Politicians should be preparing Canadians to face hard times, not showering us with gifts

Canada suddenly finds itself in a toe-to-toe confrontation with the world’s mightiest nation, whose unhinged head of state is not just making economic war on this country but threatening to swallow it up.It’s the greatest crisis in our national life since the last referendum on Quebec separation 30 years ago. Our political leaders should be preparing us to face hard times. Instead, they are showering us with presents.Mark Carney of the Liberals and Pierre Poilievre of the Conservatives are each dangling big tax cuts in front of voters in hopes of winning their support on April 28. Mr. Carney’s would cut federal government revenues by about $6-billion a year; Mr. Poilievre’s by about twice that much when it takes full effect. Both men are also pledging to cut the GST on newly built homes below a certain price, though Mr. Carney would do it only for first-time buyers.