Captain Jack, Deficit Hawk

If you need proof that when it comes to Canadian politics there is no there there, look no further than the NDP's dear leader.

In the face of news that the Harper tories plan to raise the EI payroll tax, the most regressive tax in the federal government toolkit, to fight the deficit, the NDP leader is criticizing the government on the higher than expected deficit. Earth to Jack, in the face of last years economic cataclysm, every major economy is facing higher than expected public sector deficits. Canada is in fact in better shape than most.

The key question moving forward is how, as the economy improves, deficits will be reduced and who will bear the cost of doing this. Raising EI premiums by billions places the burden squarely on those who were worst hurt, people with incomes under $40 thousand per year -- i.e. the working poor. Way to be tories. Way to be Jack.