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To: Condor who wrote (56226)	11/21/2004 1:01:24 PM
From: abuelita	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

thank you for asking the question. -rose

To: Condor who wrote (56226)	11/21/2004 3:12:20 PM
From: Seeker of Truth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

Hello Condor, I think it was a great thing to become more solvent because not only is less of the Federal budget spent on interest payments but also the interest rate on the necessary renewal borrowings of most of the debt is lowered. Both Canadian and foreign investors become convinced that Canada is no Argentina and they don't demand such a high interest rate as before. At some point further actual reduction of the debt may not have as much of a good effect as more spending on education, scientific research, urban transportation, health etc. etc. What pulls investment to start or expand businesses in Canada is a mixture of factors and the prevailing interest rates are only one of them. The availability of a tax supported health system may be another. Probably it's impossible to predict when Canada will have zero debt and while I relish my personal situation, owing nobody a cent, not even my lunch pals, the same may not be the best for a government which can borrow at such favorable rates. And BTW both Canada and China need an NGO, non-governmental organization, to blow the whistle when forests are being depleted and demand the punishment of officials who didn't do the proper supervising job as well as the punishment of decision makers of the forestry companies involved.

To: Condor who wrote (56226)	11/21/2004 7:20:45 PM
From: Seeker of Truth	Respond to of 74559

Hi Condor, more on the debt matter, particularly the surplus. While the Liberal government continues to reduce the debt, they are getting a bashing from the Conservatives for lying, cheating or something about the anticipated annual deficit as if money was being shovelled into politician's pockets. The right headline creates the desired effect on Joe 6P. Actually 9 billion is a small fraction of the total government expenditure of several hundred billion; nobody can estimate accurately a year ahead to within one billion. Of course they try to make sure that if there is an error it will be on the side of underestimating the budget surplus, lest the Conservatives denounce them as spendthrifts. I vote for the NDP, not for the Liberals, I'm just relating the situation w.r.t. the debt.