You are SO right health care is causing many to consider if they want to stay.
I live in Toronto and it is becoming more and more difficult to get good health care even though we have so many good hospitals. As a senior I want private health and am willing to pay as can't wait for months/years to get the health care I need at my age. It is much easier to fill that need in the US. Ontario Health care continues to degrade every year and does not seem to be a priority of the Ontario government.
I may be wrong, but I think we have to consider the possibility that there will not be another election until the fall of 2026 – especially if the NDP and the Liberals decide that they want to pad their members’ pensions on the way out.
So, JT may be around for quite a long time, even if he doesn’t go to the Calgary Stampede.
Then, this week, we also got the news that the unelected Senate, stuffed with Trudeau appointments, and supposedly “apolitical”, (ha ha ha) are considering blocking any attempt by a future majority government to invoke the notwithstanding clause. [reported by Paul Wells],
Which is an interesting possibility, allowing the non-elected Senators, to permit the no longer elected Liberals, to rule from the electoral grave.
And, in this case, means making the views of unelected Judges prevail over those of the democratically elected Parliament, without the escape hatch that the Charter seems to contemplate.
Indeed, it is unclear to me whether the Senate itself could even by abolished without the approval of that very Senate; because the amending formula seems to contemplate participation by, and consent of, the Senate itself.
But I am not a constitutional lawyer, so I probably should not speculate. But ihe unelected (largely Laurentian) elites may still have lots of cards to play.
Finally, for what it’s worth, Matt, I do have some expertise with respect to collective bargaining, and I fully agree with you that the liquor union is taking a risk that the government will go further on “privatization” than it had planned.
And THAT is an existential threat for this union, just as technological change was for blue collar workers at newspapers, and the internet later was for journalists and for the newspaper itself. We don’t really “need” and LCBO. Thus, when the union says that it fears the disappearance of good civil service jobs, it is absolutely right to do so -- which is why so many of the items on the bargaining table are about job security, not wages.
Brian Mulroney had a problem with an LPC controlled Senate refusing to pass legislation. He solved it by increasing the size of the senate by eight.
As far as I know there’s no limit on “lather, rinse, repeat” for however many it takes until a Prime Minister gets his party in control of the Senate.
That would of course be a Prime Minister making a mockery of the Senate and flipping them off while he did it. But of course, many already think the Senate is a bad joke. I suspect a popular Prime Minister trying to pass popular legislation being blocked by the Senate might score points for “sticking it to them”.
And Mr. Poilievre would be politically savvy enough to make sure the fight was over something the public really wanted, but horrified the LPC Senators.
To give people some sense of how deep Calgary's rodeo heritage has *become*, regardless of how initially artificial it might have been, there are references by cowboy characters in legit 20th-century American Western novels to participating in the Calgary rodeo.
Justin is praying for a Trump re-election. Then he can put on his Captain Canada cape and matching silk underwear and present himself as the only savior of Peace Order and Good Government. And since a large number of Canadians only define themselves as Not American, his chances of clinging to the seat of power will improve considerably. And in the event of a Biden re-election, however unlikely, he can claim that he would be a better PM because he and Joe are kindred spirits although his weak mind doesn’t arise from old age. So no decision on leaving on his part until November 6.
When healthcare is so much cheaper and certainly as good as what you pay for in Canada why not have plan B. In panama a crown costs me less than the copay with insurance in Canada. If you have the money a new hip or knee can be had for 20k without the loss of quality of life for 2 or 3 years on a waiting list.
I had my knee replacement done in Panama for $8k US. No wait. Exceptional hospital stay. Great doctors - mostly trained in the US. Very attentive rehab. As you say Daryl, a visit to the dentist is very affordable.
"...and Lord knows what other political curveballs might be tossed the PM's way."
This isn't as much of an issue as it would be for a non-Liberal PM, unable to rely on ideologically-captured media calling his balls strikes whenever he takes the mound.
Why is the fancy new podcast studio in a rural area? Did Matt finally give up on Toronto? Say it ain’t so — if this city is to come back, we need productive people from the reality-based community to stay here and push for centrist politics.
Jen - technically the AGLC could go on strike still in Alberta and disrupt the flow. It is still the ultimate source for licensees ( liquor stores, bars and resteraunts) to purchase the bulk of their liquor. Small places may buy from "local " liquor stores as the minimum buy is 25 cases from the AGLC but the local store bought it from the AGLC. Liquor stores can buy craft beer direct from the brewery. Domestic brands may still come from the ABA . Its been awhile so I'm not sure on that.
You are SO right health care is causing many to consider if they want to stay.
I live in Toronto and it is becoming more and more difficult to get good health care even though we have so many good hospitals. As a senior I want private health and am willing to pay as can't wait for months/years to get the health care I need at my age. It is much easier to fill that need in the US. Ontario Health care continues to degrade every year and does not seem to be a priority of the Ontario government.
I may be wrong, but I think we have to consider the possibility that there will not be another election until the fall of 2026 – especially if the NDP and the Liberals decide that they want to pad their members’ pensions on the way out.
So, JT may be around for quite a long time, even if he doesn’t go to the Calgary Stampede.
Then, this week, we also got the news that the unelected Senate, stuffed with Trudeau appointments, and supposedly “apolitical”, (ha ha ha) are considering blocking any attempt by a future majority government to invoke the notwithstanding clause. [reported by Paul Wells],
Which is an interesting possibility, allowing the non-elected Senators, to permit the no longer elected Liberals, to rule from the electoral grave.
And, in this case, means making the views of unelected Judges prevail over those of the democratically elected Parliament, without the escape hatch that the Charter seems to contemplate.
Indeed, it is unclear to me whether the Senate itself could even by abolished without the approval of that very Senate; because the amending formula seems to contemplate participation by, and consent of, the Senate itself.
But I am not a constitutional lawyer, so I probably should not speculate. But ihe unelected (largely Laurentian) elites may still have lots of cards to play.
Finally, for what it’s worth, Matt, I do have some expertise with respect to collective bargaining, and I fully agree with you that the liquor union is taking a risk that the government will go further on “privatization” than it had planned.
And THAT is an existential threat for this union, just as technological change was for blue collar workers at newspapers, and the internet later was for journalists and for the newspaper itself. We don’t really “need” and LCBO. Thus, when the union says that it fears the disappearance of good civil service jobs, it is absolutely right to do so -- which is why so many of the items on the bargaining table are about job security, not wages.
Brian Mulroney had a problem with an LPC controlled Senate refusing to pass legislation. He solved it by increasing the size of the senate by eight.
As far as I know there’s no limit on “lather, rinse, repeat” for however many it takes until a Prime Minister gets his party in control of the Senate.
That would of course be a Prime Minister making a mockery of the Senate and flipping them off while he did it. But of course, many already think the Senate is a bad joke. I suspect a popular Prime Minister trying to pass popular legislation being blocked by the Senate might score points for “sticking it to them”.
And Mr. Poilievre would be politically savvy enough to make sure the fight was over something the public really wanted, but horrified the LPC Senators.
To give people some sense of how deep Calgary's rodeo heritage has *become*, regardless of how initially artificial it might have been, there are references by cowboy characters in legit 20th-century American Western novels to participating in the Calgary rodeo.
It's extremely cool.
Justin is praying for a Trump re-election. Then he can put on his Captain Canada cape and matching silk underwear and present himself as the only savior of Peace Order and Good Government. And since a large number of Canadians only define themselves as Not American, his chances of clinging to the seat of power will improve considerably. And in the event of a Biden re-election, however unlikely, he can claim that he would be a better PM because he and Joe are kindred spirits although his weak mind doesn’t arise from old age. So no decision on leaving on his part until November 6.
When healthcare is so much cheaper and certainly as good as what you pay for in Canada why not have plan B. In panama a crown costs me less than the copay with insurance in Canada. If you have the money a new hip or knee can be had for 20k without the loss of quality of life for 2 or 3 years on a waiting list.
I had my knee replacement done in Panama for $8k US. No wait. Exceptional hospital stay. Great doctors - mostly trained in the US. Very attentive rehab. As you say Daryl, a visit to the dentist is very affordable.
"...and Lord knows what other political curveballs might be tossed the PM's way."
This isn't as much of an issue as it would be for a non-Liberal PM, unable to rely on ideologically-captured media calling his balls strikes whenever he takes the mound.
Why is the fancy new podcast studio in a rural area? Did Matt finally give up on Toronto? Say it ain’t so — if this city is to come back, we need productive people from the reality-based community to stay here and push for centrist politics.
Jen - technically the AGLC could go on strike still in Alberta and disrupt the flow. It is still the ultimate source for licensees ( liquor stores, bars and resteraunts) to purchase the bulk of their liquor. Small places may buy from "local " liquor stores as the minimum buy is 25 cases from the AGLC but the local store bought it from the AGLC. Liquor stores can buy craft beer direct from the brewery. Domestic brands may still come from the ABA . Its been awhile so I'm not sure on that.
We’re all stuck with Trudeau now 🥲
Can only adult smokers get less harmful alternatives for smoking or is there a legal brake on giving this stuff to kids? Curious