If Ontarians are to believe Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, next weeks provincial budget will be the most significant budget this government has ever delivered. Lets hope so. With a deficit of nearly $16 billion this year and several more expected over the coming years, Ontarians desperately need and deserve a plan to return fiscal sanity to the province.
government spending
March 20, 2012
3:00AM
With economic uncertainty lurking around every corner, its critical that governments across Canada show fiscal discipline and put forth prudent budgets.
Here in B.C., Finance Minister Kevin Falcon reassured British Columbians that his governments 2012 budget was built on fiscal discipline and lays a firm foundation for the future. Falcon even warned of the perils of additional government taxes, spending and borrowing, calling such measures potentially catastrophic.
Here in B.C., Finance Minister Kevin Falcon reassured British Columbians that his governments 2012 budget was built on fiscal discipline and lays a firm foundation for the future. Falcon even warned of the perils of additional government taxes, spending and borrowing, calling such measures potentially catastrophic.
March 14, 2012
3:00AM
Sitting down with my morning cup of coffee and Saturday's National Post, I was delighted to read Andrew Coyne's scathing criticism of the federal Conservatives' record in office, based on comments he was to make at this year's Manning Networking Conference (Is there a conservative in the House?, March 10).
Where has conservatism gone? Coyne asked. Unfortunately, Post readers didn't have to look far for the answer - the adjacent page to be precise.
Where has conservatism gone? Coyne asked. Unfortunately, Post readers didn't have to look far for the answer - the adjacent page to be precise.
March 9, 2012
2:00AM
With economic uncertainty as the backdrop, it was critical for the BC government to put forth a prudent budget. Finance minister Kevin Falcon acknowledged as much by reassuring British Columbians that the budget was built on fiscal discipline and lays a firm foundation for the future. Falcon even warned of the perils of additional government taxes, spending, and borrowing in the current economic environment, calling such measures potentially catastrophic.
March 6, 2012
2:00AM
On Monday, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty held his traditional pre-budget consultation with a number of private-sector economists, who all appear to be predicting improved growth in the Canadian economy for the coming year. This no doubt comes as welcome news to the Finance Minister, as he prepares to unveil his next budget on March 29.
But the Finance Minister should not be swayed by these optimistic growth projections; he needs to bring in a budget that will take serious aim at balancing the nation's book.
But the Finance Minister should not be swayed by these optimistic growth projections; he needs to bring in a budget that will take serious aim at balancing the nation's book.
March 4, 2012
2:00AM
In his recent shot at Alberta, Ontarios premier Dalton McGuintywho blamed the Wests resource boom for a slowdown in Ontarios manufacturing sectorinvented a fascinating explanation for the relative decline of Ontario.
While McGuinty later backtracked and claimed his original clear point was not his actual opinion, what is yet transparent is how, in McGuintys world, Ontarios problems have nothing to do with his own policy choices, or events outside of Canadasay, worldwide competition in the manufacturing sector.
While McGuinty later backtracked and claimed his original clear point was not his actual opinion, what is yet transparent is how, in McGuintys world, Ontarios problems have nothing to do with his own policy choices, or events outside of Canadasay, worldwide competition in the manufacturing sector.
February 16, 2012
2:00AM
With sales and profits up at General Motors, proponents of the 2009 automotive bailout for GM (and Chrysler) now assert the taxpayer-financed rescue was a success. In a visit to Michigan in late January, U.S. president Barack Obama argued the deal saved jobs. Canadian politicians, including Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who last summer incorrectly asserted taxpayers received all their money back, have made similar boasts.
Given the revisionist history in play, lets place that 2009 deal in proper context.
Given the revisionist history in play, lets place that 2009 deal in proper context.
February 13, 2012
2:00AM
In 2011, most economic forecasters began the year rather optimistic. British Columbia had rebounded nicely from the 2009 recession and saw its economy grow at 3.0% in 2010, robust growth most forecasters thought would continue. Indeed, the BC governments Economic Forecast Council, a group of private-sector economists, predicted growth of 2.7% in 2011 and 3.0% for 2012.
December 18, 2011
2:00AM
For those who look back on 2011 and wonder how European and American governments dug themselves into such a deep debt hole, consider this image as an explanation: Santa Claus.