A sequel to Trudeaupamine Hits Different When you Wake Up (Part I).
I really wanted to do a side piece (pun intended) on former Toronto Mayor John Tory’s workplace love affair because it’s so unoriginal, predictable and a well-known conservative sport. Seriously, the conservatives’ scandals usually involve money laundering or sex. It’s as though their pockets are so deep with dirty cash their pants fall off, and they trip over a cheap motel bed. Unbelievable, or rather, definitely believable.
There isn’t much left for me to say about our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, considering his (lack of) action speaks for itself. He was not interested in bettering the country, and while I still think he’s an imbecile, he’s not as dumb as one would think. It certainly takes a lot of intelligence to be calculated, manipulative and corrupt. It’s the first prerequisite in every Narcissist-For-Idiots playbook. Every move made by the government and its leader is intentional, regardless of the country or governing body of which we speak. For example, if Indigenous Peoples in Canada do not have drinking water to this day, it’s because Justin Trudeau and his administration intentionally broke this promise. If the pledge in 2015 was for electoral reform and it’s still first passed the post, then rest assured Trudeau and his entourage of losers wanted it to be this way. My friends, this is what corruption in government looks like; promise everything for the sake of a vote and deliver abso-fucking-lutely nothing (of substance) for the sake of the Establishment.
It ain’t politics if it ain’t about dirty sex, drugs and mo’ money
Corruption isn’t necessarily meant to be dramatic like how it’s pictured in Hollywood dramas. It’s not always a House of Cards. A lot of the corruption within Canadian politics is subtle, micro-aggressive and goes unnoticed. For example, did anyone even notice Wilson-Reybould, Philpott and Caesar-Chevannes walk the plank to their liberal death sentence? I mean, sure, JWR was on the news for a while, but our reaction to this news was more like a quick gasp, and then we moved on, not giving the most obvious ethical corruption to happen in Canadian history a second glance. Another gasp-struck scandal was when we heard of the former Governor General’s abuse of power which led to her resignation when it surfaced the news. Do y’all even remember her name? Ah, yes, Julie Payette, the not-so-famous former Canadian astronaut (A Fish Rots From the Head Down).
We have to start viewing and assessing our government similar to how we view and evaluate our relationships with our friends, families and lovers. After all, the government is the essence of people and relationship management, so why treat it differently? Why desperately vote for a pretty face with pretty words? There was a time when a candidate’s character and action (level of effort) mattered to the public and mainstream media before making an informed decision. Nowadays, you find people screaming “RACIST,” “I just think he’s a loser”, or “He looks like an old orange fart” leading up to Election Day. You then scramble to the booth, emotionally choosing the person who said the sweet, nice, heartwarming, pretty words that made you feel so seen. Oh my goodness, how fuzzy and good it feels when a man tells you everything you want to hear! … And then does nothing about it. Pfft…
Government leaders are professionals at breadcrumbing, meaning they will chase you for your vote, then ignore you once in power, and then pop up every few months or so and fulfil maybe 2-5% of what they promised throughout their tenure. In Trudeau’s case, he went for the low-hanging fruits: he brought home 25 thousand Syrian refugees in 2016 and legalized marijuana. Bravo! Electoral reform? No. Drinking water for Indigenous People? No. Immigration and refugee reform? No. 25% off on phone bills? No. More jobs, fewer poor people? That last one deserves a Sunday Preach of its own, and boy, AM I EVER EXCITED TO WRITE ABOUT THAT NEXT TIME! There’s so much to say and so little space to say it all! So what’s the point I’m making? Governments don’t serve the people; they serve select people with deep pockets and poor people who depend on them (but not in the helpful, philanthropical way that you think). If you’re empowered and have free will, you’re not important because you don’t keep the government relevant. Government is all about governing and control, and people with free will — which is most of us — are pretty capable of governing themselves. Keeping people within the poverty line or just above it so they could feel like they’re doing alright is precisely where the government needs them to be to remain relevant.
Today, we give the Liberals and Justin Trudeau a break and focus on the Conservative Party of Canada’s (CPC) saving grace, Leader of the (current) Opposition, The Honourable Pierre Poilievre. It’s not all butterflies, rainbows, and unicorns for the CPC; they had quite a climb since Andrew Scheer’s humiliating loss in 2019. However, here we are in 2023, and it looks like the tides are finally settling, and the CPC is finally finding its footing.
Skippy skips to the finish line
It’s difficult for me to write about Pierre Poilievre because he’s not currently as relevant as he appears. In other words, he’s not the one running the country. I may appear as biased and in favour of the CPC. Still, I assure you it’s simply because there’s not much to say about what he’s done and hasn’t done, considering what he’s doing is exactly what we expect the Leader of the opposition to do: critique the current government administration and its leader. If he wins the next federal election, there will be plenty of eyes on him — including mine. Until then, I can speak to his career thus far and his plans for a better Canada should he become the next Prime Minister.
Who is Pierre Poilievre? For one, he’s a career politician, meaning he’s been a politician for most of his life, winning his seat as MP at 25 in 2004. Now 43 years old, Poilievre is the leader of the CPC and a bulldog when it comes to holding Trudeau accountable. He’s known to fans and foes alike as “Skippy,” a nickname assigned to him at a young age (Maclean’s, 2022). No one knows why former CPC MP John Baird gave him this nickname (Politico, 2022). I guess it’s because he’s always eager to jump in on every controversial topic in parliament, and his tactics are cut-throat and to the point. Skippy is an insult or a compliment depending on whom you talk to. Those who genuinely dislike him call him Peepee, and I don’t need to spell that one out for you. He rose within the political ranks within the CPC during former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s administration as Minister of Democratic Reform from 2013 to 2015 and then as Minister of Employment and Social Development in 2015 (Wikipedia) before Trudeau’s administration took over in October. While he’s been a politician for most of his life, his educational background and experience have been in International Relations, unlike the drama teacher we currently have for Prime Minister riding on his dad’s (Pierre Trudeau) coattail. Needless to say, Poilievre has more credibility when it comes to issues surrounding jobs and the cost of living. However, does this mean he’s qualified to run a country and manage the lives of 39 million people? Who knows…
The most important guardian of our living standards is freedom
Pierre Poilievre in his 1999 essay, As Prime Minister, I would… (Politico, 2022)
The leader of the opposition isn’t perfect, of course. Anyone who’s been a politician for as long as Skippy would have had to have said or done something stupid at some point in time. It’s like being in a long-term relationship with Canadians for almost 20 years! Moreover, Conservatives are known to be black-and-white regarding policy-making, a strategy that usually hurts the most vulnerable people who don’t fit into visible or direct boxes. For example, many people under the poverty line tend to take a hit when a conservative government runs a country because they apply budget cuts on childcare and welfare benefits for the sake of the budget. It’s funny how no one in politics has elected to cut their salaries instead, but who am I to make such an observation, eh? In addition, Pierre had his call-out moment when he made an apathetic comment on PM Harper’s proposed compensation packages to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada following his apology for the residential schools meant to re-socialize and abuse, assault and murder indigenous people initiated by Conservative leader Sir John A. MacDonald, the architect of such a horrendous program. Poilievre apologized immediately after his comments about whether or not compensating residential school survivors was a valuable investment in serving the country (Politico, 2022). One thing that is certain about this leader is that he is adaptable to the times and hears the people’s voices. Having been in office for almost 20 years, he’s seen and heard a lot of voices and feels confident he can lead Canadians as the next Prime Minister of Canada.
Poilievre’s stand on small government and freedom has been relatively consistent since he got involved in politics at 15. I would argue that he’s a conservative who holds some libertarian views. However, those who know the democratic, two-party dictatorship that runs Canada know there’s no room for a Libertarian party — or any party for that matter — to rise above the Conservative and Liberal parties of Canada. Don’t believe me? Ask the Green, New Democratic and People’s Party of Canada how they’re holding up. I’d tell you to ask the Bloc Quebecois too, but I’m still as confused as most of you about why they even qualify to be a national party. Nonetheless, Libertarianism isn’t much different from Conservatism regarding spending money and governing people. The differences primarily lie in how they conserve taxpayers’ money. The former don’t want your taxes and want you to figure it out through a purely free market (keyword, pure), while the latter want to cut social budgets and repurpose taxes to pay down the national debt (which nowadays seems impossible). Still, Poilievre is a staunch Conservative, and his priorities have always been the same: more jobs, affordable cost of living and small government.
I could character-bash Pierre Poilievre and the CPC and tell you, “a vote for the CPC is a vote for racism!” but let’s be honest for a minute here. First, you all know how I feel about misusing and overusing words that trigger an emotional response. I hate it. Most people don’t even know what racism means. Besides, I have an open secret for you all: liberal or conservative… they’re ALL racist! GASP! Racism is integrated into our system and the Establishment that runs our politics behind the scenes. Did you honestly think Justin Trudeau was an ally? Hahahaha… ah, please make it stop. My sides hurt from laughing and crying so hard. Right now, the immediate threat is the economic crisis this country is facing. There’s enough factual information to decide who is best suited to lead us out of a recession. Based on years of observing both parties, my personal view is that a liberal government has no place in a recession. However, we must be prepared and brace ourselves for the sharp budget cuts that usually come with a conservative administration. Therefore, no need to hop on the character-bashing train of the media, which the media loves to shove us into. A little search on the Internet will show you exactly whose plan is better to get us out of this rut. Again, it could be either. Just not the Green Party of Canada, please, LOL. Sorry-not-sorry for that last comment. Now, if you truly want a racist party, go for the Greens. They’ll save the environment with their white-knight, hero-complex mentality.
For more information on Pierre Poilievre political career, check out Politico’s article, 43 things to know about Justin Trudeau’s new rival.
Conservatives say whaaa?
The Conservative Party of Canada currently has three priorities for Canada, as stated on its official website:
- Cost of living: taming inflation
- Budget cuts: ending the multibillion-dollar bailout era
- Bail policies: repealing Bill C-75 that forces judges to release violent, repeat offenders on bail
- Jobs: cutting the red tape on small businesses and employment
I have to preface the next topic by saying that what the CPC says they’ll do and what they would actually do if they won the next election are TWO different points. I would be doing you a disservice if I told you to vote conservative in the upcoming election because Pierre Poilievre promised to do this and that. Look what happened the last time we all told each other to vote for a man who made promises. Never mind Trudeau, look at your ex and all the promises they made that went down the drain as soon as you instilled your trust in them. Har, har, har… As I said, government candidates are no different than having faith that your relationship would work out. If we had all used Tinder in 2015 to vote for our next Prime Minister, everyone and their mother would have swiped right on Justin Trudeau, and we all know how disappointing that was. Let’s check out what the CPC is currently promising, all the while noting that their platform will develop as we approach the next federal election (currently scheduled for 2024).
Cost of living & budget cuts
The CPC is claiming that the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) wasted over 200 billion dollars of Canadian taxpayer’s money on failed COVID recovery measures and another $15 billion on overpriced consultants (McKinsey, anyone?). The CPC is promising to fire all these consultants and cap government spending (ooh, I’ll believe it when I see it!) They also mentioned cutting useless taxes that serve as reliable revenue for the government and rely on natural resources and sound investments to drive the economy. Lastly, Poilievre has mentioned on several occasions that he plans on cutting corporate welfare and getting multibillion-dollar corporations like the CBC and Loblaws to own up to their money mismanagement instead of relying on government bailouts. Nothing was more embarrassing for Canada than when Harper — along with former President George Bush — bailed out GM in 2008, and them still laying off thousands of employees and moving their factories to Mexico. That hurt Canada like a mother-f*er (Right Here, Right Now, Harper, 2018).
The promise is to take measures that will tame or reduce the rising cost of living in Canada. How they plan on doing this is yet to be determined; however, not knowing the how is normal at this time, considering these plans will develop closer to election season. The mere promise is a good start, though!
That, given that,
CPC website, sponsored by MP Jasraj Singh Hallan (2023)
(i) after eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, inflation is at a 40-year high,
(ii) after eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, the cost of groceries is up 11%,
(iii) after eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, half of Canadians are cutting back on groceries,
(iv) after eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, 20% of Canadians are skipping meals,
(v) after eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment across Canada’s 10 biggest cities is $2,213 per month, compared to $1,171 per month in 2015,
(vi) after eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, 45% of variable rate mortgage holders say they will have to sell or vacate their homes in less than nine months due to current interest rate levels,
(vii) after eight years of this Liberal Prime Minister, average monthly mortgage costs have more than doubled and now cost Canadians over $3,000 per month,
(viii) the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, has said that “inflation in Canada increasingly reflects what’s happening in Canada”,
(ix) the former Governor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney, has said: “But really now inflation is principally a domestic story”,
(x) former Liberal finance minister, Bill Morneau, has said that the government probably spent too much during COVID,
(xi) former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, John Manley, said that the Liberal Prime Minister’s fiscal policy is making it harder to contain inflation,
the House call on the government to cap spending, cut waste, fire high-priced consultants and eliminate inflationary deficits and taxes that have caused a cost-of-living crisis for Canadians.
Bill C-75
This one’s a tad bit sensitive, and I hope to God Almighty the CPC doesn’t mess this one up. Bill C-75 was meant to reduce the prejudice, bias and discrimination in our justice system since marginalized people are a target for harsher sentencing and no bail options. Either this bill needs tweaking, or the rise in crime in major Canadian cities has nothing to do with it. Either way, whatever the CPC comes up with better be well thought of and free of prejudice.
“Today we are calling on the Liberal government to enact policies that prioritize the rights of victims and law-abiding citizen. The Trudeau Liberals must immediately repeal the elements of Bill C-75 which force judges to release violent, repeat offenders onto our streets and must act to strengthen Canada’s bail laws so that those who are prohibited from possessing firearms do not easily get bail.
CPC Website, sponsored by MP Raquel Dancho (2023)
A Conservative government will reform our broken bail system to ensure the small number of dangerous repeat violent offenders do not end up on the streets. We will enact common sense laws to protect Canadians, keep our communities safe, and restore safe streets.”
Get the scissors and cut the red tape
Nothing is more annoying for entrepreneurs than bureaucratic red tape. There are so many Canadians and immigrants who look for opportunities in this great country and get slammed with so much paperwork, high fees, and stipulations that it’s almost impossible for them to succeed and make a living. Doctors, dentists and engineers immigrate to Canada from all over the world only to become Uber drivers. I’m not saying being an Uber driver isn’t lucrative; damn, they make good money. But when you’ve worked your butt off on a dream only to discover there’s no way for you to fulfil it, it’s disheartening, to say the least. The CPC wants to set Canadians and immigrants up for success by removing the red tape and reducing government involvement so that people are free to make a living.
“Red tape is frustrating and costly — it makes our country less competitive, and our citizens less successful. Skilled immigrants are prevented from earning bigger paycheques, and Canada is prevented from getting more doctors, electricians and other skilled workers that we need today. But the Liberals continue to increase the size and cost of government while creating more regulations that make life even more expensive.
CPC Website, sponsored by MP Scott Davidson (2023)
Conservatives are committed to cutting red tape. We will prioritize a Plain Language Law that will eliminate bureaucratic jargon, we will simplify the tax system, cap government spending, introduce a pay-as-you go law requiring an equal amount of savings for any new government expenditure, and we will remove the gatekeepers so we can get things built and bring more doctors, electricians and other skilled workers to Canada.
“By cutting Liberal red tape, we will make life more affordable and put Canadians back in control of their lives.”
What next?
There’s no way of telling if the CPC will live up to their promises at this time. In fact, they haven’t really produced much other than high-level information on what their priorities are. As I said, this is completely normal since election season is still over 18 months away. My advice to you, my politically savvy and beautiful friends, is to keep an eye — and ear — out for what each party will be promising for Canada’s future and try not to get roped into the emotional rollercoaster. It’s easy to fall for heartfelt speeches, but our lives depend on our brains to see beyond the smokescreen and make a decision that will serve our lives. Determine your individual and family priorities and vote on the candidate who will help you achieve them.
Reference
43 things to know about Justin Trudeau’s new rival. POLITICO. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/09/conservative-pierre-poilievre-in-his-own-words-00055343
Conservative Party of Canada. (2023, January 27). Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://www.conservative.ca/
Harper, S. (2019). Right here, right now: Politics and leadership in the age of disruption. Doubleday Canada.
Image by Terry D’Entremont from Pixabay
Shannon Proudfoot March 10, 2022. (2022, April 6). Why is Pierre Poilievre so angry? Macleans.ca. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://www.macleans.ca/longforms/why-is-pierre-poilievre-so-angry/
Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, February 23). Pierre Poilievre. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Poilievre#:~:text=Poilievre%20was%20given%20the%20nickname,a%20Liberal%20Party%20minority%20government.
Sunday Preach 