Prime Minister Harper stated what should be obvious: governments have to cut spending. As Ottawa and the provinces try to get out of deficit budgets, no stone should be left unturned. An article in the Globe and Mail provides a good overview of how Ottawa and the provinces are striving to do this. Unfortunately, Quebec premier Jean Charest says that high debts or not, Quebec will keep right on spending.

If liabilities for social programs and pensions are included, the real debt of Canada and the provinces actually exceeds $2.4 trillion. This chart from a 2008 Fraser Institute report says it all. The worst part is, the stats were compiled in 2004-05 before the recent dive into deficit spending. Do Ottawa and the provinces have to control spending? Absolutely.