text: In point of fact, Mulroney was sworn in on Sept. 17, 1984 .   That's less than half way into the fiscal year -- not the very end.  I grant you that it is challenging to effect change in the bureaucracy, but he did have a full 6 months to rein in spending.  And his first full budget really wasn't much of an improvement at 6.9% of GDP.
  
  You and Nemo are giving the lovable old Irishman far too much credit!