Avoiding confrontation and accountability are as Canadian as donuts and maple syrup. We are "polite" people after all.
That said, this whole situation with foreign interference and refusing to name names (and jail the perps) isn't how real countries take care of these things. It's how nations cripplingly divided by ethnicity and beliefs behave.
One thing on the immigration polling is it's hard to know what people mean when the say they view it negatively: are they talking in general or the current dysfunctional system? I'd like to think most people are still in favour of an orderly system and a reasonable level of population growth, but I do worry this is another pendulum and Canadians become legitimately anti-immigration (sure is ironic that the Trudeau Liberals have done more to turn Canadians against immigration than a far right politician could have dreamed of - sadly may be Trudeau's longest lasting legacy).
And while I agree they were responding to "demand" with the temporary immigration boom, I do think the Liberals general world-view prevented them from being the adults in the room who said "no" ("we get to please the business lobby AND get to be sanctimonious about how not-like-Trump we are: win-win!"). It's also not helping their reputation that they continue to defend their previous choices as the right ones, I'd have more respect if they just came out and basically said "honestly we panicked after Covid and didn't fully think through the implications of these changes - we learned from this mistake and it won't happen again".
It's going to be interesting to see if Poilievre ends up following his traditional pro-business instincts on immigration (he once accused Liberals of too much gate keeping and wanted to make it even easier for employers to bring in workers!) and his base's views on the issue. I just hope he doesn't go too far - fix the system, get our growth rate back on a sane trajectory, but keep Canada a pro-immigration country.
You mentioned that Canada’s immigration dysfunction will eventually benefit the US. Maybe, but if Trump wins the November election, expect at least a 4 year reprieve from that risk. Immigration is such a bête noir with the American right that they’ve pushed to slash legal immigration even though it’s sharply distinct from the huge level of migrants claiming asylum and illegal immigrate that are the real problem. It’s become more difficult to get H1B visas for skilled workers, and Republicans have been proposing slashing the number of green cards (permanent residency) issued by half.
Canada had achieved something impressive with the Harper-era immigration policy: we’d found a way to admit relatively high numbers of immigrants who delivered significant benefit to the economy with generally positive public support, or at least little opposition. This was a “third way” in stark contrast with the immigration debate in most countries, including the US: left wing pushes for essentially open borders based on utopian sentiment vs. right wing ultra-restriction rooted in nativism. Of course Trudeau blew it up, going with the fashionable progressive sentiment without really understanding the issue.
Well said. Also, in higher income fields like engineering or tech, unless someone already has roots in Canada, people with a choice are largely already choosing the US over Canada (we're basically a backup plan). As an analogy, the Maple Leafs don't increase their cup odds if a nearby AHL franchise goes bust. Canada's comparatively low salaries and high taxes just means we're not in the same league when competing for talent.
Ironically, our dysfunction may hurt the US as well. Canadian citizenship can be used as a "hop" for easier entry to the US (access to TN visas, less competition in the PR pool due to per-country caps, etc). I don't love Canadian citizenship being used for this purpose, but it is a thing.
You are correct re. Can. citizenship, I noticed that also. Today I regret that with my training, 35 years ago I did not bust my ass to get into US. I know that with my working ethics I would have achieved there what I could not here. I would have had dual citizenship asap and been very much OK with that practical and pragmatic fact. Given how shabbily more and more countries treat their citizens, they can take their patriotism and shove it - it became nothing but a trap for naifs.
On MAID, I'm one of those people who thought the right-wing arguments against it were ridiculous scaremongering. And in most serious countries (and some US states) they would have been, but somehow Canada has allowed them to come true. I really hope we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater here: I'm aligned with Matt's views that I'm glad I live in a country with MAID available, but some of the anecdotes have been very dystopian.
Kind of weird how we go out of our way to prevent drug addicts from killing themselves by ODing and claim that our gun laws are to ostensibly prevent suicide, and yet we go in the completely opposite direction with assisted suicide. I too am not opposed to euthanasia, but I abhor the way Canada has gone about it. We can't seem to do anything right in Canada. I did not in the beginning think it was rightwing fear mongering, however, because a lot of my understanding of the realities of MAID was formed by following some poor and disabled people on twitter who have HUGE issues with the way it's being handled. It's interesting how society is circling back to Tommy Douglas's master's thesis on the subnormal family https://www.eugenicsarchive.ca/connections?id=5172ee91eed5c60000000022
I am sorry to say I've decided that the only safe option is to consider that all Parliamentarians are suspects. The only sure way to ensure those who are guilty no longer sit in parliament is to vote all incumbents out of office.
I for one, wholly support The Line using subscriber funds for that plaque for Chris Selly, along with one for The Line with quote from last week's podcast about how Cons are the kinds of people who will absolutely do the things they imagine the Libs to be doing.
Hearing some of his clips recently, I have to say this man was vastly under appreciated. Got a bad rap to be honest. I was one of the people that would rip him. But now, I can say, we sure could use a guy like this in Parliament right now.
Avoiding confrontation and accountability are as Canadian as donuts and maple syrup. We are "polite" people after all.
That said, this whole situation with foreign interference and refusing to name names (and jail the perps) isn't how real countries take care of these things. It's how nations cripplingly divided by ethnicity and beliefs behave.
Another great episode!
One thing on the immigration polling is it's hard to know what people mean when the say they view it negatively: are they talking in general or the current dysfunctional system? I'd like to think most people are still in favour of an orderly system and a reasonable level of population growth, but I do worry this is another pendulum and Canadians become legitimately anti-immigration (sure is ironic that the Trudeau Liberals have done more to turn Canadians against immigration than a far right politician could have dreamed of - sadly may be Trudeau's longest lasting legacy).
And while I agree they were responding to "demand" with the temporary immigration boom, I do think the Liberals general world-view prevented them from being the adults in the room who said "no" ("we get to please the business lobby AND get to be sanctimonious about how not-like-Trump we are: win-win!"). It's also not helping their reputation that they continue to defend their previous choices as the right ones, I'd have more respect if they just came out and basically said "honestly we panicked after Covid and didn't fully think through the implications of these changes - we learned from this mistake and it won't happen again".
It's going to be interesting to see if Poilievre ends up following his traditional pro-business instincts on immigration (he once accused Liberals of too much gate keeping and wanted to make it even easier for employers to bring in workers!) and his base's views on the issue. I just hope he doesn't go too far - fix the system, get our growth rate back on a sane trajectory, but keep Canada a pro-immigration country.
You mentioned that Canada’s immigration dysfunction will eventually benefit the US. Maybe, but if Trump wins the November election, expect at least a 4 year reprieve from that risk. Immigration is such a bête noir with the American right that they’ve pushed to slash legal immigration even though it’s sharply distinct from the huge level of migrants claiming asylum and illegal immigrate that are the real problem. It’s become more difficult to get H1B visas for skilled workers, and Republicans have been proposing slashing the number of green cards (permanent residency) issued by half.
Canada had achieved something impressive with the Harper-era immigration policy: we’d found a way to admit relatively high numbers of immigrants who delivered significant benefit to the economy with generally positive public support, or at least little opposition. This was a “third way” in stark contrast with the immigration debate in most countries, including the US: left wing pushes for essentially open borders based on utopian sentiment vs. right wing ultra-restriction rooted in nativism. Of course Trudeau blew it up, going with the fashionable progressive sentiment without really understanding the issue.
Well said. Also, in higher income fields like engineering or tech, unless someone already has roots in Canada, people with a choice are largely already choosing the US over Canada (we're basically a backup plan). As an analogy, the Maple Leafs don't increase their cup odds if a nearby AHL franchise goes bust. Canada's comparatively low salaries and high taxes just means we're not in the same league when competing for talent.
Ironically, our dysfunction may hurt the US as well. Canadian citizenship can be used as a "hop" for easier entry to the US (access to TN visas, less competition in the PR pool due to per-country caps, etc). I don't love Canadian citizenship being used for this purpose, but it is a thing.
You are correct re. Can. citizenship, I noticed that also. Today I regret that with my training, 35 years ago I did not bust my ass to get into US. I know that with my working ethics I would have achieved there what I could not here. I would have had dual citizenship asap and been very much OK with that practical and pragmatic fact. Given how shabbily more and more countries treat their citizens, they can take their patriotism and shove it - it became nothing but a trap for naifs.
On MAID, I'm one of those people who thought the right-wing arguments against it were ridiculous scaremongering. And in most serious countries (and some US states) they would have been, but somehow Canada has allowed them to come true. I really hope we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater here: I'm aligned with Matt's views that I'm glad I live in a country with MAID available, but some of the anecdotes have been very dystopian.
Kind of weird how we go out of our way to prevent drug addicts from killing themselves by ODing and claim that our gun laws are to ostensibly prevent suicide, and yet we go in the completely opposite direction with assisted suicide. I too am not opposed to euthanasia, but I abhor the way Canada has gone about it. We can't seem to do anything right in Canada. I did not in the beginning think it was rightwing fear mongering, however, because a lot of my understanding of the realities of MAID was formed by following some poor and disabled people on twitter who have HUGE issues with the way it's being handled. It's interesting how society is circling back to Tommy Douglas's master's thesis on the subnormal family https://www.eugenicsarchive.ca/connections?id=5172ee91eed5c60000000022
In order not to do anything right in Canada, keep voting Laurentian Liebranos into power.
I am sorry to say I've decided that the only safe option is to consider that all Parliamentarians are suspects. The only sure way to ensure those who are guilty no longer sit in parliament is to vote all incumbents out of office.
Politicians are like diapers. They need to be changed regularly and for the same reason.
What about Brian Lilley's recent take on this? https://x.com/brianlilley/status/1847323797801570370
Re: MAID. Is it possible views on euthanasia are a logical development from current abortion laws & ethics? Necessity or convenience?
Great Freeland impression! But kudos to you for recognizing that Foreign Interference is not a Liberal Hoax.
Tony Benn said it best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0gWYmYy77o
I for one, wholly support The Line using subscriber funds for that plaque for Chris Selly, along with one for The Line with quote from last week's podcast about how Cons are the kinds of people who will absolutely do the things they imagine the Libs to be doing.
That said, pics or it didn't happen!
Or this, from a former leader of the opposition Tom Mulcaire https://x.com/brianlilley/status/1847080274670088350
Hearing some of his clips recently, I have to say this man was vastly under appreciated. Got a bad rap to be honest. I was one of the people that would rip him. But now, I can say, we sure could use a guy like this in Parliament right now.