And The Rest of It

Buying your votes:

A cabinet order by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland that extends temporary election-time relief cheques for the jobless will cost more than $2.1 billion, by official estimate. Cheques worth $300 a week were to run out just after Election Day: “I am so grateful to Canadians.”  

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The Liberal Party yesterday detailed a $393 million-a year proposal to cut tax credits for top income earners. “We really welcome scrutiny,” said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland: “This is a responsible platform; it is a transparent platform.”

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The Canadian Labour Congress sought federal funding for private sector pension plans that lost income in the pandemic, according to a memo in the Prime Minister’s Office. The Congress within days of the Covid outbreak also petitioned cabinet for a national moratorium on foreclosures and evictions: “We know some companies will fail during this pandemic.”

 

 

Remember that Justin handed China sixteen tonnes of personal protective equipment:

Federal agencies considered issuing garbage bags to nurses for use as medical gowns, according to an internal email from the Prime Minister’s Office. Authorities were so short of rationed supplies they also suggested front line health care workers try aprons and coveralls: “Explore fallbacks should everything else be insufficient, for example heavy duty garbage bags.”

 

A new prime minister for Japan soon?: 

Taro Kono, Japan's minister in charge of fighting COVID-19 and a top choice of voters for Japanese prime minister, may also pick up the backing of a popular ruling party heavyweight in the race for party leader, broadcaster TV Asahi said on Monday.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's shock Friday announcement he was stepping down has thrown a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race set for Sept. 29 wide open, with an array of candidates - including two women - considering runs.

The LDP's majority in parliament guarantees the winner will become prime minister.