KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK TUESDAY
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 | Volume 28 No. 111
TODAY’S WEATHER Cloudy and cool High 15 C Low 5 C
KGHM AJAX FILES
A CAREER RECORD IN THE CRUSHING LOSS
18,000-page application sent
Derek Yachison becomes BCFC’s all-time receptions leader
A3
A16
Government posts $1.9-billion surplus in 14/15 ANDY BLATCHFORD
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA — The federal government posted a surprise $1.9-billion surplus in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, bringing the country’s books back into balance a year earlier than expected. The finance department released year-end figures yesterday for a period that was supposed to instead generate a $2-billion shortfall. The number ends a streak of six deficits under the Conservatives and tees up Thursday’s leaders’ debate, which will focus on the economy. Political leaders have jockeyed to portray themselves as the best managers of the public piggy bank as the economy has struggled amid the steep slide in commodity prices. The result pleased Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, whose government had forecasted a $2-billion deficit for 2014-2015 in its April budget. Harper credited “careful economic stewardship’’ for guiding the budget to balance a year ahead of schedule. The finance department said the $3.9-billion swing from the expected shortfall to surplus was largely due to higher revenue — from personal and corporate income taxes — that rang in $3 billion higher than projected, as well as positive year-end adjustments. The report also found expenditures were lower. Program spending was $800 million lower than forecast, while public debt charges were $100 million lower than expected. Looking forward, the Conservatives have predicted a $1.4-billion surplus for the current 2015-2016 fiscal year — a projection opponents insist the government is unlikely to hit. Political rivals say Ottawa is instead on track to run a shortfall in the current fiscal year because the economy contracted over the first two quarters of 2015 and pushed Canada into a technical recession. See TRUDEAU, A7
• Better Construction • Juicier • Flare-Ups eliminated • Commercial grade steel parts • Patented infrared system
ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed supporters yesterday at Horizon North Logistics in the Mount Paul Industrial Park.
HARPER FOCUSES ON ECONOMY, NDP CAM FORTEMS
STAFF REPORTER
cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
Armed with news of an unexpected federal budget surplus, Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned a Kamloops crowd yesterday that an NDP government would run deficits and put jobs at risk. “In B.C. you have seen them in action,” he told several hundred Conservative supporters gathered in a Horizon North Logistics industrial building in the Mount Paul Industrial Park on the Tk’emlups Indian Band reserve. “You know what they did to this province,” he said. “You can only imagine what they would do to this country.” Harper stood inside a building where 48 workers were laid off in January, ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW victims of plunging oil prices. The comKamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Conservative pany’s Kamloops location builds accomcandidate and incumbent MP Cathy McLeod modations for the oil and gas industry introduced the prime minster yesterday.
and other resource sectors. In response to a question, Harper acknowledged “in this city, the NDP is a strong force,” warning a New Democrat government will move to increase taxes as it has done in Alberta. “Look what’s happened in Alberta — we had some layoffs due to energy prices. The NDP comes in and raises taxes on business. Now there is a second round of layoffs.” Harper came to Kamloops following a rally in Penticton on Sunday. He also toured Riversong Guitars on Lorne Street for a photo opportunity. Harper boasted of Conservative spending in the Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo riding, including four-laning the Trans-Canada Highway, the city’s North Thompson River water intake, new transit infrastructure and investment at Thompson Rivers University. See PRIME MINISTER’S, A5
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