Federal Government & Politics II

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by Hecate

Just imagine a man said that to a female member of the house. lol. The double standard on full display. At least she apologized, but there is no place for toxic femininity in parliament.

He would have been asked to withdraw his comments as well. Why do you think there's a double standard? Has a male MP made a similar comment in Parliament towards a female MP and not been asked to withdraw his comment?

[Hecate]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

He would have been asked to withdraw his comments as well. Why do you think there's a double standard? Has a male MP made a similar comment in Parliament towards a female MP and not been asked to withdraw his comment?

Seriously? The double standard is more regarding the people defending her. If Pierre had said this to her they’d all be losing their shit demanding he resign. Going on about how unfit for parliament he is. But she does it and meh. Definitely a double standard. Do you think Chrystia would openly welcome criticism on her appearance from male colleagues? She should know better.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Hecate

Seriously? The double standard is more regarding the people defending her. If Pierre had said this to her they’d all be losing their shit demanding he resign. Going on about how unfit for parliament he is. But she does it and meh. Definitely a double standard. Do you think Chrystia would openly welcome criticism on her appearance from male colleagues? She should know better.

Of course there is a bit of (or a lot of) a double standard. Some of that makes sense though to be fair. Men aren't getting obsessive comments about their appearance though really both Trudeau and now PP also get the comments so I'm not sure.

[MonkeyRonin]

Even gerrymandering the definition of "poverty" can't hide the rising poverty rate & food bank usage anymore:

Posthaste: Canada at 'critical turning point' as poverty worsens, warns report

Visits to food banks up 50%

Author of the article: Pamela Heaven
Published May 22, 2024 • 4 minute read

Canada has reached “a critical turning point” as the high cost of living and housing in this country push more people below the poverty line, says a report out today from Food Banks Canada.

According to the 2024 Poverty Report Cards, almost half of people nationally feel financially worse off than last year and one in four are suffering from food insecurity.

...

“Though deeply concerning, these results are sadly unsurprising to the thousands of food banks across the country who have seen a 50 per cent increase in visits since 2021.”

One in 10 Canadians now live in poverty by the latest data, up substantially from just a few years ago, said the report.

It wasn’t always so. Between 2015 and 2020, Canada saw the most dramatic decline in poverty on record, with the rate dropping from over 14 per cent to 6.4 per cent, the report said.

...

Between February and April of this year, 25 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 went to a food charity because of lack of money.

https://financialpost.com/news/pover...d-banks-canada

[casper]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Even gerrymandering the definition of "poverty" can't hide the rising poverty rate & food bank usage anymore:




https://financialpost.com/news/pover...d-banks-canada

So, new study from an industry association that represents foodbanks. Lets take a look at their recommendations of how to fix this problem. They have different recommendations for each province. It is a very socialist oriented agenda they are pushing for.

1. Introduce a new poverty reduction strategy with the goal of reducing poverty by 50 per cent by 2030.

Details of this are mostly focused on the provincial cabinet reporting to plans to reduce poverty.

2. Require each political party to respond to the expert panel on basic income.

They are pushing for a basic income program and want each party during the next provincial election to be required to clearly state its plan to implement such a program.

"3. Maintain BC Housing’s capital budget at a minimum of $1.2 billion per year until 2030 and index it to inflation."

Adding an extra 750 in social housing units per year.

4. Develop a new fiscal framework that directs municipalities to use their surpluses to build affordable housing and prohibits them from generating surpluses greater than 2 per cent of total revenues while maintaining current tax levels for the next five years.

Their concern about rainy day and reserve funds that municipal governments have setup. In BC it is not uncommon for municipal government to put money away into special funds for major capital expenditures.

5. Increase access to childcare by working with the federal government to invest an initial combined $260 million per year ($130 million each) to help hire more childcare providers and build more spaces.

Ok, provide more subsidy for daycare spaces.

6. Work with the federal government to deliver automatic tax filing.

Ok, many who are poor are not filling out income tax returns and not getting refunds and benefits they are entitled to.

7. Take a leadership role in the success of the Canada Disability Benefit.

Ok, so a new social program planned for 2025.

8. Index all provincial social benefits and credits and increase social assistance rates for single people by at least 10 per cent.

So, increase welfare.

9. Reduce claw backs on low-income workers and introduce a new provincial earnings supplement.

So, a new social plan.

Reference: https://foodbankscanada.ca/poverty-r...itish-columbia

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Whataboutism!

I guess technically, but when one party with a horribly corrupt nomination process starts criticizing the nomination processes of other parties there isn’t much else to say.

[acottawa]

Very expensive vaccine plant hasn’t produced any vaccines.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tru...vax-1.7211462#

[niwell]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Even gerrymandering the definition of "poverty" can't hide the rising poverty rate & food bank usage anymore:

I cycle past the Fort York Food Bank on College st near Kensington market several times a week pretty much since hybrid work began. Watched the lines grow steadily to the point they’re around the block in the morning. Subjective to be sure, but the “look” of people in line doesn’t fit the stereotype we’d normally think of. It’s a pretty representative cross-section of the area as a whole. Even without looking at stats this seems very troubling to me.

Writing this from our place in Napanee where several shantytowns have popped up in wooded areas adjacent to built up parts of town. Not just tents but actual structures - our contractor neighbour just had a bunch of scrap wood stolen from his industrial unit for this purpose (he doesn’t care about the wood and would have probably given it to them if someone asked).

[MolsonExport]

^but at least Galen Weston is thriving.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Very expensive vaccine plant hasn’t produced any vaccines.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tru...vax-1.7211462#

Yeah we've moved on from that. We should have made more investments like that not less. The overpaying in the hopes of getting vaccines was proven to be the right response. Even a 10% chance this plant produced vaccines was worth the risk considering how much it cost to be locked down. Of course Canada kept lockdowns after we all had the chance to be vaccinated which is nonsensical but that's a seperate issue.

[Black Star]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

Even gerrymandering the definition of "poverty" can't hide the rising poverty rate & food bank usage anymore:




https://financialpost.com/news/pover...d-banks-canada

I’ve never been super passionate about voting, but this year or next I would walk barefoot over 1000 miles of broken glass covered in salt and rubbing alcohol in order to vote for the Conservatives. Turns out.... The liberal/ndp government are really bad at everything they attempt to do.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

^but at least Galen Weston is thriving.

The Scheme produces winners and losers.

As Quebec’s Housing Minister famously said, “quit whining and start investing in real estate”.

[MonctonRad]

Trudeau gets an earful on defence spending from nearly one-quarter of the U.S. Senate
Lawmakers from both parties tell PM to come to NATO summit with plan to meet target
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sen...ding-1.7212784

Are JT's ears burning????

[MolsonExport]

Our defence spending has been shameful for many decades.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Our defence spending has been shameful for many decades.

Easy to say. What would you cut instead or tax to bring in the revenue? There seems to be a consensus to ignore it at this point across the political spectrum. NDP no longer quite as anti NATO anti-defence spending and the Cons seem to have lost the appetite as well to invest as we move to populist conservatism.

[Airboy]

Based on what I'm seeing. Defence Construction is way up from Past years. Looks like all regions of the country are getting some. some projects are in the 100-200 mil range.

Could be faster on the offshore equipment. Should have had at least one of the new frigates by now. But I blame both Lib and Conservative governments.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Easy to say. What would you cut instead or tax to bring in the revenue? There seems to be a consensus to ignore it at this point across the political spectrum. NDP no longer quite as anti NATO anti-defence spending and the Cons seem to have lost the appetite as well to invest as we move to populist conservatism.

yes, I realize that this easy to say, and that there are not very many good places to find the necessary revenues. I'd look at raising corporate tax rates (quit the race to the bottom game), ending some entitlements, and gradually raising the retirement age. Perhaps a half-point increase in the HST. Increased levies on raw resource extraction. Considerable increases on capital gains taxes for second and beyond residences. Perhaps excise taxes on certain goods (alcohol), and increased taxes on gambling/lottery winnings, etc.

[SteelTown]

I would have liked the government to announce when they'll reach the 2% mark, even if it takes ten years, and at least give our partners a date. Say by 2030.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Easy to say. What would you cut instead or tax to bring in the revenue? There seems to be a consensus to ignore it at this point across the political spectrum. NDP no longer quite as anti NATO anti-defence spending and the Cons seem to have lost the appetite as well to invest as we move to populist conservatism.

Our Defence procurement is a giant mess and nobody wants to join the Army. I think we have a problem spending the money, unless we're just paying the bills for Ukraine's war effort.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Easy to say. What would you cut instead or tax to bring in the revenue? There seems to be a consensus to ignore it at this point across the political spectrum. NDP no longer quite as anti NATO anti-defence spending and the Cons seem to have lost the appetite as well to invest as we move to populist conservatism.

And yet most of our allies who also face the same tough choice, found a way. Maybe we just need countries to start imposing real economic trade consequences to change this mindset in Canada. It's already starting a bit with AUKUS. Maybe if NATO reconsiders the R&D centre in Halifax.