Musings, opinions and views on various topics, issues, news and sometimes taking the other side of the argument
Thursday, October 26, 2017
More of Trudeau's Cozy Cronies (Going Back to his Father) Now Resulting In Canadian Policies
http://business.financialpost.com/opinion/the-trudeau-government-overlooks-chinas-dangerous-duplicities-just-to-land-a-trade-deal
No Surprise Liberal Politicians Acquitted: Teflon Dons of Ontario Politics
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Liberal Disregard For Reality and The Spin Machine at Work
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Monday, October 23, 2017
Will the Real Canadian GDP Growth Rate, Please Stand Up: We Have Had Enough of "Sunny Ways"
In a case of monetary and political, "he said, she said" both the institutions of the Bank of Canada and the governing Liberal party are to present their outlooks on the economy going forward.
The Bank of Canada, fresh off two rate hikes that surprised most, may have a bias creep into their forecasts in wanting to "justify" those curious hikes with a rosier but but lower end of the "believable" and "expectations" range.
The Liberals, on the other hand, will definitely be painting a picture of "sunny ways" using their Liberal math (please see past posts for past examples) to show that the MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR deficits are not that bad, they can borrow more, they can spend more, buy more votes, etc....until the actual GDP numbers are in. But by then, the election will be in full swing.
Two years into their mandate and two more years (less four days...but who's counting?) to go, the Liberal spending and spin machine will be engaging high gear as the countdown is on for 2019.
However, as noted in the Financial Post article above (and is not being fully appreciated by Canadians), two significant wild cards exist - NAFTA results and the housing market results. Either one of these could provide a sudden shock to any of the forecasts starting tomorrow and throw all views out the window.
The language around contingency plans will be very important to watch starting tomorrow. My fear is, there is not one.
Hello 1.0% GDP, lower dollar, higher deficits, stalled housing market, higher interest rates (they are not coming down), higher unemployment...
(Liberals' sunny ways term highlighted below)
Friday, October 20, 2017
More Morneau...Oh No.
Thursday, October 19, 2017
World Growth Predicted at 3.7% (IMF) - NOT in Canada You Say?
Upon officially quashing any economic injection from pipelines and giving Canada "diversity" of oil markets as opposed to beholdened to the US, Canada, thanks to such federal and provincial policies (don't forget increased minimum wage in Ontario that is bound to hurt businesses and increase unemployment) the Liberals will officially be bringing down this world average of 3.7% from our cozy little corner of the globe.
I think the expectations are to be happy with half that number.
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
A Sad Day For Canadians, Canadiana and Canadian Music: Let The Music (Always Be) At Work
As compared to the days when I would see them at Mosport park in a massive Canada Day atmosphere, today I will listen to the music, and the lyrics, in a new light. Let's hope we all can carry the torch to sing and write about this great country of Canada in song.
RIP Gord. Say hi to Bill Barilko, Tom Thompson and Jacques Cartier.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Coincidence Both Were Announced (To Overshadow the Other)? One More Backtracking Example from the Taxing Liberal Party Sprinkled With Morneau Conflict of Interest: That Makes Both the PM and The Finance Minister Hauled Into the Ethics Commissioner's Office
https://www.facebook.com/AndrewScheerMP/videos/1759314834102261/
...And by the smirk on Justin's face, there is little regard for the Ethics Commissioner.
Backtracking or action from "consultations"? Let the (apathetic) Canadian voters decide, "...“When we made the commitment back in 2015 to lower small business taxes, we were very clear about one thing: we would only make this change after we took a look at the tax system. That’s what these consultations of these past months were all about...". [Insert Justin's smirk, and things are fine.]
How can the Liberals take credit and call this a "tax cut" when in fact it was barely out of the consultation period as the Liberals were dragged through the mud and vilified for the higher rate....and not even passed into legislation yet!
Ah, the Liberal media spin machine. The people behind it are good at what they do - cunning, bold and ruthless.
As mentioned, "Trudeau campaigned in 2015 on a promise to reduce the small business tax rate to nine per cent from 11 per cent over three years — but he announced in Budget 2016 he would freeze the rate at 10.5 per cent, cancelling in the process a legislated reduction to nine per cent instituted by the previous Conservative government."
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
What Does an Innovation Minister Do Anyway (When Not Handing Out Funds, Money, Grants)?
http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/ottawa-names-atlantic-consortium-as-first-of-nine-shortlisted-superclusters
All in the name of your truthful, transparent and science-based Liberals
Thanks Minister Bains, I'm sure all Canadians are sleeping better at night knowing these funds are being spent on a "global innovation race". Any chance of an update on this race - are we winning? Are we second or third? Or Worse?
Or is this a problem created to deflect other issues of the Liberal party and give something to do for Minister Bains?
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Big Promises, Big Government, Big Taxes - Now a Big Security Bill ($2.4M per month to Guard the PM, His Family and His Sock Collection)
For some context...
At $2.4 million per month is double the beginning of Stephen Harper's term and is 10 times higher than the cost of the controversial holidays of the Trudeau family in the private island of Aga Khan that recently put the prime minister in the hot seat.
Just for the first six months of 2017, $14 million was spent protecting Justin Trudeau and his family, compared to $11.5 million for the same period last year, according to the RCMP under the Access to Information Act. This $2.5 million represents a 22% annual increase.
At this rate, the Prime Minister's security will cost the RCMP an estimated $28 million in 2017, an increase from $23.6 million last year (already a recent peak).
Monday, October 9, 2017
An Anecdotal Illustration of Taxes
A once upon a time story about taxation
www.linkedin.com/pulse/once-upon-time-story-taxation-owen-erglis
Saturday, October 7, 2017
A Trudeau is a Trudeau is a Trudeau: Unfortunately Too Much Like His Father
Friday, October 6, 2017
As "Diversity" is the Buzz Word of The Day, Eastern Canadians will Continue to Have "Diversity" of Oil Supply From USA, OPEC Countries Rolling Down the St. Lawrence: No More Energy East - Happy Now NEB?
"...Eastern Canada imports more than 750,000 barrels per day from the U.S. and OPEC countries. The Energy East pipeline would have carried 1.1 million barrels per day of Canadian oil eastward to Canadians at lower cost while increasing Canada’s self-reliance. Even if much of the pipeline’s oil were exported, it would still be an economic benefit for Canada with foreign-market access that would allow for greater diversity of Canada’s customer base for its oil..."
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Disagree With a Liberal? "Making Canada Safe for Hypocrisy"
http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/john-ivison-ousting-of-pro-life-committee-chair-an-act-of-blatant-liberal-hypocrisy
As per a quote I read a couple of years ago (I believe in the National Post), a Liberal is open to all views... until you disagree with theirs.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
When is a Safe Country...Safe? The Safe Third Country agreement with the U.S
Some data points...