--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our government has been in a surplus…" description: "\"Our government has been in a surplus position up until this year. We should be able to recover to a surplus position shortly, as quickly as the economy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/stephen-harper-3432_economy_our-government-has-been-in-a-surplus-pos_526615.jpg" --- # Our government has been in a surplus position up until… ![“Our government has been in a surplus position up until this year. We should be able to recover to a surplus position shortly, as quickly as the economy recovers. So, we're able to do the kind of stimulus that you see in the United States without deteriorating our debt position in the long-term.” quote by Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/stephen-harper-3432_economy_our-government-has-been-in-a-surplus-pos_526615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/stephen-harper-3432_economy_our-government-has-been-in-a-surplus-pos_526615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/stephen-harper-3432_economy_our-government-has-been-in-a-surplus-pos_526615.jpg) > “Our government has been in a surplus position up until this year. We should be able to recover to a surplus position shortly, as quickly as the economy recovers. So, we're able to do the kind of stimulus that you see in the United States without deteriorating our debt position in the long-term.” [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fiscal policy can be adjusted to match economic recovery, allowing stimulus without long‑term debt growth. **In simple terms:** Recovery lets stimulus be affordable. Key Takeaway Align spending with growth. Themes fiscal policy economic recovery government budgeting Mood cautious optimistic Type policy economic When to use this quote - post‑recession planning - budget negotiations - policy adjustments Key Concepts public finance stimulus measures Questions to Reflect On - How can policymakers balance stimulus and debt? - What indicators signal safe stimulus? A Different Perspective If growth stalls, debt may still rise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Debt Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt-position-4088452/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Government Surplus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-surplus-4433735/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Recover Surplus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recover-surplus-4433734/) [Stimulus United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stimulus-united-4433737/) [Surplus Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surplus-position-4433736/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [Long term debt and bank debt (including off-balance sheet financing must be judiciously employed. There must be room to expand the debt position if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/long-term-debt-and-bank-debt-including-off-balance-sheet-financing/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) > [I will strive to make this not the highest-spending country in the world, but instead the lowest taxing o-ne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-will-strive-to-make-this-not-the-highest-spending-country-in-the/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [I forget what the relevant American rate is, but I can tell you that our goal is to have a combined federal-provincial corporate tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-forget-what-the-relevant-american-rate-is-but-i-can-tell-you-that/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see a gala of a bunch of people at, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-think-when-ordinary-working-people-come-home-turn-on-the-tv-and-see/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Grow jobs. Get this economy growing. Raise wages. Simplify the tax system, so it's easy to comply with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/grow-jobs-get-this-economy-growing-raise-wages-simplify-the-tax/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. 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These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [We will also target tax evasion and off-shore tax havens... Everyone must pay their share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/we-will-also-target-tax-evasion-and-off-shore-tax-havens-everyone/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) ## More by Stephen Harper > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [In terms of the unemployed, of which we have over a million-and-a-half, don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/in-terms-of-the-unemployed-of-which-we-have-over-a-million-and-a-half/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The media is tremendously important for all governments that are able to communicate through the it. It doesn't mean there is a balance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/the-media-is-tremendously-important-for-all-governments-that-are-able/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [But I'm very libertarian in the sense that I believe in small government and, as a general rule, I don't believe in imposing values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/but-i-m-very-libertarian-in-the-sense-that-i-believe-in-small/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see a gala of a bunch of people at, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/i-think-when-ordinary-working-people-come-home-turn-on-the-tv-and-see/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The world is now unipolar and contains o-nly o-ne superpower. 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We've had more jobs created now than were lost during the recession. We're seeing that the creation, we're seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/the-job-numbers-are-positive-we-ve-had-more-jobs-created-now-than/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn't mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It's a dogma which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/after-all-enforced-national-bilingualism-in-this-country-isn-t-mere/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-ve-got-to-see-a-state-where-the-afghan-government-can-handle-its/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [It is imperative to take the initiative, to build firewalls around Alberta, to limit the extent to which an aggressive and hostile federal government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/it-is-imperative-to-take-the-initiative-to-build-firewalls-around/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Whether Canada ends up with one national government or two governments or 10 governments, the Canadian people will require less government no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/whether-canada-ends-up-with-one-national-government-or-two/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) [Explore all 131 Stephen Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) ## More Economy quotes > [Things are going well in Germany because the economy is booming and as an export-driven nation, we are profiting from the fact that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/things-are-going-well-in-germany-because-the-economy-is-booming-and/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. 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It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) > [We're going to create factory jobs for recent immigrants, and Donald Trump is going to take care of them. That's why his numbers, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/we-re-going-to-create-factory-jobs-for-recent-immigrants-and-donald/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [Having an economy that works for the 99% is achievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-byanyima/having-an-economy-that-works-for-the-99-is-achievable/) [Winnie Byanyima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-byanyima/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [America is stronger than Russia. 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