A few tweaks here and there, affecting a small minority of Canadians at best, is all the Liberals have been able to come up with in terms of economic relief. Meanwhile they continue to kill the golden goose that is our natural resource industry, and stifle foreign investment by onerous regulatory requirements. (As an aside, while they promise Volkswagen $13 billion in subsidies, the company is actively laying off workers in their German EV plants because of lack of demand.)
I recently took a cab to Pearson Airport. My driver was originally from Pakistan, but has lived in Canada for 25 years, and driven a taxi for 20 of those. He is raising two teenagers, and has great hope for them. But he recently had to renegotiate his mortgage, and he had gone from paying $1100 a month to $1900. Those are real dollars, and that kind of increase means real cutbacks in their household. A “gift” from our government of $500 to help with groceries is basically meaningless.
If we are stupid enough to re-elect Justin Trudeau, we deserve everything we get—or lose.
If they are stupid enought to re-elect the Liberals then we may be doubly as stupid for wasting precious time by tolerating the NDP's delay tactics. The NDP needs to feel some heat. It can be from us, or the sun.
The World inflation rate in 2022 was over 8%, double the year before. You must be very impressed with JT's competence if you think influencing global economic trends is within his power.
I'm curious, did you and the the cab driver talk about how the CERB helped them to make mortgage payments during lockdown? Is that what you mean by a few tweaks?
I’m not saying inflation isn’t bad, everyone agrees it’s harmful. You’re setting up a straw man.
I’m arguing that it’s bad around the world, and thus not JT’s fault, but rather has to do with global factors (pandemic, supply chain, war in Europe). Further, my point is that as Canada is doing better the almost all of our comparators, if you’re inclined to say JT can influence inflation, then your logic should lead you to giving him credit for how well Canada is doing relative to our comparators.
That argument is certainly true to PP’s playbook. Blame JT for matters that are the responsibility of the provinces, like housing, and hope your followers don’t know any better.
Well I just read the most staggeringly stupid comments of the year. In order to reduce costs of food for Canadians, JT has said that if the Grocery Oligopoly (that successive governments have allowed to form) doesn't lower costs he will tax them. Who does he think will end up paying those taxes? Does he have a clue about finance? I guess when you're a trust fund baby you are this clueless about the world.
I have to admit my dislike for the liberals has grown to the point where this article pains me to read. Of course anything can happen in politics, but Canada deserves to have a government that is respected around the world and who can actually manage the country. Trudeau is neither of those things. Canadians deserve better. So I hope that this possibility falls flat and fails horrendously. Trudeau’s $10 a month childcare does nothing to help me when my kids aren’t in childcare and are eating more because that’s what teens do.
What nations don't respect Canada's government? China I guess, thankfully. Maybe India, because we criticize his human rights record. I guess Russia, again, thankfully. Who else?
Basically no one. The same way everyone with half a brain thinks France's Macron is a buffoon.
What Trudeau did during the truckers protests - freezing the bank accounts of people guilty of donating money to a gofundme campaign - sent deep chills down Canadians spines and showed the world that he was willing to go full authoritarian to save face. Not a good look.
I’m sorry, but what are you basing your opinion on?
“A recent poll conducted on Ipsos’ Global Advisor platform found that across 28 countries surveyed, 80% feel that Canada will have a positive influence on world affairs in the next decade, consistent with the previous year (81% positive) and with 2015 (81% positive) when Justin Trudeau was first elected, suggesting that attitudes towards Canada have remained high and stable for the past 6 years of the Liberal administration.“ (https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/canada-reputation-shines-internationally-and-at-home)
India snubbed Trudeau at the recent G20 conference from an article I read. Trudeau chose to discuss social issues rather than trade issues.
He wasn't respected in the EU parliament when he was there a couple years ago.
I don't think he really has the respect of many countries of the world. Politicians generally don't say things like that (although the EU parliament clips I've seen there were some politicians who criticized him directly and said he shouldn't be there at all,) but Canada isn't contributing properly to NATO, our military is underfunded and understaffed, we have problems with the basic functioning of crown corporations. Canada has been excluded in the last 6 months from a few major international meetings related to trade.
I would reverse this question and ask you what countries do you think truly respect Trudeau? I don't think Biden truly does - UK has had so many changes in prime minister they're more worried about their own politics than international relations, so I don't think Canada is really a noteworthy partner in their eyes right now. EU? no. I would actually think that China DOES respect Canada more than some other countries. (Trudeau has said he admires China's basic dictatorship - while Xi snubbed him at a meeting in person, I don't know that there are that many true complaints - Trudeau has certainly never taken a harsh stance about China's genocide or indoctrination camps or the fact that university students are threatened with their parents being imprisoned if they engage in any wrong-speak or wrong-think while away at university. Not to mention the seemingly complete lack of action about the Chinese election interference allegations and the illegal Chinese police stations being used to intimidate Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of Canada now.)
I also note that holding India accountable for its human rights record is a feature, not a bug. While I was expect PP doesn’t care who he does business with many Canadians do care about human rights, and place them ahead of economic benefit.
So, to summarize, you have no evidence but you ‘really don’t think’ he has the respect of people with whom you have no reason to be considered an inside source. The ipsos poll I cited is at least evidence.
Articles that state the prime minister doesn't have respect of India's prime minister, and the videos of the comments made directly to him at the EU parliament are plenty of source. Google it - it should be pretty easy to find. I don't think a poll is much for proof personally - citizen opinions are often different than government official's opinions.
It took a couple replies to figure that out. Then I stopped. 😉 though I’m not sure it’s trolling so much as just a different perspective. Doesn’t matter either way, I have been around long enough to know that nobody ever changes someone else’s opinion in the comments section. 😂
You mean the speech at the EU parliament where Trudeau received a standing ovation? You must be referring to the “handful of far-right, populist and anti-vaccine members of the European Parliament” who criticized him for his handling of the trucker convoy. Not really the foreign “leaders” that we are looking to impress I don’t think?
The claim that carbon taxes represent the alternative to flooded basements and burned neighborhoods is absurd. Pollution-driven climate change caused by humans is originating almost entirely outside of Canada. Until China and India curb their emissions our efforts will be of little use.
So what about CPC "will outlaw abortions" and "give everyone guns" and "outlaw immigrants"? Are you suggesting the Liberals abandon the tried and true BS and change to new BS? Climate change is just such a canard. Given China's building of a couple of coal fired power plants a week, all the climate taxes and straw banning won't change the flooded basements or forest fires. We should start to look to climate adaptation since we have such a small effect on climate mitigation.
Exactly! Canadians talking about Canada affecting climate change is like standing on railway tracks at night with your hand up hoping to stop that speeding freight train coming at you. We can help the cause by developing technology to sell to the world, but priority One must be adapting to the effects of climate change.
Blaming Conservative opposition to the carbon tax for increasing the risk of forest fires is absurd. And touting the tax as a solution to climate change is equally ridiculous. After all, we've had a carbon tax for years and there are still forest fires. And floods. And hurricanes. And melting glaciers. It should be obvious that NOTHING any Canadian government can do will make any difference in the global climate and any government that tells us so is lying. A serious government would emphasize mitigation and tout LNG and nuclear as low carbon alternatives.
In other words, the exact same Liberal formula they have used for many elections now. Accuse the Conservatives of wanting to make "cuts". Sure, except... I don't think Canada is buying what your team is peddling anymore.
The Trudeau Liberals have been spending like drunken sailors for eight long years, and Canadians know it. Among other things they have grown the federal civil service by almost 50% over that time - and the punchline is that service levels have WORSENED, not improved over the same time period.
If the Liberals approach this next election with a ton of spending promises, I suspect they will get a thrashing at the polls.
Warning noted. But can the Tories not roll out the cost of each and every tax in each region and calculate the total cost per individual at election time?
I was in Nfld and NB this summer and the cost of gas and groceries was eye watering compared to ON. And they know it.
Trudeau can reinvent himself based on hope? By trotting out income redistribution schemes from the past to remind people what a generous guy he is?
People are living in the here and now, with many families barely surviving. Anyone with the misfortune to have to renegotiate a mortgage in the next two years or replace a worn out car is in for a staggering reduction in their standard of living and there will be some who will have to revisit their ability to pay monthly mortgage payments.
Trudeau will need an economic miracle such as a huge drop in inflation and interest rates, coupled with a focus on economic growth to convince people that he is the one who can pilot the Nation through tough times.
We've heard before how vulnerable the Libs are, and it turns to dust the day after the election. We would all be wise to take this column seriously. There are still millions of the Lib cult followers out there that hate anything, no matter how sensible, the conservatives offer.
Once again erroneously attributing forest fires and floods to climate change. I guess honesty shouldn't get in the way of campaign strategy. Just lie some more. Seems to have worked so far.
If the Liberals put faith in this analysis, they will lose. It assumes, as almost all Liberal analyses assume, that the Liberals' problems aren't about their programs and messenger but rather their communications.
The sanctimony, hypocrisy, arrogance and divisiveness of this government are ingrained from the top down. This is what Canadians, including many on the left, can no longer stomach. If this government were capable of critical self-reflection it wouldn't be in its current state.
It is easier to keep customers than to find new ones or win back those who have been driven away. And it is especially hard to win back customers whose complaints have been routinely disdained.
Appreciate the thoughts, but costs are skyrocketing, and Liberals would need to give more benefits to make up the difference, which adds to inflation and on we go. So no, the Liberals cannot rope a dop when there's no rope. And Pierre: he hasn't been feeding off anger, lately. Did you see convention speech, it was ALL about hope. He can last.
With the majority of Canadians and Canadian families barely scraping by, paycheck to paycheck, it's going to be very difficult for the Liberals to prove that all these benefits didn't cause dollar for dollar inflation.
No doubt Andrew felt the same way about Kathleen Wynne's chances in 2016 (two years before the Liberals ended up with 7 seats in the Ontario Legislature).
A few tweaks here and there, affecting a small minority of Canadians at best, is all the Liberals have been able to come up with in terms of economic relief. Meanwhile they continue to kill the golden goose that is our natural resource industry, and stifle foreign investment by onerous regulatory requirements. (As an aside, while they promise Volkswagen $13 billion in subsidies, the company is actively laying off workers in their German EV plants because of lack of demand.)
I recently took a cab to Pearson Airport. My driver was originally from Pakistan, but has lived in Canada for 25 years, and driven a taxi for 20 of those. He is raising two teenagers, and has great hope for them. But he recently had to renegotiate his mortgage, and he had gone from paying $1100 a month to $1900. Those are real dollars, and that kind of increase means real cutbacks in their household. A “gift” from our government of $500 to help with groceries is basically meaningless.
If we are stupid enough to re-elect Justin Trudeau, we deserve everything we get—or lose.
If they are stupid enought to re-elect the Liberals then we may be doubly as stupid for wasting precious time by tolerating the NDP's delay tactics. The NDP needs to feel some heat. It can be from us, or the sun.
So you're buying that inflation is JT's fault. Canada is essentially tied the 6th lowest inflation rate in the G20 (https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/inflation-rate-?continent=g20), ahead of any nation you would likely compare us to. Does JT also get credit for that?
The World inflation rate in 2022 was over 8%, double the year before. You must be very impressed with JT's competence if you think influencing global economic trends is within his power.
I'm curious, did you and the the cab driver talk about how the CERB helped them to make mortgage payments during lockdown? Is that what you mean by a few tweaks?
I’m not saying inflation isn’t bad, everyone agrees it’s harmful. You’re setting up a straw man.
I’m arguing that it’s bad around the world, and thus not JT’s fault, but rather has to do with global factors (pandemic, supply chain, war in Europe). Further, my point is that as Canada is doing better the almost all of our comparators, if you’re inclined to say JT can influence inflation, then your logic should lead you to giving him credit for how well Canada is doing relative to our comparators.
That argument is certainly true to PP’s playbook. Blame JT for matters that are the responsibility of the provinces, like housing, and hope your followers don’t know any better.
Well I just read the most staggeringly stupid comments of the year. In order to reduce costs of food for Canadians, JT has said that if the Grocery Oligopoly (that successive governments have allowed to form) doesn't lower costs he will tax them. Who does he think will end up paying those taxes? Does he have a clue about finance? I guess when you're a trust fund baby you are this clueless about the world.
I have to admit my dislike for the liberals has grown to the point where this article pains me to read. Of course anything can happen in politics, but Canada deserves to have a government that is respected around the world and who can actually manage the country. Trudeau is neither of those things. Canadians deserve better. So I hope that this possibility falls flat and fails horrendously. Trudeau’s $10 a month childcare does nothing to help me when my kids aren’t in childcare and are eating more because that’s what teens do.
You are in good, and voluminous, company.
What nations don't respect Canada's government? China I guess, thankfully. Maybe India, because we criticize his human rights record. I guess Russia, again, thankfully. Who else?
Basically no one. The same way everyone with half a brain thinks France's Macron is a buffoon.
What Trudeau did during the truckers protests - freezing the bank accounts of people guilty of donating money to a gofundme campaign - sent deep chills down Canadians spines and showed the world that he was willing to go full authoritarian to save face. Not a good look.
I’m sorry, but what are you basing your opinion on?
“A recent poll conducted on Ipsos’ Global Advisor platform found that across 28 countries surveyed, 80% feel that Canada will have a positive influence on world affairs in the next decade, consistent with the previous year (81% positive) and with 2015 (81% positive) when Justin Trudeau was first elected, suggesting that attitudes towards Canada have remained high and stable for the past 6 years of the Liberal administration.“ (https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/news-polls/canada-reputation-shines-internationally-and-at-home)
Hi. Jen Gerson did a section or two on “listicles” in the dispatches this year. Just search “listicles” in the Line’s search function.
India snubbed Trudeau at the recent G20 conference from an article I read. Trudeau chose to discuss social issues rather than trade issues.
He wasn't respected in the EU parliament when he was there a couple years ago.
I don't think he really has the respect of many countries of the world. Politicians generally don't say things like that (although the EU parliament clips I've seen there were some politicians who criticized him directly and said he shouldn't be there at all,) but Canada isn't contributing properly to NATO, our military is underfunded and understaffed, we have problems with the basic functioning of crown corporations. Canada has been excluded in the last 6 months from a few major international meetings related to trade.
I would reverse this question and ask you what countries do you think truly respect Trudeau? I don't think Biden truly does - UK has had so many changes in prime minister they're more worried about their own politics than international relations, so I don't think Canada is really a noteworthy partner in their eyes right now. EU? no. I would actually think that China DOES respect Canada more than some other countries. (Trudeau has said he admires China's basic dictatorship - while Xi snubbed him at a meeting in person, I don't know that there are that many true complaints - Trudeau has certainly never taken a harsh stance about China's genocide or indoctrination camps or the fact that university students are threatened with their parents being imprisoned if they engage in any wrong-speak or wrong-think while away at university. Not to mention the seemingly complete lack of action about the Chinese election interference allegations and the illegal Chinese police stations being used to intimidate Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of Canada now.)
I also note that holding India accountable for its human rights record is a feature, not a bug. While I was expect PP doesn’t care who he does business with many Canadians do care about human rights, and place them ahead of economic benefit.
So, to summarize, you have no evidence but you ‘really don’t think’ he has the respect of people with whom you have no reason to be considered an inside source. The ipsos poll I cited is at least evidence.
Articles that state the prime minister doesn't have respect of India's prime minister, and the videos of the comments made directly to him at the EU parliament are plenty of source. Google it - it should be pretty easy to find. I don't think a poll is much for proof personally - citizen opinions are often different than government official's opinions.
IceSkater, why feed the trolls?
It took a couple replies to figure that out. Then I stopped. 😉 though I’m not sure it’s trolling so much as just a different perspective. Doesn’t matter either way, I have been around long enough to know that nobody ever changes someone else’s opinion in the comments section. 😂
You mean the speech at the EU parliament where Trudeau received a standing ovation? You must be referring to the “handful of far-right, populist and anti-vaccine members of the European Parliament” who criticized him for his handling of the trucker convoy. Not really the foreign “leaders” that we are looking to impress I don’t think?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/european-members-parliament-attact-trudeau-1.6397579
Re India, I’ve addressed this above. Many Canadians are willing to put human rights ahead of trade relations.
The claim that carbon taxes represent the alternative to flooded basements and burned neighborhoods is absurd. Pollution-driven climate change caused by humans is originating almost entirely outside of Canada. Until China and India curb their emissions our efforts will be of little use.
So what about CPC "will outlaw abortions" and "give everyone guns" and "outlaw immigrants"? Are you suggesting the Liberals abandon the tried and true BS and change to new BS? Climate change is just such a canard. Given China's building of a couple of coal fired power plants a week, all the climate taxes and straw banning won't change the flooded basements or forest fires. We should start to look to climate adaptation since we have such a small effect on climate mitigation.
Exactly! Canadians talking about Canada affecting climate change is like standing on railway tracks at night with your hand up hoping to stop that speeding freight train coming at you. We can help the cause by developing technology to sell to the world, but priority One must be adapting to the effects of climate change.
Blaming Conservative opposition to the carbon tax for increasing the risk of forest fires is absurd. And touting the tax as a solution to climate change is equally ridiculous. After all, we've had a carbon tax for years and there are still forest fires. And floods. And hurricanes. And melting glaciers. It should be obvious that NOTHING any Canadian government can do will make any difference in the global climate and any government that tells us so is lying. A serious government would emphasize mitigation and tout LNG and nuclear as low carbon alternatives.
In other words, the exact same Liberal formula they have used for many elections now. Accuse the Conservatives of wanting to make "cuts". Sure, except... I don't think Canada is buying what your team is peddling anymore.
The Trudeau Liberals have been spending like drunken sailors for eight long years, and Canadians know it. Among other things they have grown the federal civil service by almost 50% over that time - and the punchline is that service levels have WORSENED, not improved over the same time period.
If the Liberals approach this next election with a ton of spending promises, I suspect they will get a thrashing at the polls.
Warning noted. But can the Tories not roll out the cost of each and every tax in each region and calculate the total cost per individual at election time?
I was in Nfld and NB this summer and the cost of gas and groceries was eye watering compared to ON. And they know it.
Trudeau can reinvent himself based on hope? By trotting out income redistribution schemes from the past to remind people what a generous guy he is?
People are living in the here and now, with many families barely surviving. Anyone with the misfortune to have to renegotiate a mortgage in the next two years or replace a worn out car is in for a staggering reduction in their standard of living and there will be some who will have to revisit their ability to pay monthly mortgage payments.
Trudeau will need an economic miracle such as a huge drop in inflation and interest rates, coupled with a focus on economic growth to convince people that he is the one who can pilot the Nation through tough times.
We've heard before how vulnerable the Libs are, and it turns to dust the day after the election. We would all be wise to take this column seriously. There are still millions of the Lib cult followers out there that hate anything, no matter how sensible, the conservatives offer.
Once again erroneously attributing forest fires and floods to climate change. I guess honesty shouldn't get in the way of campaign strategy. Just lie some more. Seems to have worked so far.
If the Liberals put faith in this analysis, they will lose. It assumes, as almost all Liberal analyses assume, that the Liberals' problems aren't about their programs and messenger but rather their communications.
The sanctimony, hypocrisy, arrogance and divisiveness of this government are ingrained from the top down. This is what Canadians, including many on the left, can no longer stomach. If this government were capable of critical self-reflection it wouldn't be in its current state.
It is easier to keep customers than to find new ones or win back those who have been driven away. And it is especially hard to win back customers whose complaints have been routinely disdained.
Appreciate the thoughts, but costs are skyrocketing, and Liberals would need to give more benefits to make up the difference, which adds to inflation and on we go. So no, the Liberals cannot rope a dop when there's no rope. And Pierre: he hasn't been feeding off anger, lately. Did you see convention speech, it was ALL about hope. He can last.
With the majority of Canadians and Canadian families barely scraping by, paycheck to paycheck, it's going to be very difficult for the Liberals to prove that all these benefits didn't cause dollar for dollar inflation.
Andrew, was this written after a night of heavy drinking?
No doubt Andrew felt the same way about Kathleen Wynne's chances in 2016 (two years before the Liberals ended up with 7 seats in the Ontario Legislature).