Those people would complain if the NDP raised taxes in a hot economy too

Maybe, I wouldn't but I like Keynesian economics. Some like Monetarist, no harm. It's not like they would give the Conservatives a pass on this either, if they disagree.

The same people also blame them for running a deficit right now, so there's that

Deficits need context, it's hard to see what the NDP is doing is in any way spuring economic activity. A balanced budget would be impossible right now but I'd like to see some expenditure into more construction and less on social programs.

Oh, and when they reviewed the royalties and then made an evidence-based decision not to touch them? Yeah, that was somehow construed to be a huge NDP fuck-up too

Commodities are a leading indicator. It takes 10 seconds to put the evidence together regarding whether or not they need to be raised. Not 9 months. That did nothing but drive investment elsewhere.

There's pretty much nothing the NDP can do to please conservatives.

I'm guessing there isn't much a right wing party could do to please left leaners either.

There's no evidence that lowered taxes would do much to spur activity in a commodity economy anyway

May be true, but there is a mountain of evidence that raising taxes at this point hinders the economy. The lagging indicators have confirmed this.