Budget surplus.

According to current reports, the federal and provincial governments have finished the fiscal year with "unexpected" budget surpluses and it is possible that this situation will continue into the next few years. What to do about these surpluses? Some people want further refunds on their personal and corporate taxes, even though there has been a steady decline in personal and corporate taxes over the past 15 years.

Canada has a number of unmet needs in education, health, community services and the environment. These services need much greater investment to make up for the neglect of past years.

Those who want lower taxes acknowledge that our good fortune stems from the demand for Canada's natural resources, but short-term thinking neglects the fact that commodity prices fall and the value of natural resources diminish, but investment in people remains long after the oil, the gold, and the ore run out. The Canadian people are worth the investment.

--L.K.