David Dodge comments in Reuters on how Canada's federal election candidates are making a range of pricey campaign promises ahead of October's vote, but there is some wiggle room for a larger budget shortfall so long as the economy continues to grow. David says the debt service charges are the key marker.

A deficit of as much as C$30 billion "would not generate unmanageable debt service charges," said David. "If interest rates go down further you have a little bit more room."