Thursday, January 1, 2026
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

    Feds cracking down on 'barbaric' cultural practices, immigrant polygamy

    Feds cracking down on 'barbaric' cultural practices, immigrant polygamy
    TORONTO — Legislation aimed at curbing "barbaric" cultural practices from occurring in Canada would be introduced on Wednesday, Citizenship Minister Chris Alexander has announced.

    Feds cracking down on 'barbaric' cultural practices, immigrant polygamy

    MPs to debate bill that would bring back long census Conservatives axed

    MPs to debate bill that would bring back long census Conservatives axed
    OTTAWA — The Commons will debate a private member's bill to bring back the long-form census, the mandatory questionnaire axed by the Conservative government in 2010.

    MPs to debate bill that would bring back long census Conservatives axed

    Senate approves Conservative government's controversial prostitution bill

    Senate approves Conservative government's controversial prostitution bill
    OTTAWA — The Conservative government's controversial anti-prostitution bill passed third reading in the Senate on Tuesday and requires only royal assent to become law.

    Senate approves Conservative government's controversial prostitution bill

    Agriculture minister disappointed group wants to continue wheat board lawsuit

    Agriculture minister disappointed group wants to continue wheat board lawsuit
    OTTAWA — Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says he is disappointed a farm group wants to take its multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Ottawa over the Canadian Wheat Board to the Supreme Court.

    Agriculture minister disappointed group wants to continue wheat board lawsuit

    Stuckless guilty of 2 counts of gross indecency;acquitted on 2 counts of buggery

    Stuckless guilty of 2 counts of gross indecency;acquitted on 2 counts of buggery
    TORONTO — Months after pleading guilty to 100 charges related to the sexual abuse of 18 boys, the man at the centre of the Maple Leaf Gardens sex scandal has been convicted in two more charges linked to two of those victims.  

    Stuckless guilty of 2 counts of gross indecency;acquitted on 2 counts of buggery

    Even Canadian oil could be affected: A look at wide-ranging U.S. midterm results

    Even Canadian oil could be affected: A look at wide-ranging U.S. midterm results
    WASHINGTON — It didn't take the Canadian government long to note the far-reaching policy implications of the Republican wave in Tuesday's midterm U.S. elections.

    Even Canadian oil could be affected: A look at wide-ranging U.S. midterm results