the actual truth is that this is a good example of why gdp is a poor measure of economic growth. that doesn't mean harper's "strong leadership" has been good at "managing the economy" - far from it. we should have been diversifying, and his high dollar policy (whether actively or passively) really stunted that. but, when oil crashes in a petro-state, you get shrinking gdp. there's no way around this. and, his relegation of manufacturing to a second-tier concern should give ontarians pause as to where his priorities are. well, i say that like it wasn't already obvious...

www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-harper-recession-1.3210891