Federal Government & Politics II

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

I don't see it in our system. The Conservative government would have to be deeply unpopular across a spectrum of issues for anything to emerge as even a moderate threat. Reform in the UK was dealing with a government so incompetent it makes ours look like Louis XIV and still they got 5 seats to 100+ for the Cons. FPTP makes it hard for a radical party to emerge.

That aside I don't think most people will even care. There is a animosity brewing but slowing the influx will probably satisfy most people.

I mostly agree though it's quite possible that the issues will simmer more and more but under the surface (with only occasional outbursts out in the open), and that the political world does everything it can to avoid it and sweep it under the carpet.

We can keep going like that for quite some time.

[Build.It]

Curious - what's the sentiment on here around legal cannabis now that we've had it for 5.5 years?

For, against, mixed?

[lio45]

Back to the topic of housing, stories like this basically didn’t exist before the Scheme:

https://www.journaldequebec.com/2024...epuis-25-jours

That sort of person could afford a SRO room even with the standard welfare check.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by P'tit Renard

I think it's safe to say that given Quebec's focus on integration versus Ontario's laissez-faire approach, if a Canadian Seine Saint-Denis does materialize, it will pop up in Toronto (or somewhere in Southern Ontario) and not Montreal.

People used to laud the laissez-faire anglosphere approach (typified by the ROC but also the UK) over the French approach (somewhat followed by Quebec), pointing to the relative harmony in Toronto and London compared to the Paris banlieues, but I don't think that still holds today.

All bets are off for the future I'd say.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by P'tit Renard

Though at the same time Canada has never faced such an onslaught of NPRs (overwhelmingly from one specific region of one country) since the post-war period, so this is new territory for modern Canada.

If the rise of NPRs coincides with mass protests (for PR status), poverty, destitute homelessness and crime, it's pretty hard to fault Canadians if they develop an unfavourable view of these NPRs and their respective ethnicity, which are overwhelmingly from one locale. At the end of the day, it's federal government policy failure of the Trudeau government that's creating the conditions for all of these negative outcomes.

Quite true. Every moment is unique, and this one is probably the most unique in Canada's history as an immigration nation.

As we've seen even on Prince Edward Island, some of the new arrivals are quite feisty and defiant about their right to be here and stay here. (I'd argue we've largely brought this upon ourselves by creating huge expectations.)

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Quite true. Every moment is unique, and this one is probably the most unique in Canada's history as an immigration nation.

As we've seen even on Prince Edward Island, some of the new arrivals are quite feisty and defiant about their right to be here and stay here. (I'd argue we've largely brought this upon ourselves by creating huge expectations.)

Yes. I defy anyone to criticize any of this wave of fake students. They have followed the rules and been told they can work here, get a degree, make $20 an hour easily without skills by merely working hard, get PR with almost any job, become a citizen soon after that, send for a spouse or find a new one back home (who wouldnt give them the time of day now as a broke landless man) and their kids will be full Canadians with a decent chance for upward mobilty and home ownership. Almost all of those legs have been knocked out from beneath them. They also see with Convoy, BLM, Indigenous, Gaza protestors there are no limits to using protest bordering on violence to get your political aims. Don't blame them one bit.

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by Acajack

People used to laud the laissez-faire anglosphere approach (typified by the ROC but also the UK) over the French approach (somewhat followed by Quebec), pointing to the relative harmony in Toronto and London compared to the Paris banlieues, but I don't think that still holds today.

All bets are off for the future I'd say.

The current issue isn't really one of "approach" or attitudes towards immigration, but of sheer numbers reaching the point of being unsustainable and having negative repercussions. Now just imagine Canadian immigration numbers with the French attitude towards immigrants.

It should also be noted though that beyond numbers, our approach has changed significantly in recent years with the much-lauded points-based immigration system largely having been dismantled. Arguably, the current system more closely resembles that of French traditon by importing an underclass low-wage/low-skill workers without the full rights of residents.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

The current issue isn't really one of "approach" or attitudes towards immigration, but of sheer numbers reaching the point of being unsustainable and having negative repercussions. Now just imagine Canadian immigration numbers with the French attitude towards immigrants.

It should also be noted though that beyond numbers, our approach has changed significantly in recent years with the much-lauded points-based immigration system largely having been dismantled. Arguably, the current system more closely resembles that of French traditon by importing an underclass low-wage/low-skill workers without the full rights of residents.

... and with a less straightforward path to becoming one than before.

Good points.

[P'tit Renard]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

It should also be noted though that beyond numbers, our approach has changed significantly in recent years with the much-lauded points-based immigration system largely having been dismantled. Arguably, the current system more closely resembles that of French traditon by importing an underclass low-wage/low-skill workers without the full rights of residents.

This can't be emphasized enough, and goes back to Acajack's warnings. Trudeau and Katie Telford has basically repeated the irreversible mistakes of France's guest-worker program and permanently trashed Canada's world class immigration system, despite Quebec warning repeatedly that this is the wrong path to go down.

[P'tit Renard]

Originally Posted by lio45

Back to the topic of housing, stories like this basically didn’t exist before the Scheme:

https://www.journaldequebec.com/2024...epuis-25-jours

That sort of person could afford a SRO room even with the standard welfare check.

On this topic...we also have to deal with the question of whether unemployed fake students will also be allowed to feed at the trough of our struggling welfare system.

[P'tit Renard]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Yes. I defy anyone to criticize any of this wave of fake students. They have followed the rules and been told they can work here, get a degree, make $20 an hour easily without skills by merely working hard, get PR with almost any job, become a citizen soon after that, send for a spouse or find a new one back home (who wouldnt give them the time of day now as a broke landless man) and their kids will be full Canadians with a decent chance for upward mobilty and home ownership. Almost all of those legs have been knocked out from beneath them. They also see with Convoy, BLM, Indigenous, Gaza protestors there are no limits to using protest bordering on violence to get your political aims. Don't blame them one bit.

This is precisely the set up for social unrest. One side feels wronged and is demanding justice plus restitution, while the other side is hardening their attitudes towards them and is not in an accommodating mood especially given the COL, employment and housing crises all concurrently bubbling to the top.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by P'tit Renard

On this topic...we also have to deal with the question of whether unemployed fake students will also be allowed to feed at the trough of our struggling welfare system.

Given this tale of Canada's pathetic "justice" system in action, I wouldn't expect any better going forward:

How a B.C. immigration fraud case crumbled due to court delays
Judge found Crown’s estimated time for trial ‘woefully inadequate’
Yasmine Ghania · CBC News · Posted: Jul 26, 2024

It was a five-year investigation that the Canada Border Services Agency said showed its commitment to protecting Canadians and prospective immigrants.

In 2020, the CBSA announced Project Husky had "shut down a large-scale alleged immigration fraud scheme" with a Yukon government employee and four British Columbia residents facing charges.

The suspects promised Canadian immigration to dozens of Chinese nationals who invested millions of dollars and were "humiliated" when they discovered the truth, court documents alleged.

Four years later, Project Husky has all but died in the courts, with a not-guilty verdict and stays of proceedings.

The latest blow happened last month when Tzu Chun Joyce Chang had all charges against her stayed due to court delays. A B.C. Provincial Court judge called the time federal prosecutors scheduled for the trial "woefully inadequate."

Chang was found guilty in 2023 of 11 charges but her lawyer brought forward an application under the Supreme Court of Canada's Jordan decision, arguing Chang's right to be tried within a reasonable time was violated. As a result, the guilty verdicts were never entered into the court record....

....Charges against Chang were first laid in November 2020 and included fraud on the government and misrepresenting immigration information. It took 34 months and 29 days for the trial to be completed, Craig found.

Craig deducted several months for "unforeseeable and reasonably unavoidable" issues, including the withdrawal of Chang's lawyer, bringing down the total trial time to 25 months and two days, still easily smashing the ceiling set by Jordan.

"I find that the delay of 25 months and [two] days was not justified," Craig said.....

...The alleged immigration fraud scheme centred around permanent residency applications. The CBSA said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada officials identified "suspicious documents" submitted as part of those applications.

They appeared to be nomination certificates from the Government of Yukon issued under the Yukon Business Nominee Program, a program designed for foreign entrepreneurs interested in owning a business in Yukon and gaining permanent residency.

The Yukon government, however, confirmed to CBSA that the documents were fake.....

...The Crown alleged Chang and UCII represented 70 Chinese nationals in their applications for permanent residency without authorization. Chang told private immigration agents in China about a "new or special" program under the Yukon Business Nominee Program with reduced eligibility requirements, court heard....

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...lays-1.7274899

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Build.It

Curious - what's the sentiment on here around legal cannabis now that we've had it for 5.5 years?

For, against, mixed?

Not the recipe for weath that some had anticipated, but does anybody much care one way or the other?

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by P'tit Renard

On this topic...we also have to deal with the question of whether unemployed fake students will also be allowed to feed at the trough of our struggling welfare system.

Only if they gain PR status or establish a claim for refugee status.

[acottawa]

One of the battery plants has stopped construction, apparently due to EV market decisions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...ario-1.7276431

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by acottawa

One of the battery plants has stopped construction, apparently due to EV market decisions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...ario-1.7276431

Here's hoping it's indeed only temporary.

[niwell]

Not great news. Though at least it seems like they hadn't received any government funding yet.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by acottawa

One of the battery plants has stopped construction, apparently due to EV market decisions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...ario-1.7276431

Very interesting.

It has not been discussed in the Canada section, but, there is an industrial park in Saint John (NB) where a major expansion is planned. There are very strong rumours that the expansion is for a large VW battery plant (not yet formally announced).

If this news is correct, this might put the kibosh on this plan as well.

This document explains the rationale for the industrial park expansion:

https://shapeyourcitysaintjohn.ca/sp...1pvfkJT1AATNHQ

Note this cryptic quote;

Saint John needs more "development-ready" land to attract new companies, especially in areas like green energy and advanced manufacturing. Right now, we don't have enough space for big new businesses to set up their operations.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by niwell

Not great news. Though at least it seems like they hadn't received any government funding yet.

It's great news. We don't have to waste billions of dollars on a handful of jobs to make batteries. Let someone else do it driving prices down.

[Hecate]

Originally Posted by Build.It

Curious - what's the sentiment on here around legal cannabis now that we've had it for 5.5 years?

For, against, mixed?

Really sad to see what happened. This could have been an amazing grassroots type process that would have benefited tons of small local producers. Instead we have massive corps running the show buying up all the little guys. Really a lesson in how not to start an industry.

Amazing how all those “experts” can fuck it up so bad.