The IMF released its annual report on the Canadian economy the other day. Nothing very much to report, which is understandable: the economy is operating at capacity, inflation is low and stable, and the government has been running a surplus for almost a decade now.

There was an interesting tidbit in their forecasts: thanks to a current account surplus that is projected to stay in the range of 2-3% of GDP, Canada’s net international investment position (NIIP) will go positive for the first time ever within the next five years.

But there’s still the puzzle why the investment balance is still projected to still be in deficit – more than 1% of GDP – even when Canada is to be a net creditor. If the US has ‘dark matter’ that allows them to have an income balance surplus while being a creditor, then we appear have the dubious honour of being blessed with ‘dark anti-matter’.

Maybe it’ll give us a comparative advantage in the race to develop the warp drive engine.