CanadaB次元官网网址檚 economy is on the right track but an election may threaten growth, if you believe the federal Conservatives.

B次元官网网址淥nly Stephen Harper can deliver the stable national government that Canada needs to complete the economic recovery,B次元官网网址� read the announcement on Day 1 of the election campaign.

In the governmentB次元官网网址檚 2011 budget, rejected by all opposition parties, Harper put forward a low-tax plan for jobs and growth, that he promises will transform the countryB次元官网网址檚 deficit into a surplus by the 2015-16 fiscal year.

With two months still left to report, the budget deficit so far this fiscal year is $27 billion. Coincidentally, Canadians have paid nearly as much in interest payments on the countryB次元官网网址檚 $559-billion debt, during the same 10-month timeframe,

Debt is a key factor in a strong economy, according to economist Christine Brown in Camosun CollegeB次元官网网址檚 faculty of business.

B次元官网网址淭he more money we have to spend on the interest payments ... the less money we have to spend on Canadians,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think Canadians realize how key it is,B次元官网网址�

So are the Conservatives the party to fix the problem?

Not according to the budget they put forward, Brown said.

B次元官网网址淭his last budget was actually ... it was sort of insipid.B次元官网网址�

Brown said the Conservatives will not address the deficit until after the election.

B次元官网网址淭hey knew there was a possibility of an election being called and for that reason, it was very difficult for them to come up with any of the strong fiscal restraints (necessary for balancing the books).B次元官网网址�

The University of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 James Lawson also questions the ConservativesB次元官网网址� position on the deficit.

A cynical reading of a strong Conservative economic position B次元官网网址渃ould say that slaying the deficit is not entirely the medium-term goal,B次元官网网址� said Lawson, a political science professor.

B次元官网网址淓ven if it hurts the deficit in the medium term, you cut taxes in order to expand the economy and the bigger tax base pays you back in the long run,B次元官网网址� he said of the theory.

B次元官网网址淭hen you turn around and say, B次元官网网址榯he government is living beyond its means,B次元官网网址� and this becomes an opportunity to bring in the other side of economic Conservative thinking, which is shrinking the size of the state.B次元官网网址�

The problem is thereB次元官网网址檚 not good evidence to suggest tax cuts help to rebound the economy, he said.

On this point Brown disagrees B次元官网网址� but both academics agree on a number of other points.

Both credit the Liberal partyB次元官网网址檚 track record at reigning in deficits.

They also point to investment in education as critical to growing a strong knowledge-based economy.

B次元官网网址淚 believe that affordable education is the key to our future productivity, especially in B.C.,B次元官网网址� said Brown.

Other economic policies that could benefit the local economy include a national social housing program, added Lawson.

B次元官网网址淭his region is really prospering by the boom in real estate for retirees,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat can really squeeze out people at the lower end of the income bracket.B次元官网网址�

Federal investment would stimulate the construction trades and B次元官网网址渕ake it easier for a key part of the local economy ... to stay in the region.B次元官网网址�

Sasha Angus, economic development officer with the Greater Victoria Development Agency, also weighed in.

Though non-partisan, he praised the ConservativeB次元官网网址檚 proposal to legislate a permanent annual investment of $2 billion in the gas tax fund to provide predictable, long-term infrastructure funding for municipalities.

The move would allow municipalities to invest in capital over the next five to 10 years, he said.

rholmen@vicnews.com

Candidates Weigh-In

What would you do to build a strong economy? We asked candidates aiming to represent Victoria in the House of Commons.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be the best salesman Victoria has sent to Ottawa since ... Sir John A. MacDonald,B次元官网网址� said Conservative candidate Patrick Hunt.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l focus on creating jobs, especially in the area of employee training, where Victoria has a natural, untapped advantage,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l actively market Victoria to corporate Canada and HRDC as an ideal centre for world-class leadership, management, accounting and sales training.B次元官网网址�

Christopher Causton, representing the Liberals, said his party proposes B次元官网网址渁ffordable tax rates, spending discipline, programs to boost youth employment and investments in education.B次元官网网址�

Causton also took aim at the Conservative government, which he says, turned a $13-billion Liberal surplus into a $56-billion deficit.

B次元官网网址淭heir fiscally irresponsible policies are aimed at plunging Canada substantially deeper into a deficit for fighter jets, U.S.-style mega prisons and corporate tax cuts.B次元官网网址�

NDP incumbent Denise Savoie added B次元官网网址渢he ConservativesB次元官网网址� HST debacleB次元官网网址� to the list of alleged misspending. TheyB次元官网网址檙e examples of a B次元官网网址渢ax and spendB次元官网网址� approach sometimes misattributed to the NDP, she argued. B次元官网网址淭he NDP prefers B次元官网网址榯ax fair and spend smart.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭ax fair means making wealthy individuals and corporations pay their share,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪pend smart means investing in the green economy, an educated workforce, public transit ... and preventive approaches to health care.B次元官网网址�

Green candidate Jared Giesbrecht shares the B次元官网网址渟martB次元官网网址� lingo. A strong economy is a smart economy, which entails balanced budgets and clear incentives for job creators, he said.

B次元官网网址淲e can reward hard work and waste reduction with meaningful tax breaks for citizens, and bring an end to corporate welfare, a tax on carbon pollution, and stable funding for municipalities.B次元官网网址�