Read My Lips: NO NEW TAXES

[Derek 2.0]

Turning it into a string of deficits and the largest growth of the national debt is a lot less to brag about.

Not raising taxes during a period of worldwide economic turmoil, resulting in a loss in Government revenue, then returning to a balanced budget a year earlier than projected is though........

[On Guard for Thee]

Not raising taxes during a period of worldwide economic turmoil, resulting in a loss in Government revenue, then returning to a balanced budget a year earlier than projected is though........

Ha ha, projected when? And after at least a half dozen deficits.Sorry, but it's just oe of the worst economic records, as has been pointed out, since Borden.

[Derek 2.0]

Ha ha, projected when? And after at least a half dozen deficits.Sorry, but it's just oe of the worst economic records, as has been pointed out, since Borden.

Are you suggesting the Liberals or NDP, if in Government 2008, wouldn't have engaged in deficit spending? Per historic, they both wanted to spend even more money........likewise, Trudeau is promising three years of further deficit spending if elected......so no, you don't have a point.

[On Guard for Thee]

Are you suggesting the Liberals or NDP, if in Government 2008, wouldn't have engaged in deficit spending? Per historic, they both wanted to spend even more money........likewise, Trudeau is promising three years of further deficit spending if elected......so no, you don't have a point.

Well once again, one has only to look at the historical record to see which party's do best at the economy. CPC finish a distant third.

[Smallc]

Seeing how the Conservatives blew through a nearly $14 billion surplus before the economic crisis of 2008

That's not quite correct. Budget 2008 predicted a deficit. It was only the ( a ) parliamentary crisis, and ( b ) the worldwide economic recession that caused that prediction to be wrong.

[Smallc]

Well no, the legislation, as mentioned already, allows for deficit spending in an emergency.

So then it's utterly useless.

[Smallc]

If the NDP or Liberal had of been Government in 2008, would they not have run deficits?

Many forget that much of the deficit spending came as a response to the coalition threat that the Conservatives faced. The 2008 economic update still showed a surplus for every year after that. I actually believe that it would have been true without the spending that was forced (which I completely support).

[Smallc]

Tax breaks for corps. and a reduction in GST for starters.

That means they didn't actually blow it. Those kinds of tax breaks are not expenditures.

[Smallc]

the largest growth of the national debt

Citation requested (specially with figures showing that as a percentage of GDP - the important measure).

[Smallc]

Not raising taxes during a period of worldwide economic turmoil, resulting in a loss in Government revenue, then returning to a balanced budget a year earlier than projected is though.

Their original 2008 plan called for no deficits. Care to square that circle?

[Derek 2.0]

So then it's utterly useless.

Not at all, since both pieces of legislation prevent deficits/tax increases when their is no valid reason for one.........not even the most ardent Keynesian would suggest deficit spending on social programs to be prudent economic policy.......

[Smallc]

And after at least a half dozen deficits.Sorry, but it's just oe of the worst economic records, as has been pointed out, since Borden.

A record shared by every leader in the first world. Don't let that get in the way of a good half truth though.

[Smallc]

Well once again, one has only to look at the historical record to see which party's do best at the economy.

Yes, lets just pretend that the rest of the world doesn't exist.

[Smallc]

Not at all, since both pieces of legislation prevent deficits/tax increases when their is no valid reason for one

I'd prefer to leave those decisions in the hands of future parliaments, where they belong.

.........not even the most ardent Keynesian would suggest deficit spending on social programs to be prudent economic policy.......

You're creating a boogeyman that doesn't exist, since no one is proposing that.

[Derek 2.0]

Many forget that much of the deficit spending came as a response to the coalition threat that the Conservatives faced. The 2008 economic update still showed a surplus for every year after that. I actually believe that it would have been true without the spending that was forced (which I completely support).

Without a doubt politics played large on the spending spree, but even I won't argue against some targeted stimulus spending during a major economic contraction........as such, in the balanced budget legislation, it allows for emergency spending in such cases.

[Smallc]

I doubt your perfect agreement is a coincidence.

[On Guard for Thee]

That means they didn't actually blow it. Those kinds of tax breaks are not expenditures.

Those kind of breaks add to the debt, which we have to eventually pay for.

[Derek 2.0]

Their original 2008 plan called for no deficits. Care to square that circle?

There is no circle to square, without it, a coalition Liberal/NDP/Bloc Government would have done it for them.

[Smallc]

Those kind of breaks add to the debt, which we have to eventually pay for.

There was no deficit pre 2008 financial crisis.

[Smallc]

There is no circle to square, without it, a coalition Liberal/NDP/Bloc Government would have done it for them.

You praise 'necessary' deficits that the Conservatives didn't originally plan for.

[On Guard for Thee]

Citation requested (specially with figures showing that as a percentage of GDP - the important measure).

http://ipolitics.ca/2015/04/19/no-matter-how-you-add-it-up-harpers-fiscal-record-is-a-catastrophe/

[On Guard for Thee]

Yes, lets just pretend that the rest of the world doesn't exist.

You mean like the rest of the G7 who are not in recession?

[Derek 2.0]

I'd prefer to leave those decisions in the hands of future parliaments, where they belong.

Are not future parliaments free to rewrite such legislation....granted at a political cost.

You're creating a boogeyman that doesn't exist, since no one is proposing that.

Odd, Trudeau and Mulcair are both promising to raise taxes and spending....

[Smallc]

That's not what I asked for

[Smallc]

You mean like the rest of the G7 who are not in recession?

We're talking about averaging the entire period from 2006-2015, when Harper was in power. Also, it's questionable that Canada was ever in recession at this point.