Ottawa posts $1.7-billion deficit in August

[Smallc]

Nor should they post huge surpluses. To achieve large surpluses, the Liberals consistently under-estimated revenues and overstated spending. We just got used to the large surpluses they surprised us with year after year. I would rather see a balanced budget or small deficit than to be duped by creative accounting.

IF there is a deficit of any kind, I can almost guarantee you it will be terrible news for the Conservatives. I voted for Stephen Harper because I beleived he could keep the finances in line. If he can't, its time to let someone else try.

[capricorn]

Smallc, it's premature to render a judgment. We'll see.

[Smallc]

Smallc, it's premature to render a judgment. We'll see.

Of course we'll see. That doesn't mean we can't discuss possibilities now.

[capricorn]

Of course we'll see. That doesn't mean we can't discuss possibilities now.

And that's what we've been doing. You're concerned about an impending deficit and I can understand where you're coming from. In my case, given the world economic situation and the information I linked earlier, a deficit does not worry me so much.

[Smallc]

And that's what we've been doing. You're concerned about an impending deficit and I can understand where you're coming from. In my case, given the world economic situation and the information I linked earlier, a deficit does not worry me so much.

Well, it's not that a small deficit worries me, its the fact that when you accept one deficit, you'll probably accept more, and it can get out of control. We have to be careful that it doesn't happen in Ontario and I certainly don't want it to happen in Ottawa.

[White Doors]

Yeah, and suggesting that this would lead to an approximate $10b surplus...

No, I said it was 2.9 billion in the first 4 months of the federal fiscal year.

I will bet you that we are closer to a 10 billion dollar surplus than we are to a deficit for this fiscal year however.

We can have a signature bet if you like. The end of the federal fiscal year is April.

[capricorn]

The end of the federal fiscal year is April.

March 31 to be precise.

[White Doors]

March 31 to be precise.

danke, guess we should have the exact date if we are going to bet on it.

[jdobbin]

Don Martin's coilum today.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/po....html?id=912533

Flaherty poised to be 'Deficit Jim'

His reckless spending over the last few years has created the situation where he will produce a deficit.

It's been almost two years since his most notorious flip-flop - the Halloween announcement the government would break its pre-election promise and start taxing income trusts - and now he's careening toward another big-gulp policy reversal. Mr. Flaherty, it seems certain, will have to renege on his hell-or-high-water vow that the Conservatives would not lurch into deficit.

He's now waffling on that campaign promise in the face of $10-billion deficit projections by some economists, a red tidal wave that could not be rebuffed with spending cuts or tax increases.

It won't matter what excuses the Tories make, they will be the ones blamed for bad economic numbers such as the deficit.

[Bryan]

Says you. I would rather that the government ran a surplus and used it to pay down the debt.

Conservatives did pay nearly $40 billion on the debt. Difference is, they factored it into the budget, instead of pretending it was a surprise later.

[Mr.Canada]

Conservatives did pay nearly $40 billion on the debt. Difference is, they factored it into the budget, instead of pretending it was a surprise later.

I try not to get involved with smallc anymore he gets all his info and pov from Rabble.ca, NOW and EyE. Facts get in the way of pushing a communist agenda.

[jdobbin]

Conservatives did pay nearly $40 billion on the debt. Difference is, they factored it into the budget, instead of pretending it was a surprise later.

The only surprise is how much they overspend their election promise of not to go over the rate of population increase and inflation.

Flaherty is going to push Canada into deficit.

[Smallc]

Conservatives did pay nearly $40 billion on the debt. Difference is, they factored it into the budget, instead of pretending it was a surprise later.

Yes they did, and now it looks like they may undo part of that.

[Smallc]

I try not to get involved with smallc anymore he gets all his info and pov from Rabble.ca, NOW and EyE. Facts get in the way of pushing a communist agenda.

Why, because I challenge your Conservative talking points? I'm a liberal btw, not a communist.