Canada's economy was overdue for a positive shock — an historic budget might do the trick

Chrystia Freeland, the primary guardian of Canada’s finances, is betting that the best defence against a post-pandemic debt spiral is a good offence. For a generation, starting with Paul Martin in the mid-1990s, the federal finance minister has been mythologized as the one member of cabinet with the courage to say ‘no’ to spending sprees. Freeland’s first budget since her appointment as finance minister eight months ago...