Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FORSETH: (some) Politicians will do anything to engender reliance on their bountiful spending -- for everything wished for – but not necessarily needed

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland held their eleventh call with premiers to discuss the evolving COVID-19 situation.

The leaders discussed the collaborative efforts by federal, provincial, and territorial partners to combat the pandemic and protect the health, safety, and economic well-being of all Canadians.
I wonder however, when the talk came to the ‘economic well-being of all Canadians’, how much time was devoted to that topic.

Billions and billions of dollars have been made available, to workers, to renters, to health care workers, to small businesses, to students, to seniors, and to large corporations.

BC Hydro has a relief fund ... there’s a freeze on rental rates ... there’s low income wage top-ups ... increased child support benefits ... it’s a jumble of Scrabble tiles spelling a multitude of acronyms, of which the following are just a few.

  • C.E.C.R.A. -- Canada Emergency Commercial Rental Assistance
  • C.E.R.B. -- the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit
  • C.E.S.B. -- the Canada Emergency Student Benefit
  • C.E.B.A -- the Canada Emergency Business Account
  • C.E.W.S. -- the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
  • B.C.T.R.S. – the BC Temporary Rental Supplement
  • B.C.E.B.W. – the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers
  • C.S.S.G. -- the Canada Student Service Grant

And as I noted in a commentary the other day – even political parties both federally – and here in BC -- have had a share in government

largesse.

Has much of this money been necessary to prevent an economic collapse?  In large part, I believe so, however I’m beginning to have concerns.

‘Some’ receiving rent subsidies aren’t paying rent – ‘some’ drugs users are receiving a windfall of money never seen before (and sadly overdose deaths are increasing due to a never ending fentanyl laced supply of drugs) – ‘some’ are receiving the emergency wage benefit who have no interest in working – there are over-lapping programs – and the list goes on.

Talking with one of my political friends, this morning, they said to me:

“It’s scary to think about who is going to pay for the socialist programs being rolled out by the feds and our great NDP friends here in BC. It’s not good.”

They went on to say, “People do need help -- but there needs to be a transparent and parallel economic strategy -- and neither the feds or the province (of BC) are offering nothing in this regard”.

It's become scary, at least for me, to read and hear about the daily never-ending smorgasbord buffet of goodies being handed out.

People need help, but it seems like there are very few (none?) checks and balances in place regarding actual need. And that makes me fear for the future of my adult children – and for their children – who will be left to pick up the tab.

And perhaps even further down the road.

“I fear this burden will extend into great grandkids time”, said my friend.

Governments want the people to love and appreciate them – and ‘some’ politicians will do anything to engender reliance on their bountiful spending for everything wished for – but often times not necessarily needed.

People do need help, but it is incumbent on governments to at least have a recovery plan that is more than just handing out more money.

That’s why it’s time to put the brakes on the spending announcements, and for sane heads to review programs and spending already in place ... because governments, unfortunately, can’t always be relied on to do it themselves.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...
1 comment
Read more

Labels

Show more