Deficits: Flaherty Joins His Mini Leader In The Tap Dance

From yesterday's post:

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.

Today, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty joins the double-talking, obfuscating tap dance of his Mini Leader:

Flaherty expects 'modest' surplus this year

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says Canada is on track "for a modest fiscal surplus this year," but would not say whether the country is immune from future deficits as the global credit crisis continues.

Not surprisingly, the non-denial denial of Flaherty, and that of Harper, is ludicrous in light of this report.

If we "are on track", how is it that there will be only a "modest" budget surplus as opposed to previous years?

And how exactly would we be thrown into deficit, except through the typical republican/conservative/neocon fiscally irresponsible, wrongheaded spending policies of Harper and his Harpies?

(Afghanistan and significant increase in military spending, anyone?)

Not convinced? How about this gem of budget spending brilliance?

Canada to help poorer nations fight climate change

Canada will give $100 million to developing countries to fight climate change, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Sunday.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the three-day Francophonie summit in Quebec City, Harper said developed countries such as Canada are in a position to help poorer nations.

"We are aware that developing countries do not have as many resources with which to manage climate change and adaptation to the climate," he said.

Harper said the money will help "vulnerable countries, particularly in Africa, the Caribbean and the South Pacific."

How to square giving away $100 million to poorer countries, something which is indeed noble and charitable on the surface, in light of Harper's do-nothing/do-little (and confrontational) attitude with regards to fighting global warming and in light of Flaherty's claims of "a modest surplus this year", as well as the Harper-Flaherty non-denial denial of incoming huge deficits for next year?

One word: incompetence.

This is what you voted for, Canada, and this is just a sneek peek of what we'll all get during the next two years ahead (at least).

Mea culpa, mea culpa vox populi.