Tim Harper: Conservatives hold their breath as U.S. election day looms

First of four columns on the U.S. presidential race and its impact on Canada:

Jim Flaherty didn’t need another reminder of the looming economic mash-up south of the border, but as he headed to a gathering of financial leaders in Tokyo, the International Monetary Fund gave him one anyway.

The IMF cut its global growth outlook, reported that citizens worldwide lack confidence in politicians to fix the mess, downgraded its prospects for Canada and laid much of the blame at the doorstep of the U.S.

Our neighbour is already dealing with a $16.2-trillion national debt, a looming “fiscal cliff” at the end of this year, stubbornly high unemployment and the slowest economic recovery of the post-war period.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1268677--tim-harper-conservatives-hold-their-breath-as-u-s-election-day-looms

Canadians want a common enemy!