Conservatives push for deeper cuts

[EdCase]

A headline from today's G&M:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-push-for-deeper-cuts-to-keep-budget-on-track/article2266859/

The Harper Government™ have lots of room to cut their own profligate spending.

From 2006/7 - the first full year of the Harper Government™ - to 2011/2, Federal expenditures increased 22% from $222.2B to $270.5B. The number of federal employees has also grown 25% from 423,00 to 530,000. Cuts of 5 to 10% won't even start to make a dent in the fiscal incompetence shown by this government.

Right now, they are in full panic mode. Canada's total debt - government, corporate & personal was 313% of 2010 GDP (Bank for International Settlements). This compares with the US 268, Germany 241, Australia 235 & Greece (yes Greece) at 265. We are one of only three OECD countries - the other are the UK & Portugal - that exceed the safe threshold level for all three debt components.



The only thing that has been baling us out is the demand for our commodities, but this may not carry us forward. Global growth is forecast at only 1.4% pa through 2018 with recessions likely in 2012/13 and 2016/17; even China will go through some painful readjustment of its growth.



This government has got to get serious about responsible financial management or there is a real possibility we will go the way of Italy.

[grammafreddy]

Yuppers ... that's what I have been saying for years - we can not afford all this nice social program fuzzy stuff we keep asking the government to provide for us. We can't afford all the bureaucracy they put in place to administer all the programs. Hell, technically speaking, we can't even afford to buy the pencils the bureaucrats push.

[EdCase]

Yuppers ... that's what I have been saying for years - we can not afford all this nice social program fuzzy stuff we keep asking the government to provide for us. We can't afford all the bureaucracy they put in place to administer all the programs. Hell, technically speaking, we can't even afford to buy the pencils the bureaucrats push.

All true but the big increases have been at DND, Corrections Canada, CBSA, Treasury Board, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (??) and the Canada School of Public Service (??????).

[Homeownertoo]

Isn't the subject headline a tad misleading? 'Deeper cuts' presupposes there have been cuts at all. The story points out that it is exactly the opposite. Any cuts at all would be welcome.

[GenesisGT]

Wouldn't it be nice that instead of MPs showing up for ribbon cutting ceremonies where our tax money is spent, is that if every MP said they will cut in half the grants and contributions they made deals for to be spent in their respective ridings last year.
Put the responsibility on the MPs, to report on spending in their riding and how they are going to reduce it. With 307 MPs I am sure this would make a dent in the spending.

[Bagotricks]

Yuppers ... that's what I have been saying for years - we can not afford all this nice social program fuzzy stuff we keep asking the government to provide for us. We can't afford all the bureaucracy they put in place to administer all the programs. Hell, technically speaking, we can't even afford to buy the pencils the bureaucrats push.

Another government had a balanced budget and surplus *and* lots of social programs. The single tear for the corporation that had to pay taxes huh?

Of course, the current government is too busy dropping a million on Libya penis envy propaganda to try and avoid repeating their parties history.

[Urbane]

Isn't the subject headline a tad misleading? 'Deeper cuts' presupposes there have been cuts at all. The story points out that it is exactly the opposite. Any cuts at all would be welcome.

I was thinking the same thing.