Harper fails economy

[freewheat]

Based on taxation pledges by the other parties, and the new spending they would love to do. Pharmacare, child care, rolling back the TFSA, income splitting, raising the gst back up, taxing carbon.

Those are all things that the leftists have stated as priorities. Do you really think that would stimulate the economy?

[ajl]

You do have to add Ontario and Quebecs debt to the Canadian picture to get a true idea of government debt in Canada. The day is coming when these two are coming to Ottawa looking for a bailout. Canada is finished at that point. There was little Harper could do about that though.

[freewheat]

Yeah, the Ontario provincial debt is indeed getting kind of hefty.

[Integrity_Farmer]

How many billions is oil rich Alberta in debt?
Or is Rachel Notleys government responsible for creating the debt in Alberta?

[Integrity_Farmer]

Speaking of Debt and the Harper record

• Fact: Between 1996-97 and 2005-06, the Liberal government paid $81.4-billion against the national debt.

• Fact: The federal debt in the fiscal year 1996-97 was $562.9-billion. By the time the Liberals left office in 2006, it was reduced to $481.5-billion • In contrast, by the year 2014-15, the Conservatives will have added $176,400,000,000 to the national debt.

Let me say that again, Stephen Harper has added and will add $176,400,000,000 to our debt.

• Fact: The Conservative federal debt in 2008-09 = $457.6-billion.

• Fact: The expected Conservative debt in 2014-15 = $634.0-billion (forecasted).

• Fact: 24% of the total accumulated debt since Confederation was amassed under Stephen Harper, this just since 2008.

[TOM4CWB]

IntegFrmr,

THE CDN Fed gov had it's hands tied by minority Conservatives; ND/Lib forced stimulus out... was not PM Harper's first choice but only choice if governing Canada to be maintained. Long term stimulus commitments fed deficits... and balancing budget was difficult for 2015.

I see economists talking up another CDN stimulus round as PM Harper has taken off QE stimulus for now... to meet balanced budget pledge.

Many economists want Canada to follow Japan/China/Mexico/EU and dump more QE money in CDN Economy... not sure how long USD can take to flack and take up global slack.

We do live in interesting times... governing Canada is certainly a challenge. What the ND/Lib plan actually is... is unlikely to be exposed until after they win the election in Canada... should they convince Canadians to elect them. Hence lack of Alberta ND budget till after Federal vote to back federal ND run to the top.

[Hamloc]

Tom good point on the Alberta NDP it would appear they are putting off releasing a budget until after the federal vote. I believe Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba all added a lot of debt during this same period of high commodity prices as well as increasing taxes. Anybody who thinks the Libs and NDP won't increase spending,debt and taxes must have their head in the sand. They have both stated they would increase taxes.

[mustardman]

This is what you get when your 'economics degree' is obtained from home schooling rather than from those lefty public schools. Lol

[dmlfarmer]

Hamlock, last Friday the Conservatives made 13 new spending announcements. For the last few months they have made hundreds of spending announcements. They have promised billions in new spending, 85% if which is in conservative held ridings. Their new Universal Child Care Benefit announced last year but with the first cheques going out in just the last few weeks - just before he announces an election - will cost taxpayers over 3 billion dollars. You can fear monger all you want about possible lib/ND spending if they are elected but the Con's are actually spending like drunken sailors to buy the election.

As far as taxes going up, at least the lib/nd are willing to raise taxes to pay for spending unlike the Cons who have run a deficit for 8 consecutive years.

[bucket]

Tom

Harper could have held a quick election and ran on what his plan was.

His only option was to crater to the ndp and liberals the same way he cratered to the railways.

BUT. If your only excuse is he had his hands tied by the other parties and all your right wing buddies agree that canada was better off doing what he did - then by extension some of the ndp and liberal policies are viable options.