In the throne speech, Justin swear by almighty Thor that he will do everything in his power to destroy what remains of this country if it is the last thing he ever does:
Nineteen months into the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is laying out a vision for rebuilding the country towards the “economy of the future.”
But the vision outlined in the throne speech on Tuesday comes amid growing concerns about the cost of living, housing affordability, and rising inflation — all while the Liberals yet again face the challenges of governing in an unpredictable minority government. ...
The re-elected Liberal government is now promising to go “further, faster” on the climate file, emphasizing promises like capping oil-and-gas sector emissions, accelerating the push towards net-zero emissions and investments in public transit. ...
The Liberals are re-emphasizing their planned ban on conversion therapy, as well as their pledge to bring in “strengthened” gun control legislation – two issues that tripped the Conservatives up in the last Parliament and during the federal election, respectively.
The Conservatives have made rising inflation and affordability issues their main focus in the lead-up to Parliament’s return. After downplaying concerns about inflation for months, the Liberals’ throne speech identified it as a key concern for Canadians struggling to make ends meet.
“While Canada’s economic performance is better than many of our partners, we must keep tackling the rising cost of living,” the document read. “To do that, the government’s plan includes two major priorities: housing and child care.”
Yes, about those things:
Leah Nord, senior director of workforce strategies with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said people should hold off any celebration. The long-term unemployed figure stands at around 400,000. Nord adds there’s no data to explain why these people haven’t rejoined the labour force in months.
(Sidebar: the shutdown of small businesses, the fickle nature of high turnover jobs, refusal to get experimental jabs - pick one.)
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In its report, Express indicates that in addition to supply chain delays, the biggest issue for Canadians is a shortage of jobs in the supply chain network.
James Norris, an Express franchise owner in London, Ont., says that he is seeing shortages in truck drivers, warehouse workers, pick and packers and forklift operators.
“Even with sign-on bonuses being offered and wages increasing, shortages in these job categories persist,” Norris says.
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Consumer prices increased a seasonally-adjusted 0.49% over the previous month in October, a weaker increase than September's 0.56% rise. Looking at the details of the release, prices for food and beverages, and transport increased at a softer rate in October relative to the previous month.
Inflation edged up from 4.4% in September to 4.7% in October. October's result marked the highest inflation rate since February 2003. Annual average inflation rose to 2.7% in October (September: 2.4%). Finally, core inflation rose to 3.8% in October, from the previous month's 3.7%.
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Today’s political developments do not give much room for optimism. Due in part to the pandemic, budget deficits and government spending levels have soared. The size of the government sector, in terms of employment, has also surged to rarely seen levels. Unavoidably, all of this will entail higher taxes or significant spending cuts in the future as governments wind down the large debt levels they racked up during COVID. Because government spending levels and rates of taxation remain fundamental to levels of economic freedom, tax increases will automatically reduce economic freedom.
In Quebec, prospects are even bleaker. Prior to 2018, the province got its fiscal house in order and became a champion of fiscal responsibility in Canada. Since then, however, the Quebec government has rapidly increased spending (even prior to COVID). Fiscal projections to 2024 suggest Quebec will be the only (except Prince Edward Island) that will be far short of returning to pre-pandemic spending levels. In addition to the fiscal mess, Quebec has recently engaged in a series of nationalistic policies—most notably, Bill 96, which aims to deter the use of English in the province. The bill will likely fail to achieve its objective and simply result in a new costly regulation to help drive businesses away from Quebec.
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If this measure cripples Ontario’s auto industry, it will displace and hurt very many hard-working Ontarians, men and women, who have been in that industry and have greatly contributed to the welfare of this country. Now all agree it is a fine thing to wreck the Canadian economy in the fight against global warming if the damage can be contained in Alberta, or Saskatchewan.
But to cripple it in a manner that touches Ontario, well that is grim beyond consideration.
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More than 30 inspectors who enforce credentials in the skilled trades have received layoff notices as a result of a decision by Premier Doug Ford's government, CBC News has learned.
The layoff notices went out last week to inspectors in the compliance and enforcement section of the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT), the agency that licenses tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers, auto mechanics and hairstylists.
The Ford government is dissolving the agency, but all its duties continue. Its inspection role is being shifted to the Ministry of Labour and its work related to apprenticeships goes to a new body called Skilled Trades Ontario.
(Sidebar: we know how well the government does things!)
Legislation that will see continued spending on COVID-19 economic supports will be key among those, he said. So too will a promised bill to ban protests outside of hospitals in the wake of multiple such protests over recent months by opponents to measures like mandatory vaccine policies.
Mandating a 10-day sick leave for all workers in federally regulated workplaces will also be among the four key focuses for the government, along with a bill banning conversion therapy.
Holland said he believes there is enough support from the opposition parties to get those four policies adopted and passed by Christmas — though the House of Commons is only scheduled to sit until Dec. 17 before taking another break until the end of January.
If they enter the country illegally, they will not be tested for anything:
During the pandemic, people who tried to use this border crossing were returned to the United States. Over the weekend, the Trudeau government changed this policy. Anyone who seeks asylum through this point of entry will have their claim processed.
Trudeau's Minister for Immigration said, "all asylum seekers must comply with strict public health measures, including quarantine and testing requirements" in a statement to the press.
On top of this, illegal border crossers that were returned to the United States during the pandemic will now be able to make an asylum claim again.
Voters blocks.
Nice country. It would be a shame if anything happened to it:
Cabinet will not tolerate “obfuscation or political games” in the 44th Parliament, Government House Leader Mark Holland said yesterday. Holland said Parliament must pass major amendments to the Criminal Code and Canada Labour Code in twenty days: “I think Canadians expect us to hit the ground running.”
If this were a real country, one could hope that someone would stymie the crap out these bills.
(Sidebar: I do hope that Mr. Rota remembers his office and who tried to fire him from it.)
But Canada is not a real country anymore.
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Proposed internet controls in Canada are “something you might expect out of China or Russia,” says a former CRTC commissioner. The remarks came in a podcast hosted by Saskatchewan Senator Pamela Wallin: “Do governments think they’ll be able to stay in office forever if their critics are silenced?”
Also - nice pipelines. It would be a shame if unelected and American-funded groups were to - oh, I don't know - blow them up?:
Suzuki later clarified his remarks, also saying that any allegations about him inciting violence were "absurd."
"We’ve come to a time where civil disobedience is what we have to do now — to put our bodies on the line — because if we don’t do this, then I fear what the next stage will be, which will be people will start to blow up pipelines," said Suzuki.
That sounds like accepting violence to me.
Imagine that David Suzuki lived in a country where this sort of thing would get one into a spot of illegal bother.
Would he have said it?
Would he and his eco-confreres have warmed themselves by a propane fire?
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