2009 Deficit could hit $14 billion

[Oleg Bach]

Absolute nonsense..

While I wouldn't like to see deficits, I'm not sure why we should worship at the alter of surpluses. A surplus only means that we are way overtaxed, or taxed unfairly.

Surplus money always languishes uselessly and is horded for no particular purpose from what I see - and don't tell me that the guys that write the cheaques don't install front men....do you actually believe that the people count and the will of the people actually means anything - If it did we would not be complaining..now would we.

[Smallc]

Surplus money always languishes uselessly and is horded for no particular purpose from what I see

Yeah, that debt repayment was just terrible.

[Oleg Bach]

Yeah, that debt repayment was just terrible.

Your damned right it's just terrible - I just hate paying debts myself. But with interest rates that amount to 50 million a week - you can not call it a debt. Debts are only classed as such if it is possible to actually pay it off. It never gets payed off..you know that - International debts or money owed internally is just to huge to handle - what is the debt to China as far as America is concerned? Trillions correct? That will never be paid - How can it - it is eternal - much like a punctured vein with a drinking straw attatched.

[Kenny]

Your damned right it's just terrible - I just hate paying debts myself. But with interest rates that amount to 50 million a week - you can not call it a debt. Debts are only classed as such if it is possible to actually pay it off. It never gets payed off..you know that - International debts or money owed internally is just to huge to handle - what is the debt to China as far as America is concerned? Trillions correct? That will never be paid - How can it - it is eternal - much like a punctured vein with a drinking straw attatched.

Actually the Liberal government made significant inroads on paying down our national debt over the past 15 years. So national debts can be paid off. But it does not happen over a couple of years. It is like a mortgage and will take many years to pay off. Unfortunately, due to Conservative mismanagement we will have to wait longer to pay it off completely.

[Wilber]

The Tories have also been paying down debt since they came to power. 27 billion in 06-07. Interesting how some would cut spending and increase taxes in order to balance a budget during the current financial crisis. Just about what governments did at the beginning of the Great Depression. Worked like a damn.

[Smallc]

The Tories have also been paying down debt since they came to power. 27 billion in 06-07. Interesting how some would cut spending and increase taxes in order to balance a budget during the current financial crisis. Just about what governments did at the beginning of the Great Depression. Worked like a damn.

Agreed. I have no problem with the deficit, as long as it doesn't become structural. Problem for the tories is, many people will have a problem with the deficit.

[Wilber]

Agreed. I have no problem with the deficit, as long as it doesn't become structural. Problem for the tories is, many people will have a problem with the deficit.

I have a problem with a deficit but I have a much bigger problem with a depression. I agree that this has to be targeted spending however and not allowed to become structural, looked at in a similar manner as fighting a war.

[madmax]

I have a problem with a deficit but I have a much bigger problem with a depression. I agree that this has to be targeted spending however and not allowed to become structural, looked at in a similar manner as fighting a war.

Ditto, lets hope someone is reading your post.

Edited November 22, 2008 by madmax

[jdobbin]

I have a problem with a deficit but I have a much bigger problem with a depression. I agree that this has to be targeted spending however and not allowed to become structural, looked at in a similar manner as fighting a war.

Are we targeting spending by paying for more polling, re-opening closed military schools and putting a previously cancelled $600 million back into VIA Rail.

There is lot of fat that the Tories have put in the budget that could be extracted without causing a depression. Somehow I don't think not funding UFO museums is going to drive the country to bankruptcy.

Hell, cancelling or delaying the Human Rights Museum in Canada in Winnipeg makes sense at this point. Is that going to cause a depression or is it prudent delay?

Edited November 23, 2008 by jdobbin

[Smallc]

Hell, cancelling or delaying the Human Rights Museum in Canada in Winnipeg makes sense at this point. Is that going to cause a depression or is it prudent delay?

With the amount of private money involved, no it doesn't. They need to start as soon as possible in order to ensure they have enough money to finish.

[jdobbin]

With the amount of private money involved, no it doesn't. They need to start as soon as possible in order to ensure they have enough money to finish.

Quite honestly, I believe the thing is a cost overrun waiting to happen.

[Smallc]

Quite honestly, I believe the thing is a cost overrun waiting to happen.

That may very well be.

[jdobbin]

That may very well be.

While I admire the private fundraising and don't believe we have ever seen anything like it in Canada, I seriously believe the costs are much higher. Scares me to think we might end up having to cover a lot more of the costs.

[Wilber]

I think we will see many changes in spending priorities over the next couple of years.

[jdobbin]

Harper is now saying that deficits are "essential" for Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/Columnist/article/542017

"I say this (speak about the need for deficits) with some reluctance," he told the gathering. "I began my political career about 20 years ago in a fledgling new political party (Reform) and I did so in part to campaign for the necessity of fixing that structural deficit."

Indeed, as late as October, in the midst of the federal election campaign, he – like his Liberal and New Democrat opponents – assured voters he would never run deficits.

The deficit is assures us is essential would not have had to take place if Harper had controlled his overspending and was more prudent on taxes.

One wonders how far into debt he willing to go and for how long. I suspect that like many conservatives around the world, they will just let it keep going on.

[Mr.Canada]

Harper is now saying that deficits are "essential" for Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/Columnist/article/542017

The deficit is assures us is essential would not have had to take place if Harper had controlled his overspending and was more prudent on taxes.

One wonders how far into debt he willing to go and for how long. I suspect that like many conservatives around the world, they will just let it keep going on.

Where should the government cut funding? What programs get the axe in order to balance the books jdobbin?

[jdobbin]

Where should the government cut funding? What programs get the axe in order to balance the books jdobbin?

Think I have gone over this many times. I'd cut the $600 million to VIA. I'd eliminate the Quebec military college. Each department would would be expected to reduce spending, leave some positions open to attrition and cut some positions altogether. I'd reduce the size of cabinet. I'd end all the regional development programs such as Atlantic Opportunities and Western Diversification in favour of a national infrastructure program. I'd eliminate the penny. I would reduce transfer payments across the board. I'd lengthen procurement projects a number of years. I'd remove the CBC from taxpayer support and save $800 million a year. I'd end direct taxpayer support for political parties based on votes.

And after that, I'd really get to work on cuts.

[Mr.Canada]

Yep then we need to get to work on all those special interests who receive money cause they whine the most.

We're not WASP's, give us money to ease our pain, is their battle cry.

[blueblood]

Think I have gone over this many times. I'd cut the $600 million to VIA. I'd eliminate the Quebec military college. Each department would would be expected to reduce spending, leave some positions open to attrition and cut some positions altogether. I'd reduce the size of cabinet. I'd end all the regional development programs such as Atlantic Opportunities and Western Diversification in favour of a national infrastructure program. I'd eliminate the penny. I would reduce transfer payments across the board. I'd lengthen procurement projects a number of years. I'd remove the CBC from taxpayer support and save $800 million a year. I'd end direct taxpayer support for political parties based on votes.

And after that, I'd really get to work on cuts.

That's good, I'd go further, cut salaries of all gov't employees by 10% due to these tough times, slash arts funding, open up the canadian health care system to two tier care and impose a salary cap, gut the senate, ensure that civil service is performance based, only invest in projects that would result in at least a return on investment, simplify the tax system, invest in crown corporations and then sell them off or keep them based on performance and money coming into the gov't.

That's my start

[Vancouver King]

Harper is now saying that deficits are "essential" for Canada.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/Columnist/article/542017

The deficit is assures us is essential would not have had to take place if Harper had controlled his overspending and was more prudent on taxes.

One wonders how far into debt he willing to go and for how long. I suspect that like many conservatives around the world, they will just let it keep going on.

His mentor, George Bush, hobbled America's wealth creation with trillions in deficit spending. Despite the current back-peddaling Harper is quite at home with a defining neo-con trait: Spend lavishly all the while decrying your opponents spendthrift ways.

[Mr.Canada]

His mentor, George Bush, hobbled America's wealth creation with trillions in deficit spending. Despite the current back-peddaling Harper is quite at home with a defining neo-con trait: Spend lavishly all the while decrying your opponents spendthrift ways.

If the Tories don't do anything Lefties were saying he didn't care now he is spending to generate some growth and he gets it again. No matter what he does you'd never praise or support Harper. You will be partisan forever. If you want to prove me wrong then send me a link where you supported Harper otherwise you'll be dismissed as a blind partisan.

The Left always needs something like...

HE will destroy Canada, He is hard right wing, He has a hidden agenda...bunk.

This is just one more thing that the left is using a month from now it'll be something else. The Liberals support is falling deal with it.

[OddSox]

Think I have gone over this many times. I'd cut the $600 million to VIA. I'd eliminate the Quebec military college. Each department would would be expected to reduce spending, leave some positions open to attrition and cut some positions altogether. I'd reduce the size of cabinet. I'd end all the regional development programs such as Atlantic Opportunities and Western Diversification in favour of a national infrastructure program. I'd eliminate the penny. I would reduce transfer payments across the board. I'd lengthen procurement projects a number of years. I'd remove the CBC from taxpayer support and save $800 million a year. I'd end direct taxpayer support for political parties based on votes.

And after that, I'd really get to work on cuts.

That's good, I'd go further, cut salaries of all gov't employees by 10% due to these tough times, slash arts funding, open up the canadian health care system to two tier care and impose a salary cap, gut the senate, ensure that civil service is performance based, only invest in projects that would result in at least a return on investment, simplify the tax system, invest in crown corporations and then sell them off or keep them based on performance and money coming into the gov't.

That's my start

You would do all this with a minority government? Good luck...

[jdobbin]

You would do all this with a minority government? Good luck...

On some of those issues, there is already some agreement such as the cut to VIA and elimination of the military college. Harper chose to restore those. He chose to spend more on polls. He chose to have a bigger cabinet. Those weren't things the Opposition was compelling him to do.

[jdobbin]

That's good, I'd go further, cut salaries of all gov't employees by 10% due to these tough times, slash arts funding, open up the canadian health care system to two tier care and impose a salary cap, gut the senate, ensure that civil service is performance based, only invest in projects that would result in at least a return on investment, simplify the tax system, invest in crown corporations and then sell them off or keep them based on performance and money coming into the gov't.

That's my start

No argument on cutting salaries 10%. Harper was in increasing those and hiring the entire two years he was in office.

Unless you open the constitution, there is no way to do anything on the Senate. Don't do it unless you want everyone and their dog to open up that can of worms.

Healthcare is federal/provincial issue. It is another can of worms. Easier to cut cap transfer payments and let the provinces find ways of better managing their systems.

No arguments on simplifying the tax system. I'd eliminate tax credits for a range of things in favour of a straight tax cut.

[Shakeyhands]

That's good, I'd go further, cut salaries of all gov't employees by 10% due to these tough times, slash arts funding, open up the canadian health care system to two tier care and impose a salary cap, gut the senate, ensure that civil service is performance based, only invest in projects that would result in at least a return on investment, simplify the tax system, invest in crown corporations and then sell them off or keep them based on performance and money coming into the gov't.

That's my start

Not bad at all, maybe a stepped reduction in salaries.

I don't agree with the health care idea however, I believe that two tier ends up costing more (same with privitized) at the end of the day.