Globe and Mail: Stimulus cash didn’t create many jobs, Ottawa’s budget watchdog says

[tuvor]

Canada’s $4-billion infrastructure stimulus program was launched with a single focus in mind: jobs.

Now, after surveying those who actually received the federal cash, Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page gives the program poor marks on that goal.

The survey reinvigorates an unresolved debate that has long pitted the free-market disciples of classic liberal economic thinking against the post-Great Depression view popularized by British economist John Maynard Keynes that government intervention and deficits in hard times work.

...

Canada’s political parties all came to endorse the notion of stimulus spending when the program was launched in 2009, but the survey raises questions about whether the federal cash could have created more jobs.

...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/stimulus-cash-didnt-create-many-jobs-ottawas-budget-watchdog-says/article1821112/

[shockedcanadian]

1. This is worrisome...

We are living in the stone ages with this leadership. Spend money on new prisons but not growing and emerging markets, because everyone knows spending money on new prisons helps Canadians competitiveness standing in the world. It makes absolutely no sense, none whatsoever. It is extremely disappointing and frustrating that Canadian leaders do not have an answer to provide to businesses to develop emerging markets...alot of this money could have been spent on R&D with a focus on building patents, and potential future business. Canada has a 1-3 year plan (keep mining and digging for oil) while other nations have a plan that is much more forward thinking, looking out many decades.

Here is what China is planning on doing, kind of ironic that a Communist nation is looking to the future and global economic expansion, while our Progressive free-market leaders were filling potholes:


China mulls $1.5-trillion industry boost


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/china-mulls-15-trillion-industry-boost/article1821827/

[glarius]

2. Especially worrisome since Canada's crime rate is falling.

Harper, as usual is tone deaf and merely intent on his right wing agenda!
Here's an article from the Toronto Sun.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/07/20/14765636.html

[shockedcanadian]

3. Stockwell Day's comment sums that up fairly nicely...

Stockwell suggested that even though crime is down it simply means that many crimes aren't being reported, therefore, they are justifed in spending $10-14 BILLION on new superprisons.

Is this rational and logical thinking?

Maybe there should be a big push for an investment in the horse and buggy industry. Canada might even own a monopoly in that industry if we invest enough money into it.