Apparently, the Liberals and the NDP have a deal. The CBC's Vassy Kapelos reports that:
The leadership of the Liberals and the NDP have reached an agreement that would see the NDP support the Liberal government to keep it in power until 2025 in exchange for a commitment to act on key NDP priorities, CBC News has learned.
The confidence-and-supply agreement was presented to NDP MPs for a vote late Monday night, according to multiple sources who spoke to CBC News on condition they not be named due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
The agreement would see the NDP back the Liberals in confidence votes, including the next four budgets. In return, the Liberals will follow through on some elements of national pharmacare and dental care programs — programs that have long been promoted by the NDP.
The deal does not involve the NDP joining cabinet.
The devil, of course, will be in the details. The Conservatives -- unsurprisingly -- are furious. Interim Conservative leader Candace Bergen reportedly called the deal "backdoor socialism." Expect more of the same from them -- particularly from Pierre Poilievre.
Under Justin, Canada will get some form of national childcare, national pharmacare, and national dental care. He came to power claiming that, next to his father, the prime minister he admired most was Wilfred Laurier. Historians may conclude that the prime minister he resembled most was Lester Pearson.Image: CP24
20 comments:
Trudeau is not very honest and I think he's feeding Singh a load of bs with regards to support on NDP priorities. Time will tell how much Trudeau will move on dental care and pharmacare.
With regards to dental care, I see problems on the horizon. I'm sure many people now cannot afford regular dental care. If it becomes "free", people will start seeing a dentist regularly which will create a shortage of dentists.
As always, Gordie, the devil will be in the details.
If JT has any once of justice, he will do exactly what is agreed upon Geordie or it will not bode well for him at all. Such a pity that Canadians will be able to afford to see a dentist now…my goodness what a travesty? The Cons won’t like this union one little bit will they? What would be any different under a Conservative Government than it is presently. Only to lavish their friends with riches. Anyong
Nothing is free in this country at all that has not already been taken. It’s our taxes that will be paying for what is going to be called “Free Dental” care. And we have to worry about how educated Canadians are about their government? Anyong
This will certainly make the Conservatives angry, Anyong. And it will be paid for by us. But it will also make the cost of living more affordable for all of us.
Kudos to Jr. and Singh (who's name is missing from your post) for some long overdue rebuilding and extending of the modern social structures.
But on the existential issues (see Mound's post) of today, these guys are failing us, alas.
Jr is no Mike Pearson and Singh is no Tommy Douglas.
Olivia Chow -- Jack Layton's widow -- says that Douglas would be proud, PoV. It fleshes out Douglas' vision of medicare.
Justin has a chance to somewhat redeem himself if he sees this through. We can only live in hope.
Justin has broken more than a few promises, Mound. But the changes wrought by this deal may be his legacy.
The CBC notes that "Liberals will follow through on some elements of national pharmacare and dental care programs" (emphasis mine). I guess half a loaf is better than none. As you say, the devil is in the details and I can see the degree of provincial buy-in being a hurdle.
Trudeau's been promising pharmacare since he ran against Harper. He backed off as soon as he got pushback from the drug companies, who threatened to pull research out of Canada. I don't know why he fell for that nonsense since they hardly do any research here anyway. We'll see if the NDP manage to stiffen his spine.
Cap
I read that dental care will start with young children, Cap. This will be a work in progress.
This promise and a dime will get you a coffee. I know that my cynicism will never let me buy this shit and I will believe it when I see it. Has everybody forgotten about the mind numbing promise that propelled this "Lester B" in waiting to his lofty position? It appears to have evaded Singh's frontal lobe.
https://www.fairvote.ca/2020/11/05/jagmeet-singh-presses-justin-trudeau-for-national-citizens-assembly-on-electoral-reform/
Jagmeet should be ashamed.
Electoral reform was Justin's greatest disappointment, zoombats. But it's too soon to write this off.
I am sorry Owen. In my first comment, I was being snide. My second, I know we tax payers will be paying for the “free dental”. But that is all needs mentioning…is it is free. I am so tired of people here in the best province in Canada…not….calling money the governments money. Whose money is it? Anyong
We will not have a lot to worry about if nothing is done and quick regarding our climate problem. There won’t be a problem with teeth if we do not do not take our pending environmental catastrophe seriously now. Anyong
I agree, Anyong. These programs will come to nothing if we don't do something serious about climate change.
Reigning in drug costs is long overdue as is fighting the 'recommended'minimum charge at the dentists office which is nothing but price fixing.
TB
Okay, on the dental care being “taxpayer dollars” and not “free”, that’s technically true, but also just a foolish complaint. I live in an area where dental care is generally poor for all sorts of reasons, and what that means is that instead of regular dentist visits dealing with minor cavities and the like, you get emergency room visits and major issues from rotting teeth costing taxpayers a whole hell of a lot more than this dental program will. Complaining that it really isn’t “free” is just being penny-wise and pound-foolish, as the old saying goes.
For the rest, it would be nice for at least just a day to celebrate what is really a victory for people who lean to the left on getting some serious progressive cooperation and policies implemented. I mean, for all that I do hate that we never got electoral reform done back during Trudeau’s first mandate, what did people expect would happen if it did? A proportional system would result in a permanent minority under the current parties, which would mean to get things done on the progressive side, there would need to be cooperation between the Liberals and NDP. Well, look at that! That’s what we have now for at least a little while. Hell, maybe if it works, they can continue to work on priorities that actually help Canadians rather than tear each other apart and leave a lane open for the Conservatives to take us further down the road to climate catastrophe and authoritarianism. But of course, there remains a very loud online left contingent who prefer to pursue their purity ponies and hate on the people who fail to implement their perfect visions.
For myself, I am going to stay positive. This is a good day for anyone who actually cares about small 'l' liberal values and priorities. and I hope it brings more of the same in the future.
I'm lucky, TB. As a retired teacher, I have dental insurance. Why shouldn't everyone have what I have?
I agree, BJ. Today is a good day.
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