Deficits and the Rule of Law
BLOG POST posted on August 26, 2009 by dawn
"In British Columbia there is legislation that says deficits are illegal. So I will be bringing down on February 17 a balanced budget.” -- BC Finance Minister Colin Hansen, December 2008.
Just eight months later, the BC government is on its way to changing that legislation for the second time this year, so that they can run a deficit for four years.
From yesterday's Throne Speech:
Yet, even with announced spending constraints and new austerity measures, there is no way to fully offset the devastating impact of falling revenues without massive tax hikes or severe cuts in crucial services.
Neither of those options is acceptable to this government or to taxpayers.
That is why this year's deficit will be far higher than originally forecast and why amendments will be required to balance the budget following four years of deficits instead of two.
That does indeed bring one to question, as did Charlie Smith at the Straight, "Does anyone believe Finance Minister Colin Hansen anymore?"
It also makes me think about the "rule of law," the oft touted concept that corporations and government officials trot out in defence of their activities. "Rule of law", in a context where the laws keep changing, means little. This is a good illustration of just why that is.
Photo: The mouth of Colin Hansen, courtesy of the BC government.
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