On factual deficits

Not that anybody could possibly have seen it coming. But Con apologists are now trying to take advantage of their own deliberate confusion as to just how Deficit Jim put Canada into the red. So let's remind readers of a few points in terms that even the National Post's audience can understand.

Jim Flaherty has put Canada in a deficit position before a cent is spent on economic stimulus. The opposition parties aren't now, and have never been, happy about that fact.

Independently of that issue, though, economic stimulus is needed to avoid prolonging and deepening the recession which Stephen Harper said would never happen. And that would be equally true whether or not Jim Flaherty was already running a deficit.

Putting those all together, there's nothing contradictory about criticizing Jim Flaherty for his structural deficits while also highlighting the need for economic stimulus. And it's in fact the Cons who are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Canadians by misleading the public about their pre-existing deficit.

Edit: fixed wording.