本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛QUEBEC CITY, TORONTO, OTTAWA — Stephen Harper refused Friday to rule out the possibility of a deficit next year despite his promise during the election campaign that he would not allow one if re-elected.
While the Prime Minister said he intends to maintain a balanced budget this year, he did not say the same for 2009-10.
“I don't think we're in a position yet to know all the information in that regard,” Mr. Harper said in Quebec City, where Canada is hosting a summit of French-speaking governments. “It would be premature to speculate on that. I will just say that the Government of Canada will maintain responsible fiscal policies and the Government of Canada will ensure that whatever we do is in the long-run interests of the Canadian economy.”
The government will unveil an updated economic statement later this fall. Should revenues be affected by economic turmoil after this year, the Tories would have to choose whether to run a deficit, cut spending or find other revenue sources such as increasing taxes.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso pose for an official photo at La Citadelle, on Friday during the 12th Francophonie Summit in Quebec City.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso pose for an official photo at La Citadelle, on Friday during the 12th Francophonie Summit in Quebec City. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Canadian Press last night, quoting sources familiar with finance options, said that Ottawa is looking at a menu of cuts including a public-service hiring freeze and delaying current and election-platform spending plans to avoid a deficit.
“Deficit financing would be probably the dead last option. They would go to great lengths to prevent a federal deficit,” one insider said.
Possible cuts would include delaying until the end of the mandate campaign promises such as the two-cent-a-litre diesel-fuel-tax reduction, and accelerating the current spending-review program. Even transfers to provinces and individuals would not be ruled out, one source said, if the fiscal hole is deemed sufficiently deep.
Tory spokesman Kory Tenecyke on Friday night called the suggestions “highly speculative.”
Asked on Oct. 7 if he would unequivocally rule out running a deficit if re-elected, Mr. Harper responded “yes, yes,” pointing to the modesty of his party's spending program.
Mr. Harper made his latest comments as a growing chorus of economists predict Canada is facing deficits as a result of the economic difficulties roiling the stock markets.
At a meeting on Monday, Canada's premiers are expected to seek assurances from the Harper government that provincial transfers are safe from spending cuts. The premiers do not want a repeat of the mid-1990s, when the Liberal government used that tactic to slash its deficit, a senior Ontario government source said.
“I would anticipate that will be something that will be discussed on Monday,” the source said. “History has shown that federal governments have fought deficits or tried to keep their own fiscal house in order on the backs of the provinces.”
He noted that Mr. Harper's vow to keep the budget balanced and not raise taxes leaves spending cuts as his only option.
But Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said the economic and political situation is vastly different from 1995, when the Paul Martin government cut transfers.
“There is a fundamental difference between 1995 and 2008, and that's that there wasn't a minority Parliament,” he said. “Secondly, there's agreements in place on health care, and three-year agreements on other matters.”
Also Friday, Mr. Harper and French President Nicolas Sarkozy agreed that an international economic summit should take place before the end of next month, though it was less clear whether the men agreed on the scope and ambitions of the meeting or the guest list. The two men met, along with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, to discuss plans for a comprehensive economic agreement between Canada and the European Union.
Mr. Sarkozy has said that the summit should be nothing less than an overhaul of the capitalist system, and should include the major industrialized countries along with China, India and at least one Arab country. Mr. Harper focused on the need for more regulation to rein in excess in the economic system.
“We went through a period in our history where, for lack of a better term, we had unfettered capitalism, capitalism without any rules, without accurate and widely available information,” he said.
“It's not to say capitalism is flawed, it's to say governments have a responsibility to create a better infrastructure for the establishment of markets internationally.”
On Wednesday, the day after he won a second minority government, Mr. Harper released a six-point plan aimed at dealing with the economy. It includes a meeting with the premiers, but he won't be attending the one on Monday in Montreal.
Premiers and their spokespeople said they will discuss a number of issues.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said he plans to push for action within 90 days to eliminate labour and trade barriers among provinces – a measure he has long championed and that he now sees as one possible tactic for helping the economy.
“We've all committed to more labour mobility in Canada. I think we should accelerate that,” Mr. Campbell said in an interview Friday.
Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald said he expected the provincial leaders would use the opportunity to prepare for the meeting with Mr. Harper. He said the worst possible thing he and his fellow premiers could do is react too quickly.
“I have confidence in our ability to weather the storm,” he said. “But we are not immune to some of what's happening out there.”
New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham said his province has launched an ambitious agenda to attain self-sufficiency that is going to require strategic investments in infrastructure.
Tom Olsen, a spokesman for Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, said one of Mr. Stelmach's primary concerns has also been interprovincial trade.
“He thinks that barriers between the provinces, if they are further reduced and we promote the east-west flow of goods, that's a good thing for the nation's economy.”更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
While the Prime Minister said he intends to maintain a balanced budget this year, he did not say the same for 2009-10.
“I don't think we're in a position yet to know all the information in that regard,” Mr. Harper said in Quebec City, where Canada is hosting a summit of French-speaking governments. “It would be premature to speculate on that. I will just say that the Government of Canada will maintain responsible fiscal policies and the Government of Canada will ensure that whatever we do is in the long-run interests of the Canadian economy.”
The government will unveil an updated economic statement later this fall. Should revenues be affected by economic turmoil after this year, the Tories would have to choose whether to run a deficit, cut spending or find other revenue sources such as increasing taxes.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso pose for an official photo at La Citadelle, on Friday during the 12th Francophonie Summit in Quebec City.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper and the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso pose for an official photo at La Citadelle, on Friday during the 12th Francophonie Summit in Quebec City. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Canadian Press last night, quoting sources familiar with finance options, said that Ottawa is looking at a menu of cuts including a public-service hiring freeze and delaying current and election-platform spending plans to avoid a deficit.
“Deficit financing would be probably the dead last option. They would go to great lengths to prevent a federal deficit,” one insider said.
Possible cuts would include delaying until the end of the mandate campaign promises such as the two-cent-a-litre diesel-fuel-tax reduction, and accelerating the current spending-review program. Even transfers to provinces and individuals would not be ruled out, one source said, if the fiscal hole is deemed sufficiently deep.
Tory spokesman Kory Tenecyke on Friday night called the suggestions “highly speculative.”
Asked on Oct. 7 if he would unequivocally rule out running a deficit if re-elected, Mr. Harper responded “yes, yes,” pointing to the modesty of his party's spending program.
Mr. Harper made his latest comments as a growing chorus of economists predict Canada is facing deficits as a result of the economic difficulties roiling the stock markets.
At a meeting on Monday, Canada's premiers are expected to seek assurances from the Harper government that provincial transfers are safe from spending cuts. The premiers do not want a repeat of the mid-1990s, when the Liberal government used that tactic to slash its deficit, a senior Ontario government source said.
“I would anticipate that will be something that will be discussed on Monday,” the source said. “History has shown that federal governments have fought deficits or tried to keep their own fiscal house in order on the backs of the provinces.”
He noted that Mr. Harper's vow to keep the budget balanced and not raise taxes leaves spending cuts as his only option.
But Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said the economic and political situation is vastly different from 1995, when the Paul Martin government cut transfers.
“There is a fundamental difference between 1995 and 2008, and that's that there wasn't a minority Parliament,” he said. “Secondly, there's agreements in place on health care, and three-year agreements on other matters.”
Also Friday, Mr. Harper and French President Nicolas Sarkozy agreed that an international economic summit should take place before the end of next month, though it was less clear whether the men agreed on the scope and ambitions of the meeting or the guest list. The two men met, along with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, to discuss plans for a comprehensive economic agreement between Canada and the European Union.
Mr. Sarkozy has said that the summit should be nothing less than an overhaul of the capitalist system, and should include the major industrialized countries along with China, India and at least one Arab country. Mr. Harper focused on the need for more regulation to rein in excess in the economic system.
“We went through a period in our history where, for lack of a better term, we had unfettered capitalism, capitalism without any rules, without accurate and widely available information,” he said.
“It's not to say capitalism is flawed, it's to say governments have a responsibility to create a better infrastructure for the establishment of markets internationally.”
On Wednesday, the day after he won a second minority government, Mr. Harper released a six-point plan aimed at dealing with the economy. It includes a meeting with the premiers, but he won't be attending the one on Monday in Montreal.
Premiers and their spokespeople said they will discuss a number of issues.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said he plans to push for action within 90 days to eliminate labour and trade barriers among provinces – a measure he has long championed and that he now sees as one possible tactic for helping the economy.
“We've all committed to more labour mobility in Canada. I think we should accelerate that,” Mr. Campbell said in an interview Friday.
Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald said he expected the provincial leaders would use the opportunity to prepare for the meeting with Mr. Harper. He said the worst possible thing he and his fellow premiers could do is react too quickly.
“I have confidence in our ability to weather the storm,” he said. “But we are not immune to some of what's happening out there.”
New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham said his province has launched an ambitious agenda to attain self-sufficiency that is going to require strategic investments in infrastructure.
Tom Olsen, a spokesman for Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, said one of Mr. Stelmach's primary concerns has also been interprovincial trade.
“He thinks that barriers between the provinces, if they are further reduced and we promote the east-west flow of goods, that's a good thing for the nation's economy.”更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net