Wednesday, February 8, 2012

What Happened To Kevin Page's "Demographic Time Bomb"?

Certainly I can't be the only one who remembers Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page hammering the Tory government's long term budget projections in 2010 because they did not take into account Canada's "demographic time bomb" (aka: our aging population). Fast forward to 2012 when we are debating pension reform and suddenly everything is sustainable and does not require change? Well Kevin, which is it? Is a bomb about to explode, or is everything sunshine and lollipops? Forgive my confusion, maybe Kevin has just been so busy booking Liberal fundraisers that he's taken his eye off the ball. Certainly Andrew Coyne thinks we have a very serious problem.
Posted by at
Labels:

17 comments:

  1. Rob CarlsonFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:18 PM

    Oh I remember his chiding then and he's made a mockery of himself now with this purely political statement. Kevin Page is a complete joke. He's made it plainly clear that his statements are entirely politically motivated.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ken MooreFebruary 8, 2012 at 10:11 PM

    This fits, hand in glove, with "Sort of Political"s post on Blogging Tories at the same time. After the uproar about removing penalties for not filling out the long form of the census, the compliance rate was 98%. Hypocrisy is mother's milk to an ambitious politician.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sean MFebruary 9, 2012 at 12:38 AM

    Red Kev doing what "Liberal', "Progressive" types do best... taking both sides of any issue if and when it's convenient for the narrative. Red Kev is a "Liberal" activist and can't be taken seriously.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 12:43 AM

    You should provide links to the subjects your talking about. What did Kevin Page say that contradicts what he bloviated about in 2010? I never heard about it, and you didn't provide a link so that readers can look at it for themselves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The_IcemanFebruary 9, 2012 at 1:17 AM

      Don't be lazy Luke, it is pretty easy to find what Kevin Page was saying yesterday. In the Google age, I shouldn't have to do everything for you.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 8:20 AM

      if you tell people to just go google it, why would they bother shopping or stopping here?

      Delete
    3. JohnRFebruary 9, 2012 at 8:32 AM

      For an always refreshing point of view thats why we come here.

      It´s opinion not necessarily facts as everyone sees fact somewhat differently. Time has shown that facts found here are actually quite reliable. The common sense side dishes are bonuses.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 8:40 AM

      lame excuse.
      calling someone lazy because you got lazy is lazy thinking.
      i don't recall SDA or WeaselZippers telling readers to google it.
      you want to contrast and compare comments and provoke a conversation, then a couple of key links is just the minimum...

      Delete
    5. The_IcemanFebruary 9, 2012 at 10:34 AM

      Small Dead Animals has a team of people working on that blog. I'm just one person who was responding to something he heard on the radio.

      This is just a place where I share my opinion. I'm not a journalist. Please notice the disclaimer at the top of the page.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 3:57 AM

    I did not remember this happening and I wish I could find the link. I'm outraged by this farce. Kevin Page needs to explain himself as does Evan Solomon for not questioning him on his about face. Never mind, that's ridiculous. I didn't realize how far in bed Kevin Page was with the left. So much for a non-biased, non-partisan analysis. I'm surprised that this is not being challenged by the press. Then again, I'm not surprised. The NDP would turn Page into it's newest victim. This goes beyond hypocrisy. I'm so appalled. The NDP scares the hell out of seniors and Kevin Page backs them up for the satisfaction of sticking it to the conservatives while the media chortles at it's cleverness. This really is shameful. Thank you Iceman for pointing this out,

    ReplyDelete
  6. JoeFebruary 9, 2012 at 6:10 AM

    Its a good thing Page works in the public sector. With the number of glaring errors, omissions and other fubars that he has committed he would have had the door slapping him in the butt on the way out long time ago.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    I agree that Kevin Page is not limiting himself to what his job description calls for -- estimates & analysis of government finances -- but rather he is engaging in commenting or pushing partisan policy, casting doubt on the government's policies and numbers, just like the opposition does. BUT a lot of the controversy over pensions is partially the Conservatives' fault.

    IMO, the Conservatives need to make sure they COMMUNICATE very clearly what their intentions are, instead of leaving the field wide open to speculation from the opposition and their media cronies.

    The PM, whom I support wholeheartedly, said in Davos that we are "... preparing ourselves now for the demographic pressures the Canadian economy faces. ..."
    http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=4604
    The PM also said
    "... For those elements of the system that are not funded, we will make the changes necessary to ensure sustainability for the next generation while not affecting current recipients."

    The PM simply stated the reality Canada faces down the line in very general terms. But because his statements were not detailed or specific, his opponents have been turning up the volume to near-panic levels. For instance, Craig Oliver, during his Feb 5 interview with Minister Finley said at least 3 times that the Conservatives intend "to cut" the benefits of current OAS recipients.

    We conservatives should know by now that's what the other side does: misrepresent, denounce, and grow more hysterical with every passing day until a new crisis is manufactured.

    That is why any changes in policy need to be fully outlined before anything is made public to prevent over-blown rhetoric, guesstimates, speculation, and outright lies by opponents of the government.
    -- Gabby in QC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 11:57 AM

      I agree. They are not doing a good job in communicating their policies.

      Delete
  8. UnknownFebruary 9, 2012 at 6:31 AM

    I'm glad somebody else is talking about this. Did you also notice how he's been slamming the gov. for cutting the GST and spending too much, but then yesterday he says the finances are so great that the government can afford to cut taxes while increasing spending...

    ReplyDelete
  9. OddSoxFebruary 9, 2012 at 6:32 AM

    Here is a link - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/budget-must-tackle-rising-costs-of-greying-population-watchdog-warns/article1471991/

    "Parliamentary budget watchdog Kevin Page is releasing a report Thursday that warns it's not good enough for Ottawa to simply balance the books – because of the increasing squeeze Canada's greying ranks will place on coffers."

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 6:41 AM

    old white guy says. the libs will yap about it but we have to find funds to keep paying those things we are committed to. the baby boomers will be a bubble going through the next number of years and when they pass away the bubble will be gone. we still have to fund that bubble.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2012 at 2:05 PM

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/want-to-fix-ottawas-books-try-working-a-bit-harder/article1477553/
    fh

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)