Scheer Pledges to Eliminate Canada’s Deficit In Five Years
- Conservatives would extend infrastructure-spending timetable
- Party is running neck and neck with Liberals for Oct. 21 vote
Andrew Scheer speaks to reporters after an election debate in Gatineau, Quebec on Oct. 7, 2019.
Photographer: David Kawai/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer unveiled plans to balance the budget within five years by making tax collection more effective and spreading budgeted infrastructure spending over a longer timeframe.
In a costed platform released Friday, the Conservatives detailed almost C$50 billion ($38 billion) over five years in new spending and tax cuts. Under the plan, Canada’s deficit would peak at C$23 billion next year, before dropping to C$5 billion in 2023 and moving into a surplus in 2024.