How Canada Benefited From Spending Cuts (interstate, drugs, healthcare, highway)

[Motion]

During those four years, the then Canadian administration of prime minister Jean Chretien managed to turn a deficit of 9.1% or 39bn Canadian dollars ($37bn; £25bn) into a small budget surplus.

BBC News - What can the UK learn from Canada's budget cuts?



In his book “In the Long Run We’re All Dead: The Canadian Turn to Fiscal Restraint,” Timothy Lewis describes Canada’s move from fiscal irresponsibility to a balanced budget — a history that helps explain why the country has managed the current global recession relatively well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/business/18view.html

Does this confirm anyone's economic theories?

[rbohm]

i have always said that our governments spend too much money. we put big spending social programs in place when the economy is going good, but then it turns around and bites us when the economy turns sour.

[Motion]

I think they all know we need to cut spending to deal with the deficit but it's a matter of deciding on what to cut. If cuts do come they won't happen until after the Nov election.

[mwruckman]

Originally Posted by Motion

Does this confirm anyone's economic theories?

Canadian fiscal discipline has a price and that price is you don't spend billions on defense even though you have neighbors like the Russians questioning your claims to the Arctic. In fact you don't even have an imdependent Navy or AirForce becuase Canada merged the servuces together in what is called Forces Unification. Many government programs we carry out at the Federal level are passed down to Provincial level so when considering Canadian taxes you need to consider which province you are in. Consider the difference between Saskatchan which is kind of like the Dakotas and Ontario which is like New York State. Do you ever wonder why the Trans Canada Highway is not like a US Interstate say I-90 in most of western Canada? Ever wonder why Canada's VIARail is actually worse than AMTRAK? Also why in such provinces their may only be a few MRIs or CAT scanners? The only economic economic theory Canada illustrates is you get what you pay for. eh

[africanboy]

Originally Posted by mwruckman

Canadian fiscal discipline has a price and that price is you don't spend billions on defense even though you have neighbors like the Russians questioning your claims to the Arctic. In fact you don't even have an imdependent Navy or AirForce becuase Canada merged the servuces together in what is called Forces Unification. Many government programs we carry out at the Federal level are passed down to Provincial level so when considering Canadian taxes you need to consider which province you are in. Consider the difference between Saskatchan which is kind of like the Dakotas and Ontario which is like New York State. Do you ever wonder why the Trans Canada Highway is not like a US Interstate say I-90 in most of western Canada? Ever wonder why Canada's VIARail is actually worse than AMTRAK? Also why in such provinces their may only be a few MRIs or CAT scanners? The only economic economic theory Canada illustrates is you get what you pay for. eh

I'm not too sure that much of the Canadian public has much of a concern for their northern territory since 80+ % of the population lives within 200 kms of the US border. Not falling victim to the fear-mongering works wonders. My father practiced medicine in western Canada, so I can attest to the fact that the highways in Saskatchewan are horrible. You are also correct about the federal government throwing costs down to the provinces (i.e Paul Martin)... but those higher taxes get you a better public education system, universal healthcare, cheaper prescription drugs...

[mwruckman]

Originally Posted by africanboy

I'm not too sure that much of the Canadian public has much of a concern for their northern territory since 80+ % of the population lives within 200 kms of the US border. Not falling victim to the fear-mongering works wonders. My father practiced medicine in western Canada, so I can attest to the fact that the highways in Saskatchewan are horrible. You are also correct about the federal government throwing costs down to the provinces (i.e Paul Martin)... but those higher taxes get you a better public education system, universal healthcare, cheaper prescription drugs...

The problem with the future of the Arctic is whether or not it has large deposits of oil and gas lying under that ice cap that will be a memory by 2050. The Russians seem to think it does and have been trying to prove that a feature the Lomosov Ridge is a part of Siberia and hence a part of Russia's share of the Arctic Ocean economic zone. If this is acepted over 75% of the Arctic would belong to Russia.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by mwruckman

Canadian fiscal discipline has a price and that price is you don't spend billions on defense even though you have neighbors like the Russians questioning your claims to the Arctic. In fact you don't even have an imdependent Navy or AirForce becuase Canada merged the servuces together in what is called Forces Unification. Many government programs we carry out at the Federal level are passed down to Provincial level so when considering Canadian taxes you need to consider which province you are in. Consider the difference between Saskatchan which is kind of like the Dakotas and Ontario which is like New York State. Do you ever wonder why the Trans Canada Highway is not like a US Interstate say I-90 in most of western Canada? Ever wonder why Canada's VIARail is actually worse than AMTRAK? Also why in such provinces their may only be a few MRIs or CAT scanners? The only economic economic theory Canada illustrates is you get what you pay for. eh

Ontario is a quality place to live. My wife is from there.