Thursday, April 20, 2006
Easier said than done
The International Monetary Fund doesn't need to get elected and it sure shows by their fiscal statements.
"The new Canadian government has some fiscal room to maneuver in achieving its objective of lowering the tax burden and slowing spending growth, while maintaining fiscal surpluses and keeping government debt on a firm downward path."
Technically this statement is true, however, I am not sure that Canadians are buying it. The IMF doesn't face voters and as a result likely miss this:
"The new Canadian government has some fiscal room to maneuver in achieving its objective of lowering the tax burden and slowing spending growth, while maintaining fiscal surpluses and keeping government debt on a firm downward path."
Technically this statement is true, however, I am not sure that Canadians are buying it. The IMF doesn't face voters and as a result likely miss this:
- Farmers pleading for additional money to fight a losing battle and a subsidy war;
- A new environmental plan to address some of the series issues facing the country;
- Flood cleanup in the west;
- Health advocates and provincial premiers clamoring for additional funds for the Medicare monster;
- The rise in energy prices that is likely to result in government intervention - somehow, someway;
- The looming issue of passports for traveling to the US. This has the potential to be a big issue since the cost of a passport has risen in the past decade considerable;
- The mounting pressures for increased investment in research and development;
- 100's of billions of dollars in infrastructure projects that are necessary to ensure that Canada stays competitive in the global economy;
- A childcare strategy that works for all Canadians; and
- The fallout costs of the Conservatives new crime strategy. There are real costs associated with more jails.
The Conservative's real test will come sometime next month when they deliver their first budget and the judge will be Joe Voter not some suit working for the IMF.
# posted by Shaky @ 12:01 a.m. 
