Mr. Mulroney rightly described the attempt to turn the governments finances around akin to trying to steer the Titanic with a small rudder.  After Trudeau Sr. ran 13 out of 14 deficits, there was not much room left to manoeuver. Wherever Mulroney went, he was accosted by little old ladies for clawing back Old Age Security, but he was far more widely despised for bringing in GST. It wasn't easy, but it got the ship turning. In Ontario, people were expected to work for free or take extra time off after Bob Rae squandered all the government's cash. Times were tough under Mike Harris, but he cut a lot of goofy spending and finances improved overall. Quite often these leaders inherit a financial hole caused by prolonged unsustainable borrowing and spending that it takes a long time and causes hardship to dig one's way out. Mr. Bernier will likely have to make difficult choices as well, as Trudeau Jr. has the spending faucets turned wide open.