Given that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it, the fact that Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne reported a drop in last year’s projected deficit from $78.3 billion to $66.9 billion — a decrease of $11.4 billion — in Tuesday’s spring economic statement should surprise no one.
It’s an old trick used by finance ministers for decades, regardless of political stripe, but perfected by the Jean Chretien Liberal government from 1993 to 2003.
