What reckless spending and what uncontrolled taxation? The only new taxation I remember is the higher bracket for people earning over $200,000 p.a. and we are assured by the right that the people in that bracket will find loopholes to get out of it or will move to the US! In Harper's first years, he increased federal spending by 6% per year, compared to a little over 3% by Chretien and Martin.