Opposition Released Budget Report Card

[FiveParadox]

The Honourable John McCallum, P.C., M.P., the Member for Markham—Unionville and the Finance Critic for Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, yesterday released the framework and criteria that Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition intends to use to "grade" the upcoming budget of the present Government of Canada. Mr. McCallum highlighted his opinion that this Government should take steps to ensure that under no circumstances should Canada return to red-ink budgets.

The Opposition's criteria for the Government's budget are to be:

• not raising income taxes;
• not cutting money to core services;
• revealing spending cuts line-by-line; and
• putting forth a plan for future jobs and prosperity.

:arrow: My Opinion Re: Government's First Budget

I have made certain concessions, in that even though I don't support some of the endeavours out of this Government; I don't think they should be defeated at this time. However, if this budget would present the nation with the serious risk of running into the red, then I would be a strong proponent for the immediate defeat of the Government and the precipitation of an election as soon as possible. This is not a partisan comment: Any Government that would run a deficit, except under exigent circumstances, should be defeated and removed.

:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Liberal Party of Canada.

 

[Jay]

From the link provided

http://www.liberal.ca/news_e.aspx?id=11555

Ottawa – The Liberal Party of Canada has created a groundbreaking Renewal Commission that will engage grassroots Liberals from across the country in an unprecedented party renewal process, said Liberal Party President Michael Eizenga.

So are they looking to speak with people who got off on their larceny charges and their lawyers?

 

[FiveParadox]

Judging from your diversion, Jay, should I assume that you disagree? Scandals in the previous Government mean that the Conservatives should have the right to rack up however much of a deficit as they see fit?

 

[Jay]

Everyone knows there isn't going to be any deficits.

 

[FiveParadox]

This is not a partisan comment: Any Government that would run a deficit, except under exigent circumstances, should be defeated and removed.

Do you disagree?

 

[Jay]

I'm not of the mind we need to have a law saying so, but in general yes I agree we shouldn't go down the road of deficits again unless we really need to.

Debt reduction and its benefits will be a wave we can ride for sometime to come IMO.

 

[FiveParadox]

I would agree. The economic situation that this Government inherited should keep our budgets in somewhat of a good shape, for the next few budgets, at the very least. I would hope that this Government keeps up the rate of debt reduction that was one of the "features", so to speak, of the budgets of the previous Government.

 

[Jay]

If I'm not mistaken Canada is in a bit of a unique position regarding debts and deficits. Even if we didn't pay any debt down we would still be ahead of the game compared with other big players.

 

[FiveParadox]

Of course we would, Jay; but in light of that, our resolve to pay down our debt should not be made any weaker. I think that it's exciting, in terms of the position that our budgets have taken us to, and I think that we should continue to improve that position through an aggressive¹ debt reduction strategy.

:!: Revision : (1) Corrected a typing error.

 

[Colpy]

The Honourable John McCallum, P.C., M.P., the Member for Markham—Unionville and the Finance Critic for Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, yesterday released the framework and criteria that Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition intends to use to "grade" the upcoming budget of the present Government of Canada. Mr. McCallum highlighted his opinion that this Government should take steps to ensure that under no circumstances should Canada return to red-ink budgets.

The Opposition's criteria for the Government's budget are to be:

• not raising income taxes;
• not cutting money to core services;
• revealing spending cuts line-by-line; and
• putting forth a plan for future jobs and prosperity.

:arrow: My Opinion Re: Government's First Budget

I have made certain concessions, in that even though I don't support some of the endeavours out of this Government; I don't think they should be defeated at this time. However, if this budget would present the nation with the serious risk of running into the red, then I would be a strong proponent for the immediate defeat of the Government and the precipitation of an election as soon as possible. This is not a partisan comment: Any Government that would run a deficit, except under exigent circumstances, should be defeated and removed.

:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Although I think the opposition criteria to grade the proposed budget is simply self-serving BS, that is what is to be expected from any opposition party. To oppose.

They'll get what they get.

You are quite correct in saying that ANY government that enters into deficit spending should be defeated ASAP. In that instance I would not vote.

I don't think there is the slightest chance of that happening.

 

[BitWhys]

...Although I think the opposition criteria to grade the proposed budget is simply self-serving BS, that is what is to be expected from any opposition party. To oppose.
...

anything in particular wrong with those criteria besides the source?

 

[darkbeaver]

RE: Opposition Released B

Colpy if you don't vote then you're not exercising your duty as a citizen, if this government phucks up and you wouldn't vote then I question your love of democracy.

 

[LittleRunningGag]

I tend to agree with you Five. Unless the budget has the potential to cause a deficit, I don't think that it should be defeated.

But I think that I would take it a step further. If they don't make any commitments towards repayment, in this budget, it needs to be defeated. I realise that it isn't on very many radars, but it should be. With the way that the economic power in the world is shifting, I think that Canada will need every advantage it can get.