Dec 16 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has become increasingly pessimistic about the economy over the past three months. Here are some key quotes from that period:
Sept 15, at the start of the election campaign:
"I don't think now the atmosphere should turn to one of complete doom and gloom ... My own belief is if we were going to have some kind of crash or recession we probably would have had it by now."
Oct 3, asked about his Sept 15 comments on a recession:
"I don't think that's quite what I said. I do remember saying that I don't think all the shoes have necessarily dropped."
Oct 4:
"In the last few weeks we've seen further developments in the financial crisis in the United States. Canadians are obviously concerned about this but fortunately the economic fundamentals in Canada are different."
Oct 6:
"I remain fundamentally optimistic about the Canadian economy, but optimistic, as I've said from the beginning, within the framework we're now living in and that is in a period of economic uncertainty."
Oct 11:
Harper, asked what spending plans he would have to cut to avoid going into deficit, dismisses what he calls a "ridiculous hypothetical scenario".
Oct 30, two weeks after the general election:
"While the fundamentals of Canada's economy remain stronger, more stable and more durable than those of many other nations, it is clear that we are not immune to what happens outside our borders."
Nov 6:
"If I can be brutally frank about it, every week the general assessments about the general economic picture going forward, globally, have become more pessimistic -- both more pessimistic and a lot more uncertain about what the range of outcomes could be."
Nov 20:
"Balancing the budget by raising taxes, by cutting essential government activity or by refusing necessary intervention in the midst of a global economic crisis would be a cure worse than the disease."
Dec 15:
"The truth is, I've never seen such uncertainty in terms of looking forward ... I'm very worried about the Canadian economy."
"Obviously, we're going to have to run a deficit." (Reporting by David Ljunggren)