I think it is time for the Liberals to pick a couple of fights. And if they are smart, and they typically are when it comes to finding votes and winnable seats, they pick these fights with provinces and municipalities where votes are to be gained or defended. And the story of the fight has to be between action (by the federal government) and inaction (by the province and municipalities). And they should not be shy to make some local politicians that are typically close to the Liberals quite uncomfortable.
I would like to see dashboards and colour coded maps indicating progress. Any area not meeting its targets will get attention from the federal government. Celebrate successes along the way. Canadians have defined what the issue for the next election is going to be, fortunately there is 2 years for the Liberals to work on it, let’s get busy.
“ I think it is time for the Liberals to pick a couple of fights…”
Over the last few years they have picked fights.
They’ve put huge political capital into gun legislation that even most firearm-restriction groups agree is nonsensical as-written and addresses none of the guns actually involved in criminal shootings.
They’ve spent a bunch of time pushing through media subsidies that have been baffling to everyone not actively employed by postmedia
After years of people begging the CRTC to do something about lack of competition, they just announced a major crackdown on… independent podcasts.
Their problem hasn’t been in picking fights. It’s been in picking fights that anybody is actually asking for
Fair enough. But I don’t see these things as fights at all. They are not issues that people care about. Nobody is interested in the finer details of what constitutes a commercial podcast.
Pick some real issues. Like cost of housing. Or prices of cell phone plans. Or airlines treating passengers as customers instead of hostages. The public wants to see confrontation, give it to them on issues that matter. Issues like pronouns will disappear like snow in July.
Comms are fundamentally a second-best tool. Good messaging and discipline is how the opposition becomes the government. But the actual government has the ability to actually set policy, not just talk about policy. Make bold changes, not just talk about them.
And even when it comes to comms, their strongest play is always talking about things they’ve actually accomplished.
When voters are demanding action on an issue, a comms-first response from the government means the people in charge are more comfortable operating as the opposition. And their strategy will put them there.
I disagree when provincial governments are creating this problem and mess. Looking at privatization over government shows no one can buy a home. This isn’t a liberal responsibility it’s provincial. I couldn’t read the rest of your rant. The federal government gave housing and healthcare to the provinces. Our PM has talked about taking these responsibilities back.
Government provides stable jobs except for conservatives, if private is the boss no one can buy a home without a guarantee, they have a stable job. Our problem is Trump conservatives not taking responsibility and backing capitalism because they pay them well.
Our PM puts up with violent rhetoric, constant harassment, sabotage and so much on his plate. Threats caused his marriage to end. She wants him to stay as the prime minister. Why are conservatives allowed to shrug off their responsibility and it’s put on the busy shoulder of our PM? Why have provincial governments? Anger should be directed to the correct people not doing their jobs. But this is the provincial government people are voting for because of manipulation. Nothing will change until there’s provincial government change and responsibilities are taken seriously
All of this is true. Provinces are dropping the ball. Convoy party is perfectly happy to attack the person instead of the policy. Almost all media is against Trudeau.
But this and $2.40 will get you a medium coffee at Tim Horton’s. It does not matter.
In 2015 Trudeau was able to turn the tables on all these issues (inexperience becomes fresh ideas, etc.). If he wants to be elected for a fourth term, he will have do this again.
So, if provinces are dropping the ball, call them out and show people you are on their side. If the opposition goes low, you go high. All these things can used to make your case. It is right in front of Trudeau and the Liberals.
As one famous soccer player once said: “each disadvantage is an advantage”.
“ Nothing will change until there’s provincial government change and responsibilities are taken seriously”
Most people following the details will agree with you 100%. Which is why this *should* be the easiest fight ever for Trudeau. All he’s being ask for is leadership. He’s perfectly placed to be the spokesperson for Canadian’s frustrations. To publicly put pressure on the provinces. To push for change.
Instead we have the provinces leading the charge, and blaming Federal decisions for provincial problems. And because they’re the only voices in the discussion they’re winning.
Trudeau isn’t to blame for provincial policies. Trudeau is to blame for being missing in action
Disagree about Trudeau this guy has so much on his plate and if he shares some duties he’s oh in a scandal. He has stepped on them lots, he’s had them at Ottawa. These incomplete cons just don’t listen and that’s the problem. No one knows how hard he pushes because no media will tell anyone. Plus it’s like he’s supposed to have no feelings he never gets to heal. While he’s being sabotaged to hell. I’d know if he was shrinking his leadership but when conservatives controlled all media like putin and Hitler no one hears the truth or what’s happening
I have a huge problem with a ‘Canadian’ Media who turn every single thing done by Trudeau or any Liberal into a gigantic problem, while giving free coverage to a man and a Party who make no bones about how they hate Canada and wish to return it to some airy-fairy past where White men were all powerful and everyone else knew their place. So yes.. the Liberals need to move on Housing.. but sadly the MSM will NEVER support them. Just look at what is happening across Canada. The more CONservatives take over.. the more we sink into the abyss. Even major programs on CBC Radio like The Current with Matt Galloway give credit whenever possible to the rage-farming CONservatives. He jumps on PM Trudeau never missing an opportunity to slam him.
I agree that the Liberals have an economic policy problem, not a communications problem.
My impression is that the Liberals have spent the best part of the last eight years focusing on social problems, to the detriment and neglect of economic problems. They just weren't interested in unglamorous bread-and-butter issues. Now that neglect has come back to bite them -- and bite them hard.
Housing is indeed THE major issue for the young and for many not-so-young low income Canadians. But that is just the most prominent aspect of the cost-pf-living crisis that we have been going through. Inflation is high, especially for basics like food, and that affects every age group, not just the young. While inflation has many contributing factors, government spending is definitely one of them. So what does the government do? Approve large subsidies to giant corporations like Volkswagon and Stellantis. Looks nice, sounds nice when announced, but very risky in economic terms. I remember David Lewis calling out the corporate welfare bums.
A major contributor to high housing costs has been various levels of government, with the principal factor being absurd zoning regulations. The government has finally started to move on this, but so far the incentives are timid. Removing the GST/HST on rental housing will help, but governments need to go further, with income tax incentives to builders, perhaps encouraging immigrants skilled in construction.
Don't forget food prices, a challenge for middle income as well as low income families. Excess profits are not really that big when compared to total revenues, and if they were reduced, the impact on prices would be between 1% and 2%. While we're at it, perhaps we should abolish supply management, lowering the price of dairy and poultry. Of course, no political party is ready to cross that farmers' lobby.
I do believe that the Liberals are finally taking economic issues more seriously. Good. But two years is not a long enough time period to repair the damage that has been done. If he sticks to the economy, and avoids social issues, Mr. Poilievre has a good chance of winning the next election. And all through Liberal neglect: "It's the economy, stupid!"
Interesting article as usual Evan. Where to start ... the lack of housing and affordable housing is a multi-layered problem and is not confined to Canada. Housing shortages exist in the US, Australia and Briton as well. The current government issued a housing strategy in 2018. The Austrian gov is looking to mirror this approach. Some of the problems: again ... the provincial governments have implementation jurisdiction and also direct municipalities through the Local Government Act. Municipalities pander to all manner of NIMBYs who don't want change but are miffed when they can't find a plumber - because plumbers (and others) have no where to live. The Provincial Dept of Environment has absolutely absurd rules around disturbing soils when of course construction disturbs soil. Many silos demanding project reviews and re-work. The time involved in securing a development permit after every man & his dog has been given permission to way-in on the merits of the project - is literally years. Time =$$. [Unless you donated to Doug Ford?]
There is a labour shortage in the trades. CCA is pressuring the Feds for increased immigration to fill the shortage. Immigrates need housing. (Hopefully this circle is becoming apparent?) Premiers like our Ontario example are wrapped-up in shady deals with developers and the Green Belt. Cities have preferred urban sprawl to increased urban density which increases the need for infrastructure.
AirB&B also has impact and New York city has just passed considerable restrictions on using rentals for vacation stays. Toronto and Montreal (perhaps other cities) have enacted a tax on vacant housing. These are only some of the issues affecting the affordable housing supply. To again repeat - the Provinces and municipalities are at the core of this problem. Clearly (perhaps not?) a great deal of COLLABORATION is required between these 3 levels of government to get to a fix. (CMHC has just released a new report.) Working together is being tried in BC and Vancouver. Coincidently, the lack of healthcare workers & education workers is also impacted by a lack of affordable housing - again a very Provincial responsibility. There is also a lack of inter-provincial trade with each province having their own requirements for heathcare & education workers, engineers & architects - except for the Red Seal Trades Program in construction. A construct of fiefdoms with little desire to collaborate and much energy to blame others - particularly the Feds.
We live in a complex world and a simple-minded, protectionist country. Canadians need to take a leap into this 21st century that is already a quarter past.
There is absolutely no end of politics at play and a significant 'blame-game' going on that no party will win and Canadians will be the losers.
But yes, the Liberals need a better approach to coms - evidence based because the nano-second attention span forged by social media has folks drinking-up the nonsense spewed by the opposition party. Fact checking isn't that hard but we do rely on our media for that work. Or, we could refer to the Hansard??
When I think of or actually listen to the CPC rhetoric, I’m reminded of Senator McCarthy and his vicious vendetta against anyone who did not fit his definition of what is an American. Mr. Poilievre reminds me of this man.. with his rage-farming, his obsessive personal hatred for PM Justin Trudeau and his over the top disdain for Liberal ideology. He would take Canada so far backwards I don’t know how we would ever recover. Unfortunately, we do not have the journalistic integrity of a Murrow in the ‘Canadian’ media today to counteract his poisonous misinformation. The line between investigating and wrongly accusing is a fine one.
I think it is time for the Liberals to pick a couple of fights. And if they are smart, and they typically are when it comes to finding votes and winnable seats, they pick these fights with provinces and municipalities where votes are to be gained or defended. And the story of the fight has to be between action (by the federal government) and inaction (by the province and municipalities). And they should not be shy to make some local politicians that are typically close to the Liberals quite uncomfortable.
I would like to see dashboards and colour coded maps indicating progress. Any area not meeting its targets will get attention from the federal government. Celebrate successes along the way. Canadians have defined what the issue for the next election is going to be, fortunately there is 2 years for the Liberals to work on it, let’s get busy.
“ I think it is time for the Liberals to pick a couple of fights…”
Over the last few years they have picked fights.
They’ve put huge political capital into gun legislation that even most firearm-restriction groups agree is nonsensical as-written and addresses none of the guns actually involved in criminal shootings.
They’ve spent a bunch of time pushing through media subsidies that have been baffling to everyone not actively employed by postmedia
After years of people begging the CRTC to do something about lack of competition, they just announced a major crackdown on… independent podcasts.
Their problem hasn’t been in picking fights. It’s been in picking fights that anybody is actually asking for
Fair enough. But I don’t see these things as fights at all. They are not issues that people care about. Nobody is interested in the finer details of what constitutes a commercial podcast.
Pick some real issues. Like cost of housing. Or prices of cell phone plans. Or airlines treating passengers as customers instead of hostages. The public wants to see confrontation, give it to them on issues that matter. Issues like pronouns will disappear like snow in July.
Comms are fundamentally a second-best tool. Good messaging and discipline is how the opposition becomes the government. But the actual government has the ability to actually set policy, not just talk about policy. Make bold changes, not just talk about them.
And even when it comes to comms, their strongest play is always talking about things they’ve actually accomplished.
When voters are demanding action on an issue, a comms-first response from the government means the people in charge are more comfortable operating as the opposition. And their strategy will put them there.
You or your successor will implement this policy…
I disagree when provincial governments are creating this problem and mess. Looking at privatization over government shows no one can buy a home. This isn’t a liberal responsibility it’s provincial. I couldn’t read the rest of your rant. The federal government gave housing and healthcare to the provinces. Our PM has talked about taking these responsibilities back.
Government provides stable jobs except for conservatives, if private is the boss no one can buy a home without a guarantee, they have a stable job. Our problem is Trump conservatives not taking responsibility and backing capitalism because they pay them well.
Our PM puts up with violent rhetoric, constant harassment, sabotage and so much on his plate. Threats caused his marriage to end. She wants him to stay as the prime minister. Why are conservatives allowed to shrug off their responsibility and it’s put on the busy shoulder of our PM? Why have provincial governments? Anger should be directed to the correct people not doing their jobs. But this is the provincial government people are voting for because of manipulation. Nothing will change until there’s provincial government change and responsibilities are taken seriously
All of this is true. Provinces are dropping the ball. Convoy party is perfectly happy to attack the person instead of the policy. Almost all media is against Trudeau.
But this and $2.40 will get you a medium coffee at Tim Horton’s. It does not matter.
In 2015 Trudeau was able to turn the tables on all these issues (inexperience becomes fresh ideas, etc.). If he wants to be elected for a fourth term, he will have do this again.
So, if provinces are dropping the ball, call them out and show people you are on their side. If the opposition goes low, you go high. All these things can used to make your case. It is right in front of Trudeau and the Liberals.
As one famous soccer player once said: “each disadvantage is an advantage”.
“ Nothing will change until there’s provincial government change and responsibilities are taken seriously”
Most people following the details will agree with you 100%. Which is why this *should* be the easiest fight ever for Trudeau. All he’s being ask for is leadership. He’s perfectly placed to be the spokesperson for Canadian’s frustrations. To publicly put pressure on the provinces. To push for change.
Instead we have the provinces leading the charge, and blaming Federal decisions for provincial problems. And because they’re the only voices in the discussion they’re winning.
Trudeau isn’t to blame for provincial policies. Trudeau is to blame for being missing in action
Disagree about Trudeau this guy has so much on his plate and if he shares some duties he’s oh in a scandal. He has stepped on them lots, he’s had them at Ottawa. These incomplete cons just don’t listen and that’s the problem. No one knows how hard he pushes because no media will tell anyone. Plus it’s like he’s supposed to have no feelings he never gets to heal. While he’s being sabotaged to hell. I’d know if he was shrinking his leadership but when conservatives controlled all media like putin and Hitler no one hears the truth or what’s happening
I have a huge problem with a ‘Canadian’ Media who turn every single thing done by Trudeau or any Liberal into a gigantic problem, while giving free coverage to a man and a Party who make no bones about how they hate Canada and wish to return it to some airy-fairy past where White men were all powerful and everyone else knew their place. So yes.. the Liberals need to move on Housing.. but sadly the MSM will NEVER support them. Just look at what is happening across Canada. The more CONservatives take over.. the more we sink into the abyss. Even major programs on CBC Radio like The Current with Matt Galloway give credit whenever possible to the rage-farming CONservatives. He jumps on PM Trudeau never missing an opportunity to slam him.
I agree that the Liberals have an economic policy problem, not a communications problem.
My impression is that the Liberals have spent the best part of the last eight years focusing on social problems, to the detriment and neglect of economic problems. They just weren't interested in unglamorous bread-and-butter issues. Now that neglect has come back to bite them -- and bite them hard.
Housing is indeed THE major issue for the young and for many not-so-young low income Canadians. But that is just the most prominent aspect of the cost-pf-living crisis that we have been going through. Inflation is high, especially for basics like food, and that affects every age group, not just the young. While inflation has many contributing factors, government spending is definitely one of them. So what does the government do? Approve large subsidies to giant corporations like Volkswagon and Stellantis. Looks nice, sounds nice when announced, but very risky in economic terms. I remember David Lewis calling out the corporate welfare bums.
A major contributor to high housing costs has been various levels of government, with the principal factor being absurd zoning regulations. The government has finally started to move on this, but so far the incentives are timid. Removing the GST/HST on rental housing will help, but governments need to go further, with income tax incentives to builders, perhaps encouraging immigrants skilled in construction.
Don't forget food prices, a challenge for middle income as well as low income families. Excess profits are not really that big when compared to total revenues, and if they were reduced, the impact on prices would be between 1% and 2%. While we're at it, perhaps we should abolish supply management, lowering the price of dairy and poultry. Of course, no political party is ready to cross that farmers' lobby.
I do believe that the Liberals are finally taking economic issues more seriously. Good. But two years is not a long enough time period to repair the damage that has been done. If he sticks to the economy, and avoids social issues, Mr. Poilievre has a good chance of winning the next election. And all through Liberal neglect: "It's the economy, stupid!"
Interesting article as usual Evan. Where to start ... the lack of housing and affordable housing is a multi-layered problem and is not confined to Canada. Housing shortages exist in the US, Australia and Briton as well. The current government issued a housing strategy in 2018. The Austrian gov is looking to mirror this approach. Some of the problems: again ... the provincial governments have implementation jurisdiction and also direct municipalities through the Local Government Act. Municipalities pander to all manner of NIMBYs who don't want change but are miffed when they can't find a plumber - because plumbers (and others) have no where to live. The Provincial Dept of Environment has absolutely absurd rules around disturbing soils when of course construction disturbs soil. Many silos demanding project reviews and re-work. The time involved in securing a development permit after every man & his dog has been given permission to way-in on the merits of the project - is literally years. Time =$$. [Unless you donated to Doug Ford?]
There is a labour shortage in the trades. CCA is pressuring the Feds for increased immigration to fill the shortage. Immigrates need housing. (Hopefully this circle is becoming apparent?) Premiers like our Ontario example are wrapped-up in shady deals with developers and the Green Belt. Cities have preferred urban sprawl to increased urban density which increases the need for infrastructure.
AirB&B also has impact and New York city has just passed considerable restrictions on using rentals for vacation stays. Toronto and Montreal (perhaps other cities) have enacted a tax on vacant housing. These are only some of the issues affecting the affordable housing supply. To again repeat - the Provinces and municipalities are at the core of this problem. Clearly (perhaps not?) a great deal of COLLABORATION is required between these 3 levels of government to get to a fix. (CMHC has just released a new report.) Working together is being tried in BC and Vancouver. Coincidently, the lack of healthcare workers & education workers is also impacted by a lack of affordable housing - again a very Provincial responsibility. There is also a lack of inter-provincial trade with each province having their own requirements for heathcare & education workers, engineers & architects - except for the Red Seal Trades Program in construction. A construct of fiefdoms with little desire to collaborate and much energy to blame others - particularly the Feds.
We live in a complex world and a simple-minded, protectionist country. Canadians need to take a leap into this 21st century that is already a quarter past.
There is absolutely no end of politics at play and a significant 'blame-game' going on that no party will win and Canadians will be the losers.
But yes, the Liberals need a better approach to coms - evidence based because the nano-second attention span forged by social media has folks drinking-up the nonsense spewed by the opposition party. Fact checking isn't that hard but we do rely on our media for that work. Or, we could refer to the Hansard??
When I think of or actually listen to the CPC rhetoric, I’m reminded of Senator McCarthy and his vicious vendetta against anyone who did not fit his definition of what is an American. Mr. Poilievre reminds me of this man.. with his rage-farming, his obsessive personal hatred for PM Justin Trudeau and his over the top disdain for Liberal ideology. He would take Canada so far backwards I don’t know how we would ever recover. Unfortunately, we do not have the journalistic integrity of a Murrow in the ‘Canadian’ media today to counteract his poisonous misinformation. The line between investigating and wrongly accusing is a fine one.
hmm..