TORONTO - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canadian families and workers feeling the squeeze of a slowing economy shouldn't expect any bailouts from Ottawa in the coming year.
Harper says the opposition's reaction to hard economic times is always to throw money at the problem. The prime minister says it's wrong to suggest every economic problem demands immediate, high-cost government interventions and subsidies.
Harper, in a speech in Toronto, says the government didn't do that in the budget and doesn't plan to take such action in the coming year.
Critics were pushing the government to provide tax relief of families, workers and seniors in last week's budget.
