Sunday, December 28, 2025
ADVT 
National

Keep running deficits until economy stabilizes? Trudeau dodges question

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Jan, 2015 10:55 AM

    LONDON, Ont. — Justin Trudeau refuses to say if he thinks the federal government should abandon its commitment to a balanced budget given the economic turmoil caused by plunging oil prices.

    The Liberal leader says the Bank of Canada's surprise interest rate cut is further proof that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government is on the wrong economic track.

    He says the government's priority should be on spurring economic growth and creating jobs — not delivering a $2.4-billion tax cut to the country's wealthiest families.

    Some economists say the Conservative government should be investing in things like infrastructure to encourage growth and give up its fixation on balancing the 2015-16 budget after six years of deficits.

    But Trudeau isn't going that far.

    He dodges the question when asked if it makes more economic sense to continue running a small deficit until the economy stabilizes.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Government not doing enough to keep tabs on northern food-subsidy program: audit

    Government not doing enough to keep tabs on northern food-subsidy program: audit
    OTTAWA — The auditor general says the federal government can't tell if northerners are reaping the full benefit of a program aimed at helping to offset the high cost of food in the North.

    Government not doing enough to keep tabs on northern food-subsidy program: audit

    No one-stop shop for data on government auto bailouts, auditor finds

    No one-stop shop for data on government auto bailouts, auditor finds
    OTTAWA — Canadians would have to sift through a stack of different reports if they wanted to piece together how their tax dollars were spent on big auto bailouts, says a new report by the federal auditor general.

    No one-stop shop for data on government auto bailouts, auditor finds

    Canada's collective memory at risk due to shortcomings at Archives: auditor

    Canada's collective memory at risk due to shortcomings at Archives: auditor
    OTTAWA — Future generations may not be able to enjoy Canada's recorded heritage — including photos, maps and important documents — because Library and Archives Canada is not collecting all of the material it should from federal agencies, the auditor general says.

    Canada's collective memory at risk due to shortcomings at Archives: auditor

    Highlights from the fall 2014 report of the federal auditor general

    Highlights from the fall 2014 report of the federal auditor general
    OTTAWA — Highlights from auditor general Michael Ferguson's fall 2014 report, released Tuesday:

    Highlights from the fall 2014 report of the federal auditor general

    Harper earmarks $5.8B for federal infrastructure, including parks, museums

    Harper earmarks $5.8B for federal infrastructure, including parks, museums
    LONDON, Ont. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled a $5.8-billion menu of federal infrastructure improvements Monday in an announcement one political rival immediately described as a batch of recycled promises.

    Harper earmarks $5.8B for federal infrastructure, including parks, museums

    Vets needing PTSD benefits face dizzying paperwork, eight-month wait: auditor

    Vets needing PTSD benefits face dizzying paperwork, eight-month wait: auditor
    OTTAWA — Many of Canada's battle-scarred veterans wait up to eight months to find out if they are eligible for long-term, mental-health disability benefits and the department responsible for their care has no idea if its treatment programs are effective, the auditor general said Tuesday.

    Vets needing PTSD benefits face dizzying paperwork, eight-month wait: auditor