Why, Justin Trudeau of course. At least according to a lot of commentators. Everyone knows that he is responsible for all of the ills that are besetting the good people of Canada. Health care – that’s his fault. Inflation – him again. Recession – if it comes, it will his fault, but he will get none of the credit if it does not. The housing crisis – why isn’t he out building houses with his own hands? The sad state of the armed forces – oh, definitely his again. The war in Ukraine – probably. Climate change – again guilty. There is certainly nothing wrong in the world that is not his fault. The poor man must carry so much blame it’s a wonder he can even stand up.
“It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.”
However, we really should look at these things a bit more closely to see where the blame really resides.
Health care – this, as we are reminded every day, is a provincial responsibility. If the provinces really want (not necessary need) more money, they are perfectly able to increase their taxes or find other ways to increase health budgets. Their demands for more federal money which goes into their general revenue with no strings attached are wrong headed. As a taxpayer to both the federal and provincial coffers, I think that we definitely need some form of accountability for the money that I send. As it stands, there is no way for us to know how and how much our money is being devoted to health despite what is in provincial budgets. What is urgently needed in every province and territory is a complete overhaul of their health care systems. Mr. Trudeau is not responsible for this.
Inflation and recession – Inflation and the possibility of a recession have a lot of people worried. Mortgage rates have skyrocketed to about 7% (note, I bought three houses between 1978 and 1984, all for military moves. The lowest interest rate I paid was 10.5%. In 1980 mortgage rates rose to about 19%). Food prices are going up, etc., etc. But this is not just a Canadian problem, it is happening in all countries. Canada did not start this issue, in fact no country can really say it is solely at fault. The disruption and extra costs associated with the pandemic laid the groundwork and we are now seeing the fallout. If Joe Biden with the largest economy in the world could not stop this issue, how do you expect Justin Trudeau to do it?
Housing – Housing is usually considered a municipal issue, although provinces are becoming more involved, often to the detriment of municipal governments, as we have seen in Ontario recently where the provincial minister rewrote the official plan for one large city (Hamilton). The federal government has provided money for housing under a rapid housing initiative. A story in the CBC online news today told of a 22-unit small unit development in Winnipeg the construction of which was funded by the federal program. The federal government is not in the business of writing city official plans, approving zoning changes, authorizing building permits nor any other aspect of building homes, and this is the way it should be.
The armed forces – sorry folks but the group that is most at fault for the state of our armed forces is the taxpayers. If you took a toll of 1000 – 2000 Canadians (the usual sample size by polling organizations), you would be hard pressed to find very many people who would put funding of the armed forces any where in the top 10 or even 20 on their priority list. Because the truth is that most people don’t want to spend the money for such a thing. To increase the budget for the armed forces would mean either cutting other programs or increasing taxes. As I’ve said in a previous blog, we don’t pay enough taxes to even support the programs we already have, never mind an increase in the defence budget that is no where near the top of Canadians’ priority list.
And no, he nor his government is responsible for the war in Ukraine or climate change. As for the climate change portfolio, I would say that this government is doing all it can to deal with it in the face of the constant denial and protests from the main opposition parties and conservative provincial governments (Alberta – are you listening?).
Remember: Politics is the art of the possible.
“Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself.”
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