We were the economic envy of the world. According to standard and poors, Wall st journal, Time magazine and a significant part of Canada's electorate. Harper's failings were not economic. If he'd had the chance to build instead of stabilize from a crushing economic crisis, I doubt Trudeau would be in power now. You do recall it was Chretien who was to eliminate the GST but did not. Harper should have cut it much farther but applied it  to everything, no exceptions. 

Good discussion though. You should come out of the darkness into the light of conservative thinking LOL  ;)