opinion

Prime Minister Mark Carney should make a hard hat part of his regular attire to show Canadians he's making progress on his budget plans, David Jones writes.

David Jones is director at Cambridge Economic Policy Associates.

Carney’s budget strategy could not be clearer.

It’s “build baby build.” It’s a “generational investment.” It’s “invest more and spend less.” Capital investment is the budget’s uncompromising long-term plan.

Tuesday’s budget posts a deficit of $78-bilion , far above last year’s projected $48.3-billion.

But most that deficit is what the government considers capital spending: infrastructure, homes or ships, for example. These are fixed assets that retain value and that spur further economic activity.

Given Canada’s flagging productivity, this is the right

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