Considering we're near the peak of a global economic cycle, having a deficit is pretty sad.  Having a $16B deficit is pathetic.

What's even more troubling is that this year, when the global economy is absolutely booming and Canada is benefiting from strong growth and firming or rising resource prices, and we're STILL going to run a deficit (albeit probably a small one, likely less than $10B).

We *SHOULD* be running, at an absolute MINIMUM, a surplus of 1% of GDP (~$21B) this year.  Given the state of the world we could have a rickety fence post as PM and run a surplus this year.