Roundup: Spinning deficit financing

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It should be no surprise that a government that likes to re-announce the same funds over and over again are now re-spinning old funds with a new purpose. As previously discussed, they’re going full-speed ahead on rebranding their childcare benefits as economic stimulus – because apparently only families with children should be stimulating the economy. (Singletons, we’re being shafted – again). As well, Scott Brison noted that these cheques are essentially being deficit financed, after the budget raided both the contingency reserve and the EI fund to pay for them while still claiming balance (not to mention their projections for oil prices). And hey, you know what would be a good thing during a recession? A full contingency reserve and an EI fund that’s ready to help any layoffs and job losses that result from said recession. But things were going to be rosy, and there was nothing to worry about – except now there is, but Harper insists it’s all external factors (never mind that he still takes credit when things go well even though it had nothing to do with his government). What great economic leadership…

Good reads:

  • Today is the day the Prime Minister of Ukraine signs a trade deal with Canada, mostly as a sign of our faith in their economic reforms.
  • Canada is funding democracy promotion and bureaucratic reform as well as combat training in Ukraine. There’s even $3 million to train investigative journalists!
  • The family of a soldier who committed suicide want the minister to look into General Lawson’s letter and confusing apology regarding their son’s medals.
  • What’s that? The government’s plans to use alternate sources of medical isotopes faces risks, delays and shortages? You don’t say!
  • CRA has written off $4 billion in “uncollectable” tax debts over the past two years. But they’re getting tough on tax evasion! Really!
  • The practice of shuffling assistant deputy ministers around between departments is leaving them without the skills or experience to lead those departments.

Odds and ends:

The NDP put out a new online attack ad, much of the content of which has one wondering if they sufficiently lawyered up with its depictions.

The governments of Latvia and the Czech Republic have donated to the proposed Victims of Communism memorial in Ottawa.

Health Canada is spending $1.5 million to re-air those anti-marijuana ads. I’m sure the timing has nothing to do with legalization being an election issue.