Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Could We Have Been Had?


Tom Walkom gives the Trudeau government some credit for reversing the direction of the previous government:

The new Liberal government negotiated a deal with the provinces to expand the Canada Pension Plan, something the Harper Conservatives were dead-set against. It also replaced Harper’s universal baby bonus with one targeted to income.

It established the inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women that Harper refused to set up. It reduced the eligibility age for full old-age security back down to 65.

But in many ways, the new government is very much like the one it replaced:

The country got a taste of that last week when Ottawa approved a liquefied natural gas plant on British Columbia’s Pacific coast, as well as a pipeline to that plant.

It was the same decision Harper would have made. And it angered the same critics.
Environmentalists pointed to the massive increase in carbon emissions that will result from the decision. Some First Nations said it will destroy the local fish habitat.

It was a reminder that Trudeau, like Harper, sees energy exports as crucial for the Canadian economy.

And like Harper, the new prime minister is willing to sacrifice environmental and aboriginal concerns in order to get things done.

 On terrorism and national security, it's more of the same:

The Liberals promised to roll back elements of Bill C-51, Harper’s addition to anti-terror laws. But so far they have done no such thing.

In fact, as Canada’s privacy commissioner has noted, under the Liberals, police and the security services are using some of these new powers apace.

Militarily, the Trudeau government kept its promise to remove Canada’s fighter planes from the war in Iraq. But it compensated by tripling the number of Canadian military advisers who are on the ground in that war.

The means may differ from those employed by Harper. But the aim — to militarily support the U.S. in the war against Islamic radicals — is unchanged.

 And, on healthcare, it also appears to be more of the same:

Health spending? The Harper government had unilaterally decided to cut the annual increase in health care transfers to the provinces by roughly 50 per cent next year. The Liberals seem prepared to go ahead with this, although they say they do have some additional money on hand for home care.

Could we have been had?

Image:  globalnews.ca

10 comments:

zoombats said...

don't forget the veterans.

Owen Gray said...

Thanks for the reminder, zoombats. That was the most solemn promise of all.

thwap said...

What do you expect from people who fawn over Henry Kissinger?

I had low expectations for the Liberals and they've failed to meet them.

Don't forget this:

"Fast forward to early February 2016. Rather than abiding by their word and presumably solemn votes, the Trudeau government did a shocking volte face and told the Almalki family that government lawyers would, in fact, continue to challenge them in court.

The promised apology and reparations had vanished. Instead, the family is facing several more years of trying uncertainty and difficult questioning, this time with the approval of the very politician that just a few years earlier had insisted they were the victims of an egregious, state-sanctioned injustice."

Steve said...

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, we will always be fooled again.

Owen Gray said...

It's easy to become cynical, Steve.

Owen Gray said...

More of the same, thwap.

The Mound of Sound said...

Owen, you suggest that "it's easy to become cynical." I think it's actually quite hard not to become cynical. Even on lefty blog sites few devout Libs are praising their Dauphin's policies. They aren't even defending them. Even Scott Tribe has fallen silent. It's enough for them that their team is still at bat and Trudeau's ongoing popularity in the polls is proof aplenty that he's doing a fine job.

Owen Gray said...

And so wilful blindness becomes our default position, Mound. It's the same position we adopt in the face of global warming.

mjp in victoria said...

Cons hate leaders,Evan there own with a personality Trudeau will make decisions to the right of Harper because he has to,His father also did that,because he had to, We are on good hands for now

Owen Gray said...

The jury is still out on Trudeau, mjp. But I'm glad to see him put a price on carbon.