Month: March 2023

Wednesday March 29, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 29, 2023

Canada’s Refugee Policy Takes a Hit: The Impact of Biden-Trudeau Border Deal and OHIP Cuts

March 3, 2023

Canada has been praised for its openness policy to refugees and asylum seekers in the past, but recent developments suggest this may no longer be the case. The recent border deal between Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau will see Canada officially accept 15,000 asylum-seekers from the Western hemisphere while also giving Canada the right to send back migrants who attempt to enter the country through unofficial crossings. Migrants were reportedly stunned by the new deal, which took effect immediately without notice. Migration advocates and experts warn that the amendment will drive asylum-seekers underground and could lead to increased deaths. Meanwhile, the Ford government in Ontario has ended OHIP health care coverage for undocumented migrants, making it more difficult for them to access healthcare. Critics say the changes are part of a trend of rich countries trying to ensure asylum-seekers never get to their borders. However, Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center, says there’s a sound political logic to the deal. It will alleviate pressure on the US border with its acceptance of 15,000 asylum-seekers while closing unofficial crossings, which may play well for the Liberals and the Democrats with their voters. (AI)

Trudeau to announce US-Canada asylum deal after Biden talks

Ford government cuts off medical funding for the uninsured — and a doctor finds it ‘shocking’ 

 

Tuesday March 28, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday March 28, 2023

Freeland Promises Affordable Life for Canadians with Budget 2023, But Taxes and Spending Raise Doubts

January 24, 2023

Oh joy, it’s that time of year again: Budget season. On March 28, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to release the government’s plan to make life more affordable. But don’t get too excited, middle-class Canadians, because just four days later, taxes will be hiked. And it’s not just one tax increase – it’s several. Federal alcohol taxes are going up by 6.3%, adding to the already exorbitant taxes Canadians pay for their brews. Carbon taxes are also increasing, with the average household facing a bill of between $402 and $847 after rebates. And that’s not all. Payroll taxes will cost those making $66,600 or more an extra $305 this year. Feeling more affordable yet?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may tout his government’s $10-a-day childcare, GST rebate, dental care, and housing benefit, but let’s not forget that it’s all being paid for with borrowed money. And with the debt reaching $1.2 trillion and interest charges totaling $35 billion annually, Trudeau’s borrowing is only delaying the bill to taxpayers. So much for making life more affordable.

November 3, 2022

The government could show some spending restraint and make life more affordable for Canadians, but don’t hold your breath. Freeland already overspent by $20 billion in just seven months last year. And while there will be some measures aimed at helping Canadians, like an extended GST tax credit and a higher ceiling for withdrawing money from education savings plans, it’s not enough to outweigh the tax increases and borrowing.

News: Chrystia Freeland’s federal budget will tackle high cost of living: sources

Perhaps if the government took a more balanced approach to spending and taxation, Canadians could actually feel some relief from the pressure on their wallets. But until then, it seems like we’ll just have to get used to being overtaxed and overburdened. Cheers to that! (AI)

Saturday March 25, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday March 25, 2023

When the Rain Cloud of Affordability Strikes

March 23, 2023

The cost of living is a complex issue that affects people from all walks of life. It’s not just about the price of goods and services, but also about the availability of affordable housing, healthcare, and education, among other things. Unfortunately, for many families, the cost of living has become a dark cloud that hangs over their heads, threatening to rain down financial ruin.

To illustrate this point, let’s imagine a satirical scenario where a family is out for a leisurely walk on a sunny day, only to be suddenly caught in a downpour. As the rain pours down around them, they realize that they’re completely soaked through and shivering. Looking up, they see a dark cloud hovering over their heads, representing the affordability crisis that has made their lives so difficult.

The family looks at each other in dismay. They know that they can’t afford to go home and change their clothes, let alone buy a new set of rain gear to protect themselves from future storms. They’re stuck, cold and wet, with no way out.

As they trudge through the rain, they notice other families in the same predicament. Some are huddled under awnings, trying to stay dry. Others are frantically trying to find a way to get home without getting even more soaked. But there’s no escape from the rain, and no relief from the financial pressure that is bearing down on them.

January 31, 2023

In this scenario, the rain represents the constant financial stress that families face in the face of rising costs and stagnant wages. The dark cloud symbolizes the looming sense of uncertainty that hangs over their heads, making it difficult to plan for the future or feel secure in their present circumstances.

As the family finally makes it home, they realize that they’ve been lucky to make it through the rain without any major mishaps. But they also know that they can’t keep living like this forever. They need real solutions to the affordability crisis, not just band-aid fixes that will only delay the inevitable.

LINK: Ontario unveils biggest-ever $204B budget, but one with little to ease daily affordability issues (CBC) 

It’s time for society as a whole to take a serious look at the cost of living and work together to find solutions that will benefit everyone. Whether it’s through policy changes, community initiatives, or individual actions, we can all play a role in helping families weather the storm of financial hardship and find a path towards a brighter, more secure future. (AI)

 

Friday March 24, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday March 24, 2023

Trudeau’s China Scandal Turns Liberals Into Circus Act

March 3, 2023

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the circus of Canadian politics! Under the big top, we have quite the spectacle with Justin Trudeau trying to tame the wild accusations of Chinese interference in the federal elections. Katie Telford is high-wiring her way out of questioning, while Jagmeet Singh is performing impressive feats on his unicycle. Watch Han Dong as he’s blown out of a cannon, stepping down from the governing Liberal Party over allegations of involvement in Chinese political interference. 

Trudeau, however, seems to have forgotten the age-old advice of stopping digging when in a hole. The uproar over Chinese interference allegations in the federal elections in 2019 and 2021 is taking centre stage. Trudeau’s attempts to dismiss or lash out at his critics have not gone unnoticed, and his government’s refusal to allow a public inquiry is only adding fuel to the fire.

March 9, 2023

David Johnston, the appointed ringmaster, is not calming the chaos either, as he’s been panned by many for his close relationship to Trudeau. The NDP, the Bloc Québécois, and the Conservatives all want an inquiry, and polls this week show the gap between Liberals and Conservatives is negligible.

But wait, who’s that entering the tent? It’s none other than the President of the United States, Joe Biden, who’s come to see the show! With a message for Canada to ramp up air defence and a goal of charting a path forward in the response to Haiti, he’s brought some surprise to the circus.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the Biggest Show on…er… for China. (AI)

 

Thursday March 23, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 23, 2023

Greenbelt Paper 

Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives will table a provincial budget Thursday that is expected to eclipse the $200-billion mark for first time in Ontario history.

April 29, 2022

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, who will unveil his fiscal blueprint at 4 p.m. in the Ontario legislature, said it would be “a plan that will support families, support workers, support businesses today while laying a strong fiscal foundation for future generations.”

It is expected to include new investments in health care — thanks to the recent federal infusion of additional transfer payments — as well for training and education programs.

On Wednesday, Bethlenfalvy said the budget would include some $780 million in tax breaks for manufacturers over the next three years to encourage companies to invest in new buildings, machinery and equipment. (The Toronto Star)

Meanwhile, Doug Ford says an environmental study the federal government is reportedly planning on launching shouldn’t slow down work to develop housing on lands the province recently removed from the Greenbelt.

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has previously voiced concerns about Ford removing about 7,400 acres from 15 different areas in the protected Greenbelt lands, while adding more parcels elsewhere, in order to build 50,000 homes.

February 16, 2023

The Toronto Star reports today that Guilbeault is set to announce he is launching a study to assess the biodiversity, ecological connectivity and other natural features in Rouge National Urban Park, which is next to part of the Greenbelt lands earmarked for housing.

Ford says he was not given a head’s up on the announcement by Guilbeault’s office, but he is “not too concerned about it” because the park is adjacent to land set to be developed, not part of it.

Ontario’s auditor general is conducting a value-for-money audit of the financial and environmental implications of the Greenbelt development plans, which are part of the government’s efforts to get 1.5 million homes built in 10 years.

The province’s integrity commissioner is also investigating a complaint from the incoming NDP leader into what she calls the “curious timing of recent purchases of Greenbelt land by powerful landowners with donor and political ties to the Ontario PC Party.” (CTV)