Federal surplus tops $5-billion - Globe and Mail

[Screaming Lord Byron]

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040211.wfinan0211/BNStory/Business/

The federal government said Wednesday the budget surplus for the first nine months of the fiscal year hit $5.2-billion, more than double Ottawa's previous estimate.

The gains came as December corporate tax income nearly tripled, leaving the surplus for that month at $4.4-billion compared with a restated $2.8-billion in the same month a year earlier.

As usual, it's the old low-ball trick, but still, we've got a surplus (unlike some people I might mention ;)

[Fla_Dem]

1. Hey, the US has a surplus also

A surplus of total idiots in charge.

[denverbill]

2. I wish we could export THAT surplus. But not to Canada.

I like Canadians too much for that.

[murphymom]

3. Amazing what you can do

when you aren't spending more on your military than the rest of the world combined...

[Bandit]

4. And a very good national health care system to boot

I wish our country would take as good care of it's citizenry instead of just the crooks.

[Richardo]

5. Haven't you guys heard? O'Reilly says you're broke and socialist

Canadians. :eyes: Get with it, eh? ;-)

[indepat]

6. How novel: the very idea of corporations having an income tax liability.

Maybe that approach could be re-instituted here.

[TrogL]

7. The question is, what to do with it?

The government's supposed to pay down the debt with it, but we're actually in pretty good shape for a debt load (compared to some countries I don't need to mention eg. the rest of the G8) so it would be nice to get it spent on health care and infrastructure.

Martin will probably want tax cuts for the rich.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

9. Corporate tax cuts? Military equipment?

that's my guess

[tom_paine]

8. It always nice to keep up on the doings of the Free World

It makes me nostalgic for when the Empire was part of the Free World.

[underpants]

10. Damn Cannucks giving out points for goals AND assists

No fair.

[yellowcanine]

11. If they had joined the Coalition of the willing.....

they could have used up that surplus and then they wouldn't have to worry about what to do with it. Freedom bacon, anyone? Heh.