I think it is fair that Canada is fed up with government, and as the federal government is something that most Canadian think that is ultimately in control of everything, the provincial governments escape the wrath of the voters. And with the key issues right now on housing and healthcare, provinces should be the first to take the blame.
In general, most voters are hopelessly mis- and under-informed. I am currently finishing the basement and have different contractors over every day. Sometimes small talk goes into politics and I gently probe what they base their political opinions on. It is interesting, but perhaps not surprising, that most of them, have no clue that:
Canada had 1/3 of the Covid deaths per capita of the US or the UK. And 1/2 of countries like Germany. Canada did really well in this area.
Inflation in Europe was almost 2 times worse in Europe than in Canada. Most of them think that Canada is the worst.
Food prices in the US (no carbon tax) have risen the same or slightly more than in Canada (with a carbon tax).
All these things are facts, easily verified, and yet, people believe the opposite. Just like Poilievre is relentless in claiming that Trudeau is personally responsible for every problem in the world, the Liberals need to relentless in educating the public about the actual facts are.
If the Liberal response is to go all in on negative ads about Polievre they might as well pack it in now. If they don't come up with some smart policies to deal with housing quickly, so that by the time the next election comes around the housing crisis can be viewed as marginally less bad they're toast.
The Liberals need to get serious about economic issues. As far as I can tell, economic issues bore Mr. Trudeau and most of the people around him.
I get the sense that the Liberals are not altogether united on housing. Too many of their voters own housing, and would not like to see the price of housing come down. And of course rents are tied to house prices.
But the Liberals are getting one policy right, i.e. tie grants to municipalities to the number of new housing units built, whether by reforming zoning regulations or lightening the bureaucratic load on builders, etc. I note that tying funding to increased housing was originally a policy proposed by Mr. Poilievre -- the only one of his policy proposals that made any sense -- and the Liberals stole it.
Canadian productivity, which drives Canadians' standard of living, has fallen for eleven quarters now, and is well below that of workers in the US or the EU. Perhaps reform of the tax system. Certainly more free trade deals -- and no more using them as a lever to try to impose our values on other countries (cultural imperialism at its finest).
Unless the Liberals can pull a rabbit out of the hat like UBI or an offer by government to do the actual building of affordable housing as per the WW2 affordable housing project, then they are screwed when it comes to the next election.
I believed a number of years ago when the liberals were down and almost out that bringing in Justin was the answer and sure enough they came back from the grave. Now, I again believe Justin is the answer but this time booting him is the only hope.. Christia F would do the trick.
While I am a big fan of your work, I strongly disagree with most of this column.
As an NDP supporter, here is what I see team PP doing: splitting the NDP coalition by courting union supporting but culturally conservative Dippers; appealing to blue, John Manley-Liberals; seeking to divide the Bloc coalition by trying to win Quebeckers who don't support the Quebec elite consensus (this group is bigger than many think); making sure that PPC voters stay in the Conservative tent; and for good measure winning the odd Green voter who are really protest voters.
I get why you argue that PP is a Rorschach test that people can use to project their various anti-Trudeau feelings. However, I think you are failing to give team PP proper credit. It's just not Jagmeet's Rolex watch, Trudeau's trust-fund politics, the Bloc's vulnerability in non-urban areas, or Elizabeth May's irrelevancy that have team blue way ahead. A lot has to do with strategic decisions by the Conservatives that are paying off.
Memo To The Liberals: Fuck Around Or Dig In
I think it is fair that Canada is fed up with government, and as the federal government is something that most Canadian think that is ultimately in control of everything, the provincial governments escape the wrath of the voters. And with the key issues right now on housing and healthcare, provinces should be the first to take the blame.
In general, most voters are hopelessly mis- and under-informed. I am currently finishing the basement and have different contractors over every day. Sometimes small talk goes into politics and I gently probe what they base their political opinions on. It is interesting, but perhaps not surprising, that most of them, have no clue that:
Canada had 1/3 of the Covid deaths per capita of the US or the UK. And 1/2 of countries like Germany. Canada did really well in this area.
Inflation in Europe was almost 2 times worse in Europe than in Canada. Most of them think that Canada is the worst.
Food prices in the US (no carbon tax) have risen the same or slightly more than in Canada (with a carbon tax).
All these things are facts, easily verified, and yet, people believe the opposite. Just like Poilievre is relentless in claiming that Trudeau is personally responsible for every problem in the world, the Liberals need to relentless in educating the public about the actual facts are.
If the Liberal response is to go all in on negative ads about Polievre they might as well pack it in now. If they don't come up with some smart policies to deal with housing quickly, so that by the time the next election comes around the housing crisis can be viewed as marginally less bad they're toast.
Never count on a poll, I belong to many I never get asked a political question or who I vote for
Well said! The ship has not sunk but it is listing. Time is still on our side for the correction to be made.
The Liberals need to get serious about economic issues. As far as I can tell, economic issues bore Mr. Trudeau and most of the people around him.
I get the sense that the Liberals are not altogether united on housing. Too many of their voters own housing, and would not like to see the price of housing come down. And of course rents are tied to house prices.
But the Liberals are getting one policy right, i.e. tie grants to municipalities to the number of new housing units built, whether by reforming zoning regulations or lightening the bureaucratic load on builders, etc. I note that tying funding to increased housing was originally a policy proposed by Mr. Poilievre -- the only one of his policy proposals that made any sense -- and the Liberals stole it.
Canadian productivity, which drives Canadians' standard of living, has fallen for eleven quarters now, and is well below that of workers in the US or the EU. Perhaps reform of the tax system. Certainly more free trade deals -- and no more using them as a lever to try to impose our values on other countries (cultural imperialism at its finest).
Unless the Liberals can pull a rabbit out of the hat like UBI or an offer by government to do the actual building of affordable housing as per the WW2 affordable housing project, then they are screwed when it comes to the next election.
I believed a number of years ago when the liberals were down and almost out that bringing in Justin was the answer and sure enough they came back from the grave. Now, I again believe Justin is the answer but this time booting him is the only hope.. Christia F would do the trick.
While I am a big fan of your work, I strongly disagree with most of this column.
As an NDP supporter, here is what I see team PP doing: splitting the NDP coalition by courting union supporting but culturally conservative Dippers; appealing to blue, John Manley-Liberals; seeking to divide the Bloc coalition by trying to win Quebeckers who don't support the Quebec elite consensus (this group is bigger than many think); making sure that PPC voters stay in the Conservative tent; and for good measure winning the odd Green voter who are really protest voters.
I get why you argue that PP is a Rorschach test that people can use to project their various anti-Trudeau feelings. However, I think you are failing to give team PP proper credit. It's just not Jagmeet's Rolex watch, Trudeau's trust-fund politics, the Bloc's vulnerability in non-urban areas, or Elizabeth May's irrelevancy that have team blue way ahead. A lot has to do with strategic decisions by the Conservatives that are paying off.
I sincerely hope you sent a copy of this to our LIberal colleagues. All is not lost, but much work is required.