From David Frum.
Canada, quietly humming along. Many, many reasons for this. I think that Frum's conservative leanings are the reason for his over-praise of Stephen Harper. I didn't vote for Harper nor am I a supporter of the conservatives but I do give him credit for the way he has handled the economy. He's an economist at heart and that's why we mercifully haven't had to deal with a lot of social conservatism. With a couple of exceptions, he's generally been able to muzzle that chunk of his party to near silence. I take issue with a number of his policies, but economic stewardship is not one.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com...to-be-the-best-governed-country-in-the-world/
Canada, quietly humming along. Many, many reasons for this. I think that Frum's conservative leanings are the reason for his over-praise of Stephen Harper. I didn't vote for Harper nor am I a supporter of the conservatives but I do give him credit for the way he has handled the economy. He's an economist at heart and that's why we mercifully haven't had to deal with a lot of social conservatism. With a couple of exceptions, he's generally been able to muzzle that chunk of his party to near silence. I take issue with a number of his policies, but economic stewardship is not one.
Under Stephen Harper, Canada can fairly claim to be the best-governed country among advanced democracies in the world. Thursday’s federal budget locks up Canada’s lead.
Right now, the major economies share a common economic problem: With the world slowly and fitfully emerging from the worst economic crisis since the 1930s, they must begin to plan to reduce their debt burdens — but not so fast that they crush demand and abort the recovery. The United Kingdom exemplifies the dangers of moving too fast: your recovery falters.
The United States exemplifies the risks of moving too slow: The inability of its political system to agree on any plan to balance the budget has cost the world’s biggest economy its Triple-A credit rating.
...
Canada has been seeking to move at a pace that’s just right — and with the 2012 budget, Canada continues to succeed. Barring an unexpected slump into renewed recession, Thursday’s budget moves Canada to budget balance over the next three years. There will be no tax increases. Federal spending growth will be restrained, but outlays will still rise: from $272.9 billion in the year just ended to a projected $296.6 billion in 2015-2016.
...
By 2015-2016, Canada will have reduced both spending and debt to pre-recession levels. Nobody else on earth will be able to say anything like that.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com...to-be-the-best-governed-country-in-the-world/