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.