Harper blatantly misleads about phony “surplus” – He cannot be trusted

August 28, 2015

OTTAWA – Stephen Harper cannot be trusted. Harper is trumpeting a phony “surplus” in today’s fiscal monitor, even though he knows he is running an eighth consecutive deficit.

• The figures released today clearly reveal: “the first three months of the fiscal year provide limited information with respect to the outlook for the year as a whole.” (Department of Finance Canada, The Fiscal Monitor – June 2015)
• The Parliamentary Budget Officer, who looks at the full fiscal year, confirmed the government is running a $1 billion deficit for the entire fiscal year.
• Plunging oil prices mean the deficit will grow even larger. Projected in this year’s Budget to be $54 per barrel in 2015 (Budget 2015, Table 2.2 on page 61), the price of oil dropped to $40 last week – its lowest level since early 2009.

“Stephen Harper isn’t telling the truth. He’s running another deficit and he knows it,” said Liberal candidate for Kings–Hants, Scott Brison. “To mislead Canadians like this is as low as it gets, even for Stephen Harper who is defined by a career of deception. He can’t be trusted.”

“Experts have confirmed that Canada is the only G7 country in recession and that Harper is currently running a deficit; the Parliamentary Budget Officer said so in July,” said Mr. Brison. “Canadians expect their leaders to be honest with them and to take responsibility for their own actions. Stephen Harper has failed on both counts. That’s not leadership.”