Thoughts on BC Politics and More

IMAGE CREDIT:   Ottawa Citizen  I'm not going to go over the entire budget because that's just a task too large for a Facebook post. Instead, I'm just going to give some of my thoughts on the budget and what I think it means for Canada and Canadians. A $78 billion deficit A lot of people are fixated on the $78 billion deficit this year. It is huge. However, when adjusted for inflation it isn't eye popping. Stephen Harper had a $56 billion deficit in 2009. Kim Campbell proposed a near $43 billion deficit in 1993. Adjusted for inflation those aren't that far off from $78 billion today. Despite the Opposition screaming that those deficits would destroy Canada, the fact is, the country is still here. Life is still going on. Economic Growth Mark Carney is focused on really just one thing: supporting the economy for the next few years until the trade situation stabilizes. In fairness, that's a good goal and concern to address. If I were the Prime Ministe...

A new working paper from the C.D. Howe Institute suggests that Canada could leverage increased defence spending and targeted US procurement commitments to help restore tariff-free trade in a manner that can reinforce national sovereignty. The paper outlines how a time-bound alignment of defence and trade policy could offer Canada renewed negotiating strength and bolster its military capabilities to address escalating economic and geopolitical pressures. In “Guns for Butter: A Continental Pact for Security and Prosperity,” James Pierlot presents a policy scenario in which increased defence spending, coupled with greater procurement of US equipment and technology that enhances Canadian sovereignty and supports mutual defence objectives, could strategically reset Canada–US trade relations ... CLICK HERE for the full story