we have the funds available at the time when they need those funds, we’ve reprofiled some in the fiscal framework,” Morneau told journalists after he tabled the budget. “So, when we need the money, the money will be in the fiscal framework. So, we believe that is the appropriate action to take to ensure our military has the appropriate equipment, the planes and the ships they need.”

Some analysts, however, have voiced concern the $3.7 billion won’t be returned to the department.

Ashley Lemire, a DND spokeswoman, said in an email, “Some major projects experienced delays in their original timelines, which resulted in funds needing to be moved forward to future years.”

“The $3.7 billion in capital investment space represents only a shift in funding and there is no directed budget cut to the defence budget, as the funds will be left in the reserve to be requested in future years, when required,” she said.