PM says 97 per cent of stimulus now doled out

Prime Minister Stephen Harper kicked off his official visit to China by trumping Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, unveiling the government's economic report card. The announcement comes as Harper looks to thaw Canadian-Chinese relations.

Power Play: Finance Minister Jim Flaherty

The economic update has a 'use it or lose it' provision that sets a deadline for project completion. The finance minister explains that is because the 'spending has to end.'

Power Play: MP panel on the update

The fact the update was delivered while the PM was on a plane headed to China, insist the Tories, shows how open the PM is being. The opposition suggest it shows his 'disdain for Parliament.'

CTV News Channel: Bruce Hicks, U of Montreal

A political scientist from the University of Montreal explains why Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided to release the government's final economic report card while in China.

CTV News Channel: BNN's Mark Bunting reports

Prime Minister Stephen Harper released his government's economic report card on Wednesday, which reveiled that 97 per cent of stimulus money have been committed, with 70 per cent flowing into the economy.

CTV News Channel: L. Ian Macdonald, editor

A magazine editor reacts to Harper's decision to release his government's final economic report card while abroad instead of in the House of Commons.

CTV News Channel: John Ibbitson in Beijing

The Globe and Mail columnist is in Beijing and describes how journalists were surprised when Harper handed out a surprise economic update while on a plane to China.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrives to a news conference in Beijing, China on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009. (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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Selected Comment

With the economy in nascent recovery, the H1N1 thing moving along, and little back up to the Colvin torture allegation, it looks like Iggy is in need of a new "scandal". The bottom line is, this government is doing a competent job in spite of an obstructionist opposition.

Jim in Ontario

Harper says 97 per cent of stimulus now doled out

talking about
PM says 97 per cent of stimulus now doled out

Got something to say?

Robert Fife, CTV News, Ottawa bureau chief

Date: Wed. Dec. 2 2009 7:54 PM ET

BEIJING — Prime Minister Stephen Harper broke unconventional ground today, travelling half way around the world to unveil the Conservative government's final economic report card in China.

Senior officials handed copies of the fourth report to reporters on the plane en route to China where Harper is making his first official visit.

The fourth and final report outlines how effective the Harper Tories have been in doling out $62 billion of recession-fighting spending.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivered the final report card in Winnipeg later on Wednesday, saying the stimulus plan has helped fight the effects of the recession.

"One of the principal objectives of the plan was to restore confidence in the economy. It is evident now that consumer and business confidence has recovered sharply since the beginning of this year," Flaherty said.

However, he cautioned that the economy's recovery remains fragile.

"While output in Canada has improved, growth remains modest," Flaherty said.

The main points of the so called report card were released by the prime minister at a news conference with the travelling Canadian media, shortly after landing in Beijing after a 17 hour flight.

Like the other report cards, it was long on praise for the government's efforts to get billions of dollars out the door, claiming this unprecedented spending will create 220,000 jobs.

It says 167,000 Canadians are enrolled in federally-funded working sharing arrangements.

The report to Canadians claims 97 per cent of stimulus dollars have been committed for this fiscal year.

And it states close to 70 per cent of 2009-10 stimulus is already flowing in the economy.

For example it says $25 billion has been committed to 12,000 infrastructure projects across Canada of which about 8,000 have begun.

The report says $400 million of infrastructure money for next year hasn't been committed to yet. It urged the provinces and municipalities to move quickly to finalize any construction projects before the spending taps are turned off.

Due to unprecedented demand for Ottawa's ecoEnergy Retrofit programs, the Tories will take $205 million from the Clean Energy Fund to finance 120,000 additional retrofits for Canadian homeowners.

It notes the popular Home Renovation Tax credit has resulted in a sharp 12.5 and 11.5 per cent increase increases in the second and third quarters for home improvement while residential investment jumped 8.1 percent in the third quarter.

"As a result, in the last six months, Canada has experienced the largest increase in domestic expenditures among G-7 countries," the report said.

The deficit is projected to hit a high of $56 billion this year but will drop in $27.4 billion as stimulus spending winds down.

Comments are now closed for this story

R NS
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Easy to read that a few Liberals are swapping IP addresses and putting the thumb in the liberal direction. Only the posts at the top are ever in favor of the Liberals, because these Lib posters are slowly tacking on thumbs thru the day. Weak and shameful. You may be able to trick a computer, but you are not tricking Canadians...

Doug @ BC
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OMG "reece"!! WHat palnet have you been living on?? DUH!! The great economic meltdown in the USA started with Clinton and his bone headed socialist idea that EVERY American should own a home,and that the fact that they couldn't afford to actually poay for it was totally irrelevant. And,under Chretien,my spend thrift sister in law could have balanced the budget.Why.Because othe policies of the from PC party,led by a Prime Minister I still detest,had truck loads of money rolling into federal coffers.Look,I was a Liberal in thse days.I fought long and hard AGAINST the GST and Free Trade with the USA.You need to do what I finally did.Swallow your pride and admit that the party you seem to support was totally WRONG about both of those issues.At the same time,I took another big gult,and gave credit to a Prime Minister and a party I destesed with a passion.With the benefit of hindsight,it is easy to see that both the GST and more trade with the USA gave this country a huge economic boost that made balancing the budget so easy for Paul Martin that he could have done it in his sleep.I also,and finally recognize that former PM Brian Mulroney's acid rain treaty with the USA was the most progressive legislation to deal with the environment that ANY government in Canada has ever signed Your regular,Harper Hating posts leave you with no credibility.Please,don't let the facts get in the way of some good spin. The good news?? There are cures for your malady.I was helped by just opening my mind and my eyes.If you can manage that,you too can be saved from a life of bias and political partisanship.One that ignores,rather than examines the policies of parties you don't always like.

mike campbell
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3rd post . iI would say this some folks need to read the whole story. what harper said had nothing to do with what flaterly said two diff stories. here is astory the libs say the cons have only spent 9% of stimulus money , IF TRUE then the colaltion of weasels were wrong to force the consinto spending BILLIONS to help stimulate the econ . so which is it , i think the libs and ndp should be saying how sorry they are for the debt

back and to the left
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Prof. Pye Chartt shouldn't you be polishing your Yugo? Nobody, regardless of their political affiliation can write as much as you and say so little.

mike campbell
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harper said over 90% of stimulus money out there flatherly said over 40% of projects working! come on guys at least tell the truth i know the libs are desperate after trying to brand our troops as war criminals oh and all of canada through our gov.

Rob Helwig
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Our firm gets involved with infrastructure projects all the time. In fact were involved with over twenty stimulus projects right now. The great thing about these projects is most have been on the books for a while.- new seniors buildings, bridges, sewers etc. The country gets long term benefits from these types of projects unlike the NDP Jobs Ontario red tape boondoogle which didnt build one subsidized home but managed to spend 4 billion dollars trying.Rob

mike campbell
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the libs keep saying the goverment has only used 7% of the stimulus money yet , they have said that for 5 mths and have not shown any evidence.all these projects take time to pass all gov hoops but holy cow come spring. and just one other point the libs and ndp forced the cons to spend billions on stimuls but by there own words it was not needed ( as harper said)

The Other Lowell in BC
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Harper's shovels in the ground approach is not a long lasting one for job creation. Construction jobs are of a finite time limit. What about longer sustaining jobs. Allowing Nortel to be sold to foreign companies results in a net loss of good paying jobs. What about putting money towards education and programs to help entrepreneurs setup and develop new companies that are going to create new long term jobs. That is the engine that is going to drive the economy. I personally think that all of the money that was thrown at the auto industry was not money well spent. It affects a small part of the economy and targets one industry whose reputation for good management is less than stellar. Steve this is no time to be patting yourself on the back for a job well done.

JTP
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committed does not equal "doled out"97% committed means the money has been assigned/earmarked for certain projects. Many of those projects are underway but not completed.Flaherty commented that 40% of money has been distributed. Distribution comes at the end of a project.Read the words, they have actual meanings other than the conflict you want to see in them.Its standard practice in government funded projects that the money does not go out until the project is completed.

GHW
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Even all you hard core Liberals got to love Harper. Isn�t he just the best? Rock on Harper!

Adam in Ottawa
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Nice try , but not all Canadians are mindless blobs who forgot that the Conservatives didn't think we were in a recession, then had to be forced by the opposition to come up with ANY stimulus package! I hope Harpie dislocates his shoulder trying to pat his own back!

Peter in MB
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A wise man one said Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events and small minds talk about people.It seems the only way that all you the small minded liberals (or Fibreals) can do to try to make yourselfs look and feel good is to bash everything the PM dose. But when Iggy becomes PM every thing will be sunshine a flowers. Now I�m going to go and eat popcorn and drink beer wile I wait to see the Solders with Guns in the streets because you liberals/fibreals were not making that up.

DR. M
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@ Prof Pye ChartThanks for never failing to be predictable. Of course I can agree with one part of your argument and not another- some parts are right, others wrong. I thought I made it clear which those were. And thanks for agreeing with me that government spending can create jobs. I never said that wasn't often inefficient, only that it could work. So you are in fact disageeing with inferences you have drawn from what I said, not my actual argument. As usual, you've wound yourself so tight that you're now biting your own behind. The rest of your comments are mostly rant, but what on earth makes you think I'm a Liberal supporter? Once again, you jump to conclusions, then jump all over your own misunderstanding, putting words in people's mouths, calling names and attacking motives, not arguments. As for the "FACTS" that you keep referring to, which would those be, exactly? Oh, and thanks for agreeing that the "free" market isn't. But it isn't "capitalism" that's the problem, it's "corporatism". Think it through. Sigh...

Patricia
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Doled out to whom...his cronies and supporters?

STREEL
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Kissing China's behind will not get us out of this mess the Cons got us into! Is Harper the new finance minister now? Oh I forgot, he does not want anyone else having the media spotlight - that's why there are so few real men and women in the Con caucus. $282,000 of taxpayers money for every job created. Billions upon billions for big business. I am sick of this!!!!Boot them to kindgom come!!!

Rick in NB, Ste Marie
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@ Linda in Vancouver, Just read your comment. You must be using one of those little ipody things. Way to high tech for me.

Prof. Pye Chartt
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@ Dr. M: Thanks for disagreeing AND agreeing with my assertion(s) in the same breath. (That takes a certain kind of talent.) Quite contrary to your self-imposed political slant, my opposition to the federal stimulus program has less to do with ideology and more to do with economic history; in other words, FACT and not cute academic theory that can be quoted as argument. Indeed, the government CAN create jobs with public money; however, history and recorded FACT shows that such efforts come at an enormous cost, are inefficient, grossly wasteful, and, importantly, undermine the officially designated engine of growth: the private sector. I know that you understand and agree with what I'm saying. Your "confusion" resides in your long-standing insistence on labeling anyone who fully believes in market capitalism (the proven system that we've long adhered to) as a crazed right-wing "neo-con" and staunch advocate for deregulation and reckless commercial abandon. This has never been my position. (Don't let the "free" in "free-market capitalism" continue to drive you nuts. It's a falsehood.) Ultimately, as you acknowledge, a solid argument CANNOT be made that our federal government's "Economic Action Plan" has saved our souls. It's nonsense, given the actual indicators, timelines, and distribution realities. Lastly, the Conservatives tossed their convictions over their shoulder and succumbed to the misguided push of the Opposition. (It is a dumb mistake that I have trouble forgiving.) However, as a Liberal supporter, if you want to take credit for having the "idea" to shotgun tens of billions of dollars into the air, in thoughtless desperation, you can take credit for our resulting massive deficit. Thanks. Much appreciated.

reece
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"It's nice to see that Harper is slowly cleaning up the mess left by the Liberal government." - - did somebody just say that?? What country do you live in? Under Chretien we were a successful country posting surpluses and everybody was happy! I can say the same under President Clinton's tenure. Enter the clowns....deficits, joblessness, unregulation, hopelessness. GST & HST. Are you by chance a Chinese national bent on destroying us?

kblake in Ontario
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I am sickened by Harper back patters. Let us not forget Mr. Harper didn't even want to acknowledge we were in a recession when he got elected. He presented a budget with NO stimulis package. That is what caused the coalition to form. Harper closed down parliment and then came out with a stimulis package! He brought out this package because he was dragged reluctantly to introduce a package by the opposition parties. Now he is claiming to have the majority of dollars committed and creating jobs. The majority of the package has not even been spent yet on actual jobs and yet he knows how many jobs it has created. Great crystal ball you have Mr. Harper. The Conservative bloggers really ought to present the facts rather than pat themselves on the back.

reece
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Jobs are still being lost to China - what good does stimulous spending do for the unemployed? Should we all jump up and down knowing that the spending generated a couple of temporary jobs? What good is this "stimulant" when we are now bogged down by HST? Harper's gov't brought us GST and now HST. Is there an IST next? Tax tax tax!! When you have no imagination to stimulate business you just take more from the working people. Resign already!!

Prof. Pye Chartt
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@ Rick in NB, Ste Marie: Thanks for the reply comment. I wasn't taking issue, really, with anything you said...just supplementing your exchange with Frank Buchan, with my take on the "bottom line." (If the Libertarians ever got their foot in the door, the "party" would be a curious mix of conservatives and liberals, for sure.)

Linda in Vancouver
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HaHa.I wasn't sure whether I should post a comment now,or wait until I finished my grocery shopping.It would be nice to have a little cheese to go with all thei whine. Wake up Cnada.The only way our lives get better is if we have decent jobs.The only way that happens is if we learn to be productive enough to actually compete in global markets.And the only way that happens,is if we find ways to produce goods at prices other nations can afford to pay. We whine when the consumers get a break with a higher CAN$,because our undustries cannot compete.Then we whine when consumers get hosed by a lower CAN$,because we think profitable businesses are evil and gas costs to much.Half the country whines about tar sand pollution in one breath,then,in the very next breath,claims we are golden because the world needs our oil Given that there is no road to prosperity in free social programs for all,I suggest we find ways to compete.Pick your poison,but please,make up your minds.We can lower the prices of goods we export,which,by the way,pays for our higher standard of living,only if we reduce input costs for the industries that make things.IF we aren't willing to work for Mexican or Chinese wages,we must find other ways.We are close to all the resources we need,but industry needs to make up for the higher dollar some way.Believe me,if we wait for the world to beat a path to our door,our children will live in poverty because we killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. My day just got better because I know al I have to do is post an opinion.I give thanks that I don't have to lead a country so diverse that it may be ungovernable.

AlbertaBoy111
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"When you think of Canada, which qualities come to mind? The world's peacekeeper, the friendly nation, a liberal counterweight to the harsher pieties of its southern neighbour, decent, civilised, fair, well-governed? Think again. This country's government is now behaving with all the sophistication of a chimpanzee's tea party. So amazingly destructive has Canada become, and so insistent have my Canadian friends been that I weigh into this fight, that I've broken my self-imposed ban on flying and come to Toronto." - From a British newspaperJust thought everyone should know this is what is being said and thought of about Canada in the International stage. Congratualtions Harper. You have ruined everything that once made me happy to live in the best country in the world. Today I cannot even call myself proud to be Canadian. We have taken a turn for the worse that I never could have comprehended for this country.

Nick in Gatineau
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97 % of the money doled out to recipients, 40 % of the projects under way.SINCE WHEN DO YOU PRE-PAY INFRASTRUCTURE ?Still no answer as to how many of these projects were already slated to break ground. Oh yeah, the stimulus was just to speed things up - so not really new money. So why the deficit ? Why the debt ?

AlbertaBoy111
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You can tell us that until you are blue in the face Mr. Harper. Forgive me if I am a little skeptical, but you have not been known for your ability to tell the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Can we please see the numbers? Can we see what has been allocated where and for how much? Can we see an actual list of the projects? I don't think this to be that out of place a request to submit to a government that promised to be transparent. Why can we not see the actual numbers?

jay, ottawa
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Sandy said "I am proud of our PM, we are lucky to have this government." >> Congratulations Sandy! You've won my 'Easily Pleased' award of the week!

HendersonG
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Another example of the ridiculous habit of Harper and the ReformCon party to leave the country and make domestic statements to their bewildered hosts. Small town small policy and petty politics - pathetic. What an embarrassment this guy is on the world stage.

PBW
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"Any ideological conservative/libertarian such as myself, though largely politically supportive of the Conservatives, finds the false and contradictory notion that you can properly "drive" an economy from the top down, with public money, absurd and shameful for those who know and believe better." Right on, Prof. Pye! Like you, I remember how the economy of the old Soviet Union had major problems. Ask older Russian emigres to this country! Whether 97% of stimulus money has been sent out, or 40% of projects started (apples and oranges, for those who think they are the same thing) the fact remains that the opposition parties forced this deficit on the nation, NOt the government. If areas of the econo,my like home renovation etc are doing well, all well and good, but remember, government tax credits - not money - only cover 15% of it. Energy efficient retrofits also keep people working, again with only a part paid by government. In other words, Joe Blow on the street is doing his bit to stimulate the economy, just as he conserves energy by installing CFL light bulbs or even LED bulbs. Joe and his buddies do more for the economy and CO2 reduction than any government program.

simon
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I hope they come to Fix the Doors and Replace the Door Knobs in the washrooms in my area before the money runs out !!!!

AH in Ottawa
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Didn't Flaherty just say 40% of the projects were on the go 2 days ago, and now Harper is saying 90% today.There is a lack of consistency here.

Dr. M
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@FredActually Fred, you haven't been able to sign in and vote over and over for quite some time. I see Prof Pye Chart is still insisting that the stimulus money hasn't actually saved us from the recession. He seems to do this on ideological grounds: government spending for some reason cannot create jobs, while spending in the private sector can. Sorry to tell you Prof, but there are many economists (Keynes in particular) who woulde beg to differ. A different point, however, is whether the money has actually been distributed, and on this point, he may be correct. It's unclear how much of that money is atually working, and our recovery may very well be driven by a natural recovery rather than the stimulus, for empirical reasons, not ideological ones. As for the idea that the stimulus was due to the Conservatives, however (not the Prof's argument, to be fair) that's simply nonsense. The stimulus package is the result of Liberal and NDP demands. If it has worked, we can thank them, not the Cons. If it hasn't, we need to see if the money has been distributed or not. If it hasn't, and the Cons are taking credit, then they are taking credit for something they didn't plan, and that hasn't worked. Talk about pulling the wool over people's eyes...

Rick in NB, Ste Marie
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@ Prof. Pye Chartt. You must be reading sombody else's comments. You definatley will never see me post that the new reformed conservatives did anything for us. Especially the stimulys spending spree. What i am saying is that it takes a cutthroat PM to release financial statements that are in all fairness the finance minister's to make. Why would any PM go half way around the world to tell Canadians things that we should be hearing here first? Why, simple he's trying to be reconized as an international figure by grandstanding and he's only undermining himself. Remember the G8 in Italy when Harper blasted Ignatieff over saying Canada is losing clout internationally. More domestic mudslinging, On another note, are you really a libertarian? If you are, you certainly had me fooled, as i too believe in self government. and would be behind The Libartian Party of Canada if they clout. Till then i remain a true liberal.

Fred Victoria BC
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Has IGGY hire a CTV media thumbs up worker? I guess they found out you can check in over and over and vote every time. 178 in favour of IGGY? You got to be kitting me.

Doug @ BC
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I hate to tell you "Sandy", but there is no way on this earth China needs us more than we need them.If that assertion represents a the view of a lot of Canadians,we can all but kiss goodbye to the notion of ever getting an advantage in trade. I swear to God,every day it looks like Canadians are becoming even more pompous and arrogant that our neighbours to the south.I'm just at a loss as to what triggered this mass movement towards an extremely exagerated view of Canada's position in the world. NEWS FLASH. Our puny market is so small it will never make a blip on the balance sheets in China.The TV sets, toys and all the other crap we buy from them,they could make in a week.Yes,they like some of our resources and a few of our products.But be sure,if we ger persickety,they will get them elsewhere.For now we are just a convenient and reasonably reliable place to shop. Not surprisingly though,the debate about the money not going out the dool fast enough,or the shortage of stimulus dollars,lis now being adjusted by the socialist masses.Posts now suggest the government spent to much money way to quickly. I will say this.Canadian in the Netherlands" makes a good point.Globally,when the stimulus money rus out,there could be trouble.That is just one of the reasons that,after the recovery takes place,that MP's of all parties find ways to continue to lower debt in Canada.Or,at least,if they need to spend money,make sure we build something that our children will have a need for in the future.DO NOT simply spend the money on more "free" programs for us,right now,and programs that our children wil be taxed to pay for.

M M B Ont
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97% of the money has been doled out from the Federal Gov't to the different Municipalites and Regions who applied for stimulus monies. Now it is up to these Municipalities to make sure the money is spent where they intended and to create jobs with the stimulus monies as per their applications. In turn it is the Municipalities who should be accountable to the Federal gov't and the Taxpayer and report as to how many jobs were created with this money and the cost of the projects that stimulus money was given. Why blame Harper. There are many levels of gov'ts that need to be accountable for the monies they receive as per their applications.The blame game is getting very tiresome and I wonder what iggy is going to come up with next. The Opposition is quick to harp against alleged abuse of prisoners in Afghanistan but they have no problem themselves dishing out abuse against our PM and elected gov't. Yes, their constant complaints are verbal abuses against and individual and agaisnt the Gov't. Can Iggy or Layton do better? I think NOT so it would be wise of them to work FOR Canada instead of insulting Canadians for electing the Conservatives who are doing a great job for Canadians under difficult situations.

Dave in Calgary
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I am glad to see the Conservative Party will be paying for the trip to China. If not Stephen Harper, foreign trips are paid for by the people of Canada and for the benefit of the people of Canada, not a political for the Conservative Party. Be our Prime Minister not the Conservative Party Leader. Learn to separate the two roles

Prof. Pye Chartt
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@ Rick in NB, Ste Marie & @ Frank Buchan: And when you process the accounts of the government (via the representations of both PM Harper and FM Flaherty) with some intelligent objectivity, common sense, a calender, and economic understanding you're still left to conclude that Canadian taxpayers have been suckered into believing that the federal economic stimulus program ("Economic Action Plan") is directly attributable to the national economic rebound that began several months ago. Politicians love and need to be our saviors, and our government has, with robust self-congratulations and standard self-importance, touted its splendid yet bogus job-creating measures for all the gullible fools to celebrate. Any ideological conservative/libertarian such as myself, though largely politically supportive of the Conservatives, finds the false and contradictory notion that you can properly "drive" an economy from the top down, with public money, absurd and shameful for those who know and believe better. "Buying" jobs has never represented a proper and lasting fix; only a silly waste of too much taxpayer money. The inherent resiliency and power of market capitalism (the same system that brought us down, temporarily, as it occasionally does) is bringing us back up. Congratulating some politicians in Ottawa is tantamount to worshipping false gods. Follow the actual outflow of federal stimulus money to the "street" (ie. active projects) and you'll appreciate that the economic math doesn't add up.

Roger T
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I think the headline for this article should read "Harper says 0.97 cents has been doled out". Get serious, our economy hasn't recovery yet, don't jump for joy and give false and hopeless message all Canadians. An article came out yesterday saying that more employed families are relying on the food bank. Where is the tax payers money going to if Harper is telling everyone the economy has recover.

Brian fr Langley
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No major wars, no major mid east conflicts, no major oil regions in trouble. Yet gold is going up and up and up. Since historically gold has been the basis of trade and a hedge against inflation the price for this stimulus will be the scourge of inflation and like the 70's and 80's an economy likely locked in high unemplyment. Since the only difference between all three Federalist parties on this matter is the other two would have spent even more, all a so called fiscal reactionary (back to the gold standard) can look forward to will be a very unsatisfying I told you so.

Sandy
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I hope the media knows, this is nothing to do with 'mending fences" its more to do with Trade,.China wants our oil, they need us more then we need them.I have seen enough made in china products to serve me a lifetime. I am proud of our PM, we are lucky to have this government.

Jim in Ontario
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Ian Ottawa
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Plain to see the Liberal spin Doctors are at it again. Why don't the reporters get a web expert to check on how many responses are from the Liberal Weinies and do a scandal spin on that? Nothing makes these guys Happy except forcing us to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

Rick in NB, Ste Marie
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@ Frank Buchan, Obviously you don't get my sarcasm. What i'm saying is Harper and Flaherty should be giving the same message. The only reason they don't is to muddy the waters. Frank, i wonder if Harper is counting the stimulus money doles out to a U.S. company to build Canada's Olympic pavilion. Pretty decent of Harper to put Americans to work when we have the highest unemployment figures in years. He must be blowing Obama kisses.

jay, ottawa
said
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So us taxpayers are driving ourselves further into debt by paying out $282,000 PER JOB created. Is it really a recovery when it's seeded with imaginary money? Isn't that what got us in this mess in the first place?!

Jay-TO
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Seems the artcle left out one stat thats not so good. He may have spent all that money BUT only 7% of the projects are actually taking place. Also the government as been asking for job numbers as part of application for stimulus funds yet claims they can't determine how many jobs have been created. Yes people, its that bad. He blew the cash on reform conservative friendly ridings instead of based on need. Now many are sitting on the cash for next year. Hardly any jobs have been created. The government failed to spend properly. But none of that is a surprised to those who lost jobs and still can't find work. The Reform Conservatives have been a collossal failure.

JP in North Saanich
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Mr Harper.Two things - Who is right you are yoru minister of finance.Please be CAREFUL what you say in China. They are very itelligent people and usually when you open your mouth you put your foot in it.You make us look very bad and embrass mnay Canadians when you flip flop and tumble.Aslo whats with all the travelling- Is there an election in 2010. You must do better than what you are doing if you plan on winning - since you have been in power- there has been flip flops and you have taken use into debt-Hopefully you will do soem good as for tading with China and not make a mess as you did in 2008 . just watch you mouth and words

Andr� in Ontario
said
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The only people that buy into his lies of the stimulus are the sheeple of this country & his party that continues to lie to us about everything.

Frank Buchan
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To Rick in NB: Even the headlines show no inconsistency between the comments made by the PM and Finance Minister. 97% of the money has moved to its recipients; 40% of the projects are underway. Whether it is true is actually irrelevant to your contention these statements conflict, since they represent two stages of any process.And before anyone jumps on the Federal government bashing bandwagon about this, if you find the it hard to believe the cash has been delivered, before attacking the Feds it might be wise to ask the Provincial and Municipal governments why they have such fumbling execution plans. The lack of action probably rests at those levels.Lastly, for those who complain about this spending, it is what it is. Personally, I think it was a poor excuse for management at every level of government to balloon the deficit and debt to placate those in business who have done a damn poor job of managing their companies for years. Nonetheless, not a single party involved in governance can claim to have been against this massive waste. It became an issue of politicians in general being poorly qualified to manage, the day the opposition demanded stimulus, and the day they voted to support it. No hands are clean over this.

allan
said
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Of course the Liberals will say it is actually zero percent. Must be about time for them to invent another crisis as their attempt to descredit the Armed Forces as war criminals has failed. Back to the liberal "crisis invention center"

Greg
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It's nice to see that Harper is slowly cleaning up the mess left by the Liberal government. Not that the Liberals caused the recession, but the mess they left did not help. I'm thankful Canada has had a great leader during this difficult time. Way to go Harper. Keep up the good work. Now if we can get him that majority this country has a chance.

Joan
said
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"Prime Minister Stephen Harper broke unconventional ground today, travelling half way around the world to unveil the Conservative government's final economic report card in China."This statement is not true. He did not travel to China to unveil the government's report card. He was traveling to China for other business. Why deliberately mislead?

Canadian in the Netherlands
said
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What will happen once the stimulus winds down? The US and other part of the world are not doing well. The government may have been too trigger happy on the money. When the money runs out, Canadian may be left with a double migraine.

Rick in NB, Ste Marie
said
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Harper says 97% is now doled out. Flaherty says 40%. Do the new reformed conservatives talk to each other. And why is Harper trying to steal Flaherty's thunder? What kind of leader treats his ministers with such little respect?

Ann
said
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THANK YOU CONSERVATIVES.......We knew if anyone could get us through this, you could. We are very proud of our Prime Minister and the Conservatives who work with him. Keep up the good work.

Roger T
said
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Harper can't sell the Chinese anything when he can't even sell his ideas to the average Canadian. The MP looks more like a fool rather than a businessman to strike deals. China will not ignore all the issues Harper and our media has try to tarnish China's image during the past years. Looks like he's a dog on a begging mission for businesses to crack up our own economy!Goodluck, but China is aware of what is happened during the Olympics!

Portes
said
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Great news and I hope that the stimulus package will do the job it needs too. I think that this country is slowly coming out of the recession, but as in everything it will take time for it all to work. Unfortunately in this day and age we expect everything to happen over night, but remember "Rome was not built in a day". Even our big patner to the South it will take time. Carry on smartly Mr. Harper

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