Canadian Federal Election

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Carney clearly has Build it feeling nervous.

But most of Carney’s work experience is out of country.

Dare I say it? “Just visiting???”.

Just kidding.........

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

But most of Carney’s work experience is out of country.

Dare I say it? “Just visiting???”.

Just kidding.........

Not even a close comparison to Iggy.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

But most of Carney’s work experience is out of country.

Dare I say it? “Just visiting???”.

Just kidding.........

A possible PM with international experience? The horror!

[MolsonExport]

I'll take Carney any day of the week over Mr. Magoo.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Carney clearly has Build it feeling nervous.

At this point, it's more telling of Build.It's insecurities and shortcomings than anything else.

[Build.It]

I’m an entrepreneur. To start my business, I sold my house, my car, and most of my possessions. I took a massive risk and could have failed, but I had a solid plan. Even so, I struggled early on, nearly lost everything, and only succeeded through relentless effort and adapting until I found a model that worked.

I’m not sharing this for compliments. I’m sharing it because this is what our economy is built on—and depends on. Entrepreneurs like me risk everything for the chance to succeed. Many fail and lose everything, but those who succeed create jobs, products, and services that didn’t exist before. That’s how economies grow: through personal risk and innovation.

But here’s the issue: for strong, successful businesses to emerge, we need a free-market economy. One that weeds out bad ideas while allowing good ones to thrive. Did you know the average successful founder fails multiple times before succeeding? It took me five tries. That’s the reality of entrepreneurship.

Carney, however, represents the opposite of this mindset. He wants more regulations, more subsidies, and even hints at universal basic income (UBI). Policies like these make starting a business harder and make us more risk-averse as a country. Canada already has fewer entrepreneurs today than it did in 2000, despite adding 13 million people. We’re heading in the wrong direction.

Carney represents the oligopolies, corporatists, and too-big-to-fail institutions. He doesn’t represent entrepreneurs like me who risk everything to build businesses, create jobs, and provide for our families and employees. I understand why big businesses or academics support him—they come from the same world. But they forget that those big businesses once started as small ones, founded by people willing to take risks.

We need to make risk-taking attractive again. That means reducing red tape, cutting taxes, and eliminating excessive regulations. It also means stopping the endless cycle of social programs that discourage risk-taking. If we don’t, we’ll keep losing the very people who create growth and innovation in this country.

I was relieved when Trudeau was finally gone, but Carney feels like more of the same—another leader focused on big business and “too big to fail” policies. He might make borrowing easier, but will he tackle the root issues like housing regulations or barriers to starting a business? Based on his career, it’s unlikely.

Canada needs more entrepreneurs, not fewer. If we don’t fix this, we’ll continue down a path where risk-takers like me become even rarer—and that’s a loss for everyone.

[Wigs]

You're a risk taker and small business owner...so you admire the protege of Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper that's spent the vast majority of his life as a boisterous nothingburger backbencher in the House of Commons.
That as far as we know is going to fix all of Canada's ills with...sloganeering.

Yup, that makes total sense.

[harls]

Build.it, why not move to North Carolina? Seems like an ideal place.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Build.It

If we don’t, we’ll keep losing the very people who create growth and innovation in this country.

I don’t have much faith that we’ll manage to change this. Too many fundamental issues. Can’t be fixed easily. The top lesson learned by all the Canadian entrepreneurs I know is “make sure you move to the USA and start your business there”. I don’t expect this to change. If anything, the threat of tariffs will make the move even more interesting.

[Build.It]

Originally Posted by harls

Build.it, why not move to North Carolina? Seems like an ideal place.

The honest answer is because my family is here and I am still somewhat proud of being a citizen. That matters more than my own personal success. If I was single and 24 I'd be gone in a heartbeat though. But I'm not, so instead I will help fix this place in the best way I can, so my kids generation can have a better future here.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by harls

Build.it, why not move to North Carolina? Seems like an ideal place.

Not really helpful.

Build.it is right insofar as Canada has to create conditions that help start-ups to succeed, and to have access to venture capital.

You never know which start-up will become the next big thing. Canada cannot just rely on government jobs, the social welfare state, institutional oligopolies and resource extraction. All this does is perpetuate our status as an economic colony.

We can do better.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Build.It

He might make borrowing easier, but will he tackle the root issues like housing regulations or barriers to starting a business? Based on his career, it’s unlikely.

The impossibility of borrowing is THE biggest issue any Canadian startup will be facing. If Carney can do anything about this, it would actually be a huge step in the right direction.

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by casper

I would normally agree. However things are moving quickly.

We have two major events that potentially will shift public sentiment. With: (1) consensus coming together on the new liberal leaders and (2) the Trump problem.

The other polls will eventually either confirm one or both of these factors are causing significant shift.

I think the "Trump Problem" is going to be the driver for a large number of Canadians to second-guess their choice. When they look at the leaders of all three political parties, their going to have more confidence in Carney sitting across the table from Trump than the alternatives.

Will the Liberals select Carney? I hope so.
,

I agree. Trump is the best thing that could have happened to the Liberals. Even the late timing of Trudeau stepping down might be fortuitous. Canadians are panicked. Every day now is nothing but alarm bells from the lunatic below. Once we actually move into an election, carney will look like the trusted adult in the room compared to the guy who has never had a job and wears his policies on his t-shirt in rhyming three word slogans. Trudeau. Carbon Tax. His entire thing is gone now that only one issue matters. When not being Trudeau was enough he was popular but he is so clearly outmatched intellectually and in experience to deal with the existential crisis before us. If Canada is looking for a steady hand at the wheel to navigate the storm, the years he has spent pandering to the lowest common denominator will be a detriment when up against an opponent of such gravitas. He’s spent so long doing nothing but yell F•ck Trudeau that it is unlikely he will be able to create a new image in such a short time. Maybe he should start wearing suits again and put his glasses back on.

[Build.It]

Originally Posted by lio45

The impossibility of borrowing is THE biggest issue any Canadian startup will be facing. If Carney can do anything about this, it would actually be a huge step in the right direction.

I was specifically talking about mortgages.

RE: Business loans - most of the founders I know who used to debt got it from private companies in their own industry. I don't know anyone who just went to the bank and took out $500K to fund their plan.

We need to allow small banks in Canada IMO for this to change.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Build.It

I was specifically talking about mortgages.

Agreed on business loans.

You're a perfect example of what I’m talking about, obviously you wouldn’t have sold your house, your car, and most of your possessions if you had instead been able to access some venture capital.

And your clarification makes sense, I hadn’t yet seen anything to suggest that Carney would do anything to make it easier for businesses to borrow (I was pleasantly surprised by the thought that he would).

[trueviking]

I firmly believe Poillievre was never popular. He was just not Trudeau when that was enough. That has all changed now.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Build.It

I was specifically talking about mortgages.

RE: Business loans - most of the founders I know who used to debt got it from private companies in their own industry. I don't know anyone who just went to the bank and took out $500K to fund their plan.

We need to allow small banks in Canada IMO for this to change.

The founders I know managed to get their startup cash from their cousin (me), from a close friend (me), and in the third case, from their father (who had some real estate that he mortgaged to fund his son’s startup). I’ve never seen a Canadian bank accepting to lend a red cent to a startup, unless you call lending on free and clear real estate “funding a startup” if that’s what the money is used for. (Which is a real stretch, you’ll agree!)

[Architype]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I agree. Trump is the best thing that could have happened to the Liberals. Even the late timing of Trudeau stepping down might be fortuitous. Canadians are panicked. Every day now is nothing but alarm bells from the lunatic below. Once we actually move into an election, carney will look like the trusted adult in the room compared to the guy who has never had a job and wears his policies on his t-shirt in rhyming three word slogans. Trudeau. Carbon Tax. His entire thing is gone now that only one issue matters. When not being Trudeau was enough he was popular but he is so clearly outmatched intellectually and in experience to deal with the existential crisis before us. If Canada is looking for a steady hand at the wheel to navigate the storm, the years he has spent pandering to the lowest common denominator will be a detriment when up against an opponent of such gravitas. He’s spent so long doing nothing but yell F•ck Trudeau that it is unlikely he will be able to create a new image in such a short time. Maybe he should start wearing suits again and put his glasses back on.

If Trump were to in some way "endorse" the Conservative candidate, it would probably help the Liberals. Trump usually lets his likes and dislikes be known, but so far doesn't seem to know or care enough to comment. Poilievre has to walk a fine line between embracing "conservative" policies that parallel the Republicans', while distancing himself from Trump, whereas the Liberals can be pretty honest about it.

[harls]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Not really helpful.

Build.it is right insofar as Canada has to create conditions that help start-ups to succeed, and to have access to venture capital.

You never know which start-up will become the next big thing. Canada cannot just rely on government jobs, the social welfare state, institutional oligopolies and resource extraction. All this does is perpetuate our status as an economic colony.

We can do better.

I know it's not helpful. I'd sure would not like him to leave. I'd like him to reflect.

[harls]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I firmly believe Poillievre was never popular. He was just not Trudeau when that was enough. That has all changed now.

But he took his glasses off..