Canada puts off economy relief to 2009

OTTAWA, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Canada's minority Conservative government will put off major economy-boosting measures until 2009, its new policy platform said.

In the throne speech prepared by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and delivered to Parliament in Ottawa by Governor-General Michaelle Jean, the government promised financial aid to the battered manufacturing and automotive sectors, but not until next year, the Globe and Mail reported.

The Conservatives warned a deficit might be unavoidable, and accordingly, called for a review of grants and spending and a possible cap on public service salary raises, the Toronto Star reported.

After the session, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told reporters not to expect anything too drastic in his scheduled fall economic update next week, saying the federal budget due out early next year will contain the mechanisms for weathering the global economic downturn.

"If it means that we would run a deficit, we'll run a deficit, because the purpose here is to manage the economy effectively for Canadian families, not to artificially create a small surplus," he said.