Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says that if a US shutdown persists over several weeks, it will affect the Canadian economy. He doesn’t expect it to persist.

In the near-term, a combined debt ceiling/budget was the best hope of re-opening the government. Now that the debt ceiling has been sliced out, there is no visible near-term solution to the shutdown.

Flaherty giving the Don Cherry-salute with PM Harper

Flaherty giving the Don Cherry-salute with PM Harper