In any other country, they would have been shown the door:
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland provoked outrage Friday after asking senators to pass a budget bill they hadn’t read. Senate managers sought approval to spend another $8.9 billion without disclosing the legal text of the bill: “This is not the first time.”
**
Participating in a UN climate change conference last year cost Canada nearly $1.4 million, according to newly released documents.
The 28th United Nations climate change conference, also known as COP28, took place in Dubai from Nov. 30 until Dec. 12.
**
The 10-day stay by the Prime Minister and his family at Prospect Estate near Ocho Rios, Jamaica, which began just after Christmas, cost taxpayers $230,442. In comparison, a similar journey during the 2022 Christmas holiday period came to $162,000.Trudeau did not pay for accommodations at the resort, but was put up for free by its owner, longtime family friend Peter Green. This was ruled OK by Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein, who noted that rules governing gifts to MPs can make an exception for those offered by friends and family.Nevertheless, government documents show that the RCMP alone spent $162,051 on this latest trip “for the security of the Prime Minister and his family during their trip to Jamaica from December 26, 2023 to January 4, 2024.” The agency does not break down those costs or indicate how many personnel are involved, citing security issues.In addition, the RCAF spent just over $16,000 on accommodations, meals and per diems for its aircrew, and almost $42,000 on fuel and in-flight catering costs. This involved two flights to and from Jamaica: the first carrying the Prime Minister and his family; and the second when their plane had a mechanical problem, which necessitated a second flight to bring a replacement part.The document notes that the repair itself didn’t cost anything. “The replacement part was pulled from readily available Defence inventory and was subsequently replaced at no-cost by the Original Equipment Manufacturer under the existing Bombardier CL650 warranty program,” it reads.An additional amount of almost $10,000 covered the costs of a Privy Council Office employee who is responsible for setting up secure communications for the Prime Minister.Furthermore, Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, tweeted saying that the Prime Minister’s four vacations over a one-year span — twice to Jamaica, plus a trip to Tofino, B.C., last August and another to Montana in April — have cost taxpayers more than $900,000.
For the third time in 18 months, a foreign head of government has made a rare visit to Canada with the stated intention of buying billions of dollars in natural gas.
And for the third consecutive time, the official answer from the Trudeau government appears to be “no.”
This time around the visitor was Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who was the first Greek leader to come to Canada in more than 40 years.
As per the office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mitsotakis was here on a goodwill visit to march in Montreal’s Greek Independence Day Parade, discuss “shared interests” and cut the ribbon on the purchase of some Canadian-made firefighting planes.
But it was during an interview with CTV that Mitsotakis said his country would “of course” like to start importing Canadian LNG.
“We are a big entry point for LNG, not just for the Greek market, but also for the Balkans, for Eastern Europe. Theoretically, we could even supply Ukraine,” said Mitsotakis, a Harvard-educated investment banker who speaks perfect English.
Mitsotakis noted that Greece is putting the finishing touches on a major facility outside the city of Alexandroupolis to process incoming LNG tankers.
“In principle, yes, we are very interested in obtaining LNG at competitive prices,” said Mitsotakis, adding that not only will Greece be pumping LNG to the rest of Europe, but its own demand for the fuel is skyrocketing as the country abandons coal.
Given that Europe’s energy has traditionally come from illiberal nations such as Russia or Middle Eastern autocracies, Mitsotakis said “Canada is a country (for) which we share so many values … I think we see eye to eye on many of the challenges that we face.”
However, there was not one mention of gas or energy exports in Trudeau’s public comments alongside Mitsotakis – or in official government communications describing the visit.
Borrowing needs from provinces facing growing deficits and maturing debt are estimated to be C$130 billion for the fiscal year starting April 1, the highest in four years, data compiled by the division showed. That’s a 21.5% jump from C$107 billion for the prior fiscal year.The growing financing requirements come as borrowing costs have stayed elevated because of persistent inflation. While that doesn’t bode well for issuers, it could be a boon for investors looking to lock in higher yields before central banks in Canada and across the world cut interest rates. On Tuesday, traders upped their bets on a June rate cut by the Bank of Canada as inflation slowed in February.“A fairly sizable aggregate borrowing requirement and a still uncertain economic and financial backdrop means the provinces are going to be motivated to get funding in the door when they have an opportunity to do so,” said Warren Lovely, chief rates and public sector strategist at the National Bank of Canada Financial Markets.
Ontario is delaying its path to balance as lethargic economic growth drags the province’s books further into the red, with a $9.8-billion budget deficit projected for the coming fiscal year.
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy acknowledged the challenging economic times Tuesday, saying life has rarely been this expensive, though his budget contains few new affordability measures.
“The pressure of managing a government budget pales in comparison to the pressures many families are facing as they manage their family budget in a time when everything is costing more,” Bethlenfalvy told the legislature.
“These are the real challenges and real problems of real life and real people, of making rent, of paying the bills, of affording groceries. And the best way to help people is by getting the big decisions right. Making smart investments. Watching the expense line. And most of all, keeping costs on people low.”
**
Higher interest rates have clearly had a big impact on Canadians, especially in comparison to their neighbours to the south. Canada’s per capita consumption is falling, but American consumers, up until recently, have kept up their spending, helping the U.S. economy avoid the slowdowns seen here, and in the United Kingdom and much of Europe, said Shenfeld.
How mortgages work in different countries has a lot to do with that impact. Americans largely have 30-year mortgages, while mortgages in Canada, the U.K. and Australia reset about every five years. Germans often lock in for 10 years or more, but the U.S. is the only place where a 30-year fixed rate is the norm, he said.
But even compared to countries who share shorter mortgage terms, Canadians are worse off. The ratio of home prices to incomes in Canada has risen 40 per cent since 2015, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data, “far eclipsing what’s been seen in other countries where mortgage borrowers are also exposed to rising rates,” said Shenfeld. Countries with older populations like Japan and some EU nations also have fewer outstanding mortgages.
As CIBC’s chart shows Canadians are second only to Australians among seven major economies in the share of their income spent on interest and principal, thanks to the sharp increase in home prices and a collective rise in debt service costs.
**
A secret RCMP report is warning the federal government that Canada may descend into civil unrest once citizens realize the hopelessness of their economic situation.
I can tell you, from internal police comms, that one of the reason front line officers (many of whom are worried about the Jew hate at the leadership “equity” level of Toronto Police, is the belief that these criminals are so violent that if cops do anything, violence will erupt. https://t.co/0VwMpFA0aE
— Ari Goldkind (@AriGoldkind) March 24, 2024
**
Charlie, you @$$hole, no one wants this tax:
“This year, groceries are going to cost $700 more than they did last year for the average family. And in the middle of all of this, what does the NDP, and this prime minister choose? To raise taxes on food and fuel, on heat and homes,” said Poilievre.“We cannot in good conscience stand by while this prime minister imposes more misery and suffering on the Canadian people,” he added.NDP MP Charlie Angus mocked Poilievre’s threat of bringing down the government over the carbon tax and noted that it was not the first time that the Conservative leader had made a promise to slow down the work of the Commons without exactly following through.“I’m going to huff, I’m going to puff and then I’m going to go off and have a fundraiser… while the poor backbenchers dutifully follow through,” said Angus.
This tax:
There are two main problems with Trudeau’s carbon tax rebate system and the claim that eight out of 10 families get back more than they pay. The rebate calculation is based on averages rather than what you pay, and as the Parliamentary Budget Office has shown, the claim doesn’t include all the other economic impacts.
When calculating your rebate, the government uses averages from Statistics Canada for measurements such as driving. They use of the figure of roughly 15,000 kilometres per year for the rebate, even though many of you reading this now, especially suburban and rural readers, drive far more than that.
When they calculate the cost of heating a home, they again use averages and average emissions, meaning the 525 square-foot condo in downtown Toronto is thrown into the mix with the large suburban house for a family raising three kids.
Anyone raising a family in the suburbs or rural areas of this country is most certainly paying more than they are getting back in the carbon tax.
Then there are other economic costs.
A small tweak to the Elections Act, the Liberals introduced this week could allow for about 80 MPs to qualify for a House of Commons pension.
Minister Dominic LeBlanc unveiled a suite of changes to the election act on Wednesday, including expanded days for advance voting and an easier process for mail-in ballots, but it is also moving the current proposed fixed election day from Oct. 20 to Oct. 27, 2025.The extra week is meant to move the election from Diwali, a Hindu religious festival.LeBlanc said overall the bill was about strengthening democracy.“Our government believes that a strong democracy begins with enabling all Canadians to freely exercise their fundamental right to choose their representatives and we’ll always be there to defend that right,” he said.The one-week delay has a significant impact on MP pensions however.MPs receive a pension, but in order to be vested in the plan they must have at least six years of service. Any MP elected in 2019 would need to have reached that six-year mark if the election was held on Oct. 20, 2025, but will have reached that cut off on Oct. 27 the new proposed date.
Aitchison, Scott, CPC, Parry Sound-Muskoka
Anand, Anita, Liberal, Oakville
Atwin, Jenica, Liberal, Fredericton
Bachrach, Taylor, NDP, Skeena-Bulkley Valley
Baker, Yvan, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre
Baldinelli, Tony, CPC, Niagara Falls
Battiste, Jaime, Liberal, Sydney-Victoria
Bérubé, Sylvie, Bloc, Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou
Blanchet, Yves-François, Bloc, Beloeil-Chambly
Blanchette-Joncas, Maxime, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Témiscouata-Les Basques
Blois, Kody, Liberal, Kings-Hants
Bragdon, Richard, CPC, Tobique-Mactaquac
Brière, Élisabeth, Liberal, Sherbrooke
Brunelle-Duceppe, Alexis, Bloc,Lac-Saint-Jean
Chabot, Louise, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville
Champoux, Martin, Bloc, Drummond
Collins, Laurel, NDP, Victoria
d’Entremont, Chris, CPC, West Nova
Dalton, Marc, CPC, Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge
Dancho, Raquel, CPC, Kildonan-St. Paul
Desbiens, Caroline, Bloc, Beauport-Côte-de-Beaupré-Île D’Orléans-Charlevoix
Desilets, Luc, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles
Dong, Han, Independent, Don Valley North
Dowdall, Terry, CPC, Simcoe-Grey
Duncan, Eric, CPC, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry
Epp, Dave, CPC, Chatham-Kent-Leamington
Gaudreau, Marie-Hélène, Bloc, Laurentides-Labelle
Gazan, Leah, NDP, Winnipeg Centre
Gray, Tracy, CPC, Kelowna-Lake Country
Green, Matthew, NDP, Hamilton Centre
Guilbeault, Steven, Liberal, Laurier-Sainte-Marie
Hallan, Jasraj Singh, CPC, Calgary Forest Lawn
Jaczek, Helena, Liberal, Markham-Stouffville
Kelloway, Mike, Liberal, Cape Breton-Canso
Koutrakis, Annie, Liberal, Vimy
Kram, Michael, CPC, Regina-Wascana
Kurek, Damien, CPC, Battle River-Crowfoot
Kusmierczyk, Irek, Liberal, Windsor-Tecumseh
Lalonde, Marie-France, Liberal, Orléans
Larouche, Andréanne, Bloc, Shefford
Lattanzio, Patricia, Liberal, Saint-Léonard-Saint-Michel
Lawrence, Philip, CPC, Northumberland-Peterborough South
Lehoux, Richard, CPC, Beauce
Lemire, Sébastien, Bloc, Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Lewis, Chris, CPC, Essex
Louis, Tim, Liberal, Kitchener-Conestoga
Martinez Ferrada, Soraya, Liberal, Hochelaga
Mathyssen, Lindsay, NDP, London–Fanshawe
Mazier, Dan, CPC, Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa
McLean, Greg, CPC, Calgary Centre
McPherson, Heather, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona
Melillo, Eric, CPC, Kenora
Michaud, Kristina, Bloc, Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia
Morantz, Marty, CPC, Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley
Morrison, Rob, CPC, Kootenay-Columbia
Normandin, Christine, Bloc, Saint-Jean
Patzer, Jeremy, CPC, Cypress Hills-Grasslands
Perron, Yves, Bloc, Berthier-Maskinongé
Powlowski, Marcus, Liberal, Thunder Bay-Rainy River
Redekopp, Brad, CPC, Saskatoon West
Rood, Lianne, CPC, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
Ruff, Alex, CPC, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound
Savard-Tremblay, Simon-Pierre, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot
Shipley, Doug, CPC, Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte
Sidhu, Maninder, Liberal, Brampton East
Simard, Mario, Bloc, Jonquière
Soroka, Gerald, CPC, Yellowhead
Steinley, Warren, CPC, Regina-Lewvan
Therrien, Alain, Bloc, La Prairie
Tochor, Corey, CPC, Saskatoon-University
Trudel, Denis, Bloc, Longueuil-Saint-Hubert
Turnbull, Ryan, Liberal, Whitby
Van Bynen, Tony, Liberal, Newmarket-Aurora
van Koeverden, Adam, Liberal, Milton
Van Popta, Tako, CPC, Langley-Aldergrove
Vidal, Gary, CPC, Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River
Vignola, Julie, Bloc, Beauport-Limoilou
Vis, Bra, CPC, Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon
Weiler, Patrick, Liberal, West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country
Zuberi, Sameer, Liberal, Pierrefonds-Dollard
Also - indeed! Why won't a chubby, smug, useless granddaughter of a Ukrainian Nazi admit that the taxes she forces on everyone are burdensome and unwanted?:
The escalator tax was introduced by the Liberals in 2017, presumably to deflect blame for ever-increasing tax rates from politicians: we didn’t decide to raise your taxes, that’s just how the system works. But the scheme backfired last year when inflation hit 6.4 per cent — a far cry from the Bank of Canada’s two per cent target.
This year, the tax would have increased by 4.7 per cent on April Fool’s Day, just as the carbon tax is set to rise by 23 per cent, had Freeland not stepped in to save us from her government’s own bad policies.Excise taxes — which are levied on manufacturers at a fixed rate per litre of wine, beer and spirits — provide an important means for the Liberals to raise revenue by nickel-and-diming the “unsavoury” Canadians who are addicted to nicotine or enjoy a glass of beer after work, while claiming to have kept big ticket tax rates, like the income tax, relatively steady.Of course, that’s not how they’d put it. Politicians will tell you that alcohol taxes are designed to curb problem drinking. The fact that total excise tax revenues have increased by over $1 billion a year since the Liberals took office is besides the point.Yet if this were the case, why did they make such a big deal out of introducing special tax breaks for Canada’s craft brewers? Is gorging on local craft beer somehow less risky than binging on Heineken or an American microbrew? Of course not. This is simply about giving select Canadian businesses an advantage against their competitors, both foreign and domestic, at a time when they are already being squeezed by high commodity prices and taxes.
And:
B.C. “did not effectively report publicly on the performance of prescribed safer supply” and “did not effectively monitor the initial province wide implementation of prescribed safer supply,” wrote Auditor General Michael Pickup in a report published this week.
The report is in no way a criticism of the underlying philosophy of “safer supply.” In fact, the Auditor General mostly accused the government of not doing enough to distribute more recreational opioids to more people.
(Sidebar: then you're part of the problem, aren't you?)
“As the drug supply has become more toxic, the need for low-barrier access to prescribed safer supply has become more pressing,” wrote the report, which also urged the province to overcome “barriers” to the program’s implementation such as “municipal resistance.”
But the Auditor General also said the province had failed to maintain basic standards on how the program should be administered – or publish data on how it was working.
“The ministries’ current level of public reporting is insufficient for health system partners and the public to be informed about whether prescribed safer supply is meeting its intended outcomes effectively and efficiently,” wrote Pickup.
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