In the days and weeks following the last economic statement by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Canadians were led to believe this year's federal budget would be a tough one. It was predicted the budget would set the government back on the road to frugality after opening the vault to help combat the global recession.
While some Canadians may have feared the budget, the reality is it's a document that most could live with In fact, it's one some Canadians will embrace with some modest spending increases in what Flaherty is calling a "low-tax plan for jobs and growth."
There are no tax hikes and if you believe what the Conservatives are saying it keeps the country on track to eliminate the budget by 2016.
Gone is the massive action plan that poured millions into the economy in projects across the country that put Canadians to work at time when the economies of other countries were in shambles. In it's place are some goodies for families and seniors with improvements to the Guaranteed Income Supplement and better and new tax credits for children's programs such as art.
However, despite this it appears as though Canada's opposition parties are quite prepared to throw these initiatives out the window and send Canadians into an election as early as next month.
The government of Stephen Harper has not been one of this country's most popular since first coming to power in 2006._It has faced its share of scandal and people have not warmed up to the prime minister or his government._Then again they haven't been thrilled with the alternatives.
Despite its failings, the government deserves credit for guiding the nation through some perilous economic waters. Using the budget to bring down the government is something that may backfire.
Then again, it may be the opportunity the voters want to have the ultimate decision on who they want to lead them through the rest of this country's economic recovery and it may be the referendum on Harper's leadership that many have been asking for.
