Federal Government & Politics II

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. PP is potentially going to do some pretty unpopular things. Ask the Conservatives in the UK how austerity is working out for them.

Ask Chretien how austerity worked out for us. Spoiler: it saved our economy from ruin.

[shreddog]

10 years ago, people came knocking on JT's door, now he's the one doing the begging urging ...

Trudeau holds meeting with Mark Carney to join government, sources say

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held talks on Sunday with Mark Carney and urged the former Bank of Canada governor to join the Liberal government, four sources say.
...
Mr. Trudeau said Mr. Carney could become a member of the government through a by-election or wait to run when the general election is scheduled for October, 2025. He was not offered the post of finance minister or any other cabinet position, three of the four sources said.
...
Mr. Carney was non-committal in his discussions with Mr. Trudeau about whether he is ready to take the leap into federal politics, two of the sources said.
...
The outreach to Mr. Carney comes as the government has trailed the Conservative Party by a double-digit margin for months and after the Liberal Party lost the Toronto-St. Paul’s riding, considered a safe seat, to a Conservative in June.
...
In response to The Globe’s reporting, Mr. Trudeau told a news conference last week that he had been trying to recruit Mr. Carney for years.
...
He also said it’s usual practice for a Prime Minister not to offer a cabinet post to a prospective candidate. It may actually be to Mr. Carney’s benefit to join the Liberals but stay on the backbench, Prof. Marland said, because it gives him the chance to establish his political chops and grow his network while keeping his distance from the Prime Minister.

LINK

[shreddog]

Funny, Trudeau can find the time to head down to the Rogers centre to hang out with that "guy from Punjab" but can find the time to attend a first minister's conference ...

Trudeau pushes back after premiers accuse him of encroaching on their territory
...
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, the chair of this year's conference, said Ottawa's approach to the federation "risks pitting provinces and territories, really Canadians, against one another."

In a letter sent to both Houston and Ford on Wednesday, Trudeau said the federal government is merely trying to "use federal funding to improve the lives of Canadians, not to infringe on provincial and territorial jurisdiction."
...
The letter does not promise a meeting between Trudeau and the premiers, often referred to as a first ministers' meeting — something many premiers requested this week.

Trudeau said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc would be willing to meet with Ford and any other interested premiers.
...

LINK

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Ask Chretien how austerity worked out for us. Spoiler: it saved our economy from ruin.

Chretien didn't really run on it though. It was imposed on his government when bond yields started rising and their financial advisors started saying that the prospect of default (when bonds didn't roll over) was real.

Chretien is also partly why we have so many problems today. He basically dumped all his problems on the provinces. He savaged the military and public housing and basically set those portfolios back a generation. Now those chickens are coming home to roost.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Nite

Well look at it this way, 2 billion a year has allowed for the largest transit expansion in Canadian history and now that funding will be increased by 50% to 3 billion a year. inflation even after 10 years inflation wouldn't eat up that 50%. if the federal component for transit project was at 33%, 3 billion a year would mean 9 billion a year in transit expansion spending by all levels of government. That equilant to 1 REM worth of funding each year or 10 REM's after 10 years.

1) $2B itself is not much higher than what the Harper Conservatives were spending.

2) The "largest transit expansion in history" is mostly due to provincial spending and specifically one province: Ontario.

3) Record transit spending is less of an accomplishment and more of necessity given record rates of immigration. All that spending isn't necessarily translating into better reliability and improved customer service. Look up the TTC's State of Good Repair (SOGR) backlog. Largest transit agency in the country and their backlog keeps growing.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Chretien didn't really run on it though. It was imposed on his government when bond yields started rising and their financial advisors started saying that the prospect of default (when bonds didn't roll over) was real.

Chretien is also partly why we have so many problems today. He basically dumped all his problems on the provinces. He savaged the military and public housing and basically set those portfolios back a generation. Now those chickens are coming home to roost.

One can be confident that PP will not "run on austerity" either. You'll hear "common sense", "wasteful spending", "bloat", etc etc., but you not hear "cut' unless it relates to the CBC and other favourite conservative bugbears.

[Build.It]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Don't count your chickens before they hatch. PP is potentially going to do some pretty unpopular things. Ask the Conservatives in the UK how austerity is working out for them.

No one said it's going to be fun, but it is absolutely necessary. Just like people can't live off credit cards indefinitely, governments can't live off deficit spending indefinitely.

All levels of government combined spend 25% more than gets collected in taxes. This has to stop.

I can understand why people in the public sector would be scared (the only ones who seem to be complaining about PP, coincidentally), however we can't cripple our country to save a few jobs. Better start job hunting now.

[Nite]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

You should work out how much of that is new money, especially net of inflation. Hint: not much more than the $2B per year they've been spending.

The federal government has been providing 40%of funding for all those "provincial projects" going up.
The more money the federal government spends on transit means the more the provinces will also have to spend on transit projects to get the funding.
You think Ontario, BC, Quebec and Alberta all decided to spend more on transit at the same time? no it's because federal financing is now available to make many projects feasible.
There has been no federal government that has come close to spending as much on transit as the federal liberals have over the last 8 years.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Nite

The federal government has been providing 40%of funding for all those "provincial projects" going up.
The more the Ottawa spends on transit means the more the provinces will also have to spend on transit projects to get the funding.

Given the demand they have induced through unsustainable immigration, they should be paying for 100%. Giving a penny and taking credit for a dime is exactly why they are losing support.

Also, this is yet another example of intrusion into provincial affairs. They pick and choose which transit projects to fund. And yet they can't build the one thing that is entirely in their jurisdiction: HFR.

[Nite]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Given the demand they have induced through unsustainable immigration, they should be paying for 100%. Giving a penny and taking credit for a dime is exactly why they are losing support.

Also, this is yet another example of intrusion into provincial affairs. They pick and choose which transit projects to fund. And yet they can't build the one thing that is entirely in their jurisdiction: HFR.

HFR is moving as per schedule I don't know what else you can want from the federal government regarding transit. all major cities in this country have projects under constructions with ever more funding being made available going forward.

The US with a 10x bigger budget and is running a deficit 3x per capita greater than Canada can barely get anything built
Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Mississauga, Montreal and soon Quebec City all have one or several major projects under construction, when has even half of these cities all had concurrent projects under constructions before the current federal government.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Nite

HFR is moving as per schedule I don't know what else you can want from the federal government regarding transit. all major cities in this country have projects under constructions with ever more funding being made available going forward.

The HFR proposal has been around for over a decade and the Government is still at a glorified planning stage. At this point in the Canadian Pacific Railway process the railway was 2 years from the last spike. With hand tools and rudimentary engineering technology.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Nite

The US with a 10x bigger budget and is running a deficit 3x per capita greater than Canada can barely get anything built

I wish misinformation like this was penalized. You should be banned for this nonsense.

The US has one HSR line (Acela) in service and one under construction (CalHSR). It has one Higher Speed Rail being extended (Brightline Florida) and another under construction (Brightline West).

Canada is literally the only G7 country without any HSR or HrSR.

[Nite]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

I wish misinformation like this was penalized. You should be banned for this nonsense.

The US has one HSR line (Acela) in service and one under construction (CalHSR). It has one Higher Speed Rail being extended (Brightline Florida) and another under construction (Brightline West).

Canada is literally the only G7 country without any HSR or HrSR.

I was talking about local transit specifically, which the US seems incapable of building right now. To me local transit is far more beneficial than HSR as many more people will use local transit than HSR. Florida HSR Brightline for example carries 7,000 people a day while the Yonge -University subways carries 670,000 people a day.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Nite

I was talking about local transit specifically, which the US seems incapable of building right now..

Wouldn't say nothing, though BRT does appear more than railway builds.

From Transport Politic

Openings in 2023:
Albany, New York: Washington-Western (Purple Line) BRT 13.6 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. Project links downtown Albany with the city’s west side, including the University at Albany and Crossgates Mall.
Chicago, Illinois: Pace Pulse Dempster 25.1 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This line runs from downtown Evanston west to O’Hare Airport.
Honolulu, Hawai’i: Skyline East Kapolei–Aloha Stadium 17.3 km (Heavy Rail) Link. This is the first phase of the city’s elevated automated metro. The line, which will connect to the airport and downtown, will be completed in phases in 2025 and 2031.
Los Angeles, California: Regional Connector 3 km (Light Rail) Link. This project created a new cross-downtown subway that allows the Metro A line to run north-south from Azusa to Long Beach and the E line to run east-west from East L.A. to Santa Monica.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Lakefront Line 1.2 km (Streetcar) Link. This is a short downtown loop that adds to existing service.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: East-West BRT 15.2 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is the region’s first BRT line, running east-west from downtown to the Medical College of Wisconsin.
New York, New York: East Side Access 5.3 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This tunneled extension of the Long Island Railroad brings that service to a new station under Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: RAPID NW 16 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This route connects downtown with the Baptist Medical Center in the northwest part of the city.
Portland, Oregon (Vancouver, Washington): The Vine Mill Plain 16.2 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This is an east-west improved bus route north of the Columbia River.
Salt Lake, Utah: Ogden/Weber State University BRT 9 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This project connects downtown Ogden (north of Salt Lake City) to the university.
San Diego, California: Iris Rapid 20.3 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This is an east-west route near the city’s southern boundary.
Seattle, Washington: Line T Hilltop Extension 3.8 km (Streetcar) Link. This extended this short route to the hill above downtown Tacoma.
Seattle, Washington: Delridge/East Marginal RapidRide H 12.7 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This line offered new service to Delridge and Burien on the region’s west side.
Spokane, Washington: City Line 9.2 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is an east-west route offering all-electric bus service through the city center.
Florida: Brightline Phase 2 West Palm Beach-Orlando 268.1 km (Intercity Rail) Link. This line connects Orlando International Airport with Miami.



Expected openings by end of 2024:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 15.5 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This north-south route will criss-cross the city center.
Boston, Massachusetts: South Coast Rail Phase 1 60.4 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This line will add new commuter rail service from Boston to Fall River and New Bedford.
Chicago, Illinois: Northwest Indiana Double Track Project (existing corridor) 41.5 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This project will add a second track to improve service between Chicago and South Bend.
Indianapolis, Indiana: Purple Line 15.8 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is the city’s second BRT route, connecting downtown with Fort Harrison.
Los Angeles, California: Crenshaw Line Phase 2 Westchester/Veterans–Aviation 3.9 km (Light Rail) Link. This will extend the recently opened K Line to the LAX airport.
Miami, Florida: South Dade TransitWay Corridor 31.2 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is an improvement on the existing corridor.
Miami, Florida: Downtown Miami Link 14.3 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This repeatedly delayed project will bring Tri-Rail service to downtown for the first time, courtesy of Brightline’s tracks.
Monterey, California: Monterey County Rail Extension 60.4 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This will extend Caltrain service from Gilroy to Salinas.
Orlando, Florida: SunRail Phase 2 (North) 19 km (Regional Rail) Link. This will extend the existing line from DeBary to DeLand.
Phoenix, Arizona: Northwest Phase 2 2.5 km (Light Rail) Link. This will extend the existing line to the Metrocenter Mall.
Phoenix, Arizona: South Central Corridor 9.4 km (Light Rail) Link. This route will connect downtown with Baseline route.
Seattle, Washington: Lynnwood Link 13.7 km (Light Rail) Link. This will extend the city’s light rail north of the city.
Seattle, Washington: Madison St RapidRide G 4.6 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This line will run northeast from the city center.
Seattle, Washington: Swift Orange Line 16.6 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This suburban route will connect Mill Creek and Edmonds.
Seattle, Washington: East Link Blue Line South Bellevue–Redmond Technology 10.1 km (Light Rail) Link. This is the first phase in a line that will eventually connect downtown Seattle with Bellevue.



There's dozens more under construction to open in 2025 and later too.

[Nite]

Originally Posted by rbt

Wouldn't say nothing, though BRT does appear more than railway builds.

From Transport Politic

Openings in 2023:
Albany, New York: Washington-Western (Purple Line) BRT 13.6 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. Project links downtown Albany with the city’s west side, including the University at Albany and Crossgates Mall.
Chicago, Illinois: Pace Pulse Dempster 25.1 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This line runs from downtown Evanston west to O’Hare Airport.
Honolulu, Hawai’i: Skyline East Kapolei–Aloha Stadium 17.3 km (Heavy Rail) Link. This is the first phase of the city’s elevated automated metro. The line, which will connect to the airport and downtown, will be completed in phases in 2025 and 2031.
Los Angeles, California: Regional Connector 3 km (Light Rail) Link. This project created a new cross-downtown subway that allows the Metro A line to run north-south from Azusa to Long Beach and the E line to run east-west from East L.A. to Santa Monica.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Lakefront Line 1.2 km (Streetcar) Link. This is a short downtown loop that adds to existing service.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: East-West BRT 15.2 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is the region’s first BRT line, running east-west from downtown to the Medical College of Wisconsin.
New York, New York: East Side Access 5.3 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This tunneled extension of the Long Island Railroad brings that service to a new station under Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: RAPID NW 16 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This route connects downtown with the Baptist Medical Center in the northwest part of the city.
Portland, Oregon (Vancouver, Washington): The Vine Mill Plain 16.2 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This is an east-west improved bus route north of the Columbia River.
Salt Lake, Utah: Ogden/Weber State University BRT 9 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This project connects downtown Ogden (north of Salt Lake City) to the university.
San Diego, California: Iris Rapid 20.3 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This is an east-west route near the city’s southern boundary.
Seattle, Washington: Line T Hilltop Extension 3.8 km (Streetcar) Link. This extended this short route to the hill above downtown Tacoma.
Seattle, Washington: Delridge/East Marginal RapidRide H 12.7 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This line offered new service to Delridge and Burien on the region’s west side.
Spokane, Washington: City Line 9.2 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is an east-west route offering all-electric bus service through the city center.
Florida: Brightline Phase 2 West Palm Beach-Orlando 268.1 km (Intercity Rail) Link. This line connects Orlando International Airport with Miami.



Expected openings by end of 2024:
Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 15.5 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This north-south route will criss-cross the city center.
Boston, Massachusetts: South Coast Rail Phase 1 60.4 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This line will add new commuter rail service from Boston to Fall River and New Bedford.
Chicago, Illinois: Northwest Indiana Double Track Project (existing corridor) 41.5 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This project will add a second track to improve service between Chicago and South Bend.
Indianapolis, Indiana: Purple Line 15.8 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is the city’s second BRT route, connecting downtown with Fort Harrison.
Los Angeles, California: Crenshaw Line Phase 2 Westchester/Veterans–Aviation 3.9 km (Light Rail) Link. This will extend the recently opened K Line to the LAX airport.
Miami, Florida: South Dade TransitWay Corridor 31.2 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This is an improvement on the existing corridor.
Miami, Florida: Downtown Miami Link 14.3 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This repeatedly delayed project will bring Tri-Rail service to downtown for the first time, courtesy of Brightline’s tracks.
Monterey, California: Monterey County Rail Extension 60.4 km (Commuter Rail) Link. This will extend Caltrain service from Gilroy to Salinas.
Orlando, Florida: SunRail Phase 2 (North) 19 km (Regional Rail) Link. This will extend the existing line from DeBary to DeLand.
Phoenix, Arizona: Northwest Phase 2 2.5 km (Light Rail) Link. This will extend the existing line to the Metrocenter Mall.
Phoenix, Arizona: South Central Corridor 9.4 km (Light Rail) Link. This route will connect downtown with Baseline route.
Seattle, Washington: Lynnwood Link 13.7 km (Light Rail) Link. This will extend the city’s light rail north of the city.
Seattle, Washington: Madison St RapidRide G 4.6 km (Bus Rapid Transit) Link. This line will run northeast from the city center.
Seattle, Washington: Swift Orange Line 16.6 km (Arterial Rapid Transit) Link. This suburban route will connect Mill Creek and Edmonds.
Seattle, Washington: East Link Blue Line South Bellevue–Redmond Technology 10.1 km (Light Rail) Link. This is the first phase in a line that will eventually connect downtown Seattle with Bellevue.



There's dozens more under construction to open in 2025 and later too.

If you remove Street cars and BRT and surface running LRT who have to stop at lights there is beardly any high-quality rail transit and BRT's in the US is just paint on road with 30-minute frequencies., not even true BRT as seen in South America.
Vancouver, Montral and Toronto for example are all building frequent automated metro lines.