GD's Political Animal: 2025

Friday, July 4, 2025

Canada's deficit could top $90 Billion this year

Canada's C.D. Howe Institute expects federal deficits to average $78 Billion over the next four years, more than double what the parliamentary budget officer forecast before the spring election.

Federal deficit could average $78B over 4 years, think tank warns | CityNews Toronto | Craig Lord, The Canadian Press, and Cormac MacSweeney:

July 3, 2025 - "The C.D. Howe Institute predicts Ottawa’s recently announced spending plans — which include a much bigger defence budget — will drive its deficits markedly higher in the coming years. In a new analysis released today, the think tank says it expects Canada’s deficit to top $92 billion this fiscal year, given Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to meet NATO’s defence spending target of two per cent of GDP.

"C.D. Howe says it expects deficit growth to slow after that but predicts deficits will still average around $78 billion annually over four years, more than double the level forecast by the parliamentary budget officer before the spring federal election. The Liberal government did not publish a spring budget this year and has said it will instead push the planned fiscal update to the fall.

"In addition to ramping up defence spending, Prime Minister Carney’s Liberals recently pushed forward legislation to accelerate major project development and delivered a one-percentage-point cut to the lowest income tax rate.

"The C.D. Howe Institute accuses Ottawa of making costly commitments without showing the numbers to Canadians."

BIG BUCKS LOST: Federal deficit numbers keep soaring with no end in relief | Toronto Sun | July 4, 2025:

Federal deficit projected to soar to $92B this year: 'Unfair to pass these burdens on,' C.D. Howe Institute says | National Post | Simon Tuck:

July 4, 2025 - ""If this fiscal year’s deficit turns out to be as hefty as projected, it would be the second-largest deficit in Canadian history, topped only by the $327.7 billion shortfall from the pandemic year of 2020-21....

"Based on the most current and largely optimistic variables, the report says, federal deficits will remain above $71 billion during each of the following three years and in the fiscal year 2028-29 will be greater than three times what the government itself forecast in its most recent federal budget. But more likely, the report says, it will likely be a bit worse than that because the report’s authors say that they’re skeptical that all of the government’s plans to increase revenue through promised higher fines, penalties and savings will actually occur....

"But the most recent federal budget was now well over a year ago. The government took the highly unusual step this year of waiting until the fall to release its annual budget, more than half-way through the fiscal year.... The C.D. Howe report criticizes the government’s decision to wait until the fiscal year is more than half over before releasing its budget 'Delaying a budget until the fiscal year is more than half over is never good, but Canada’s current high-spending trajectory makes this delay especially bad.'

"Ottawa is making costly commitments, the report explains, without showing key numbers to the public such as how much more tax it expects to gather, the extent of its new spending and what the increased debt will mean for interest payments.... C.D. Howe suggests that the Liberal government eliminate or forgo some of its costly platform promises, make deeper cuts in its operating spending, substitute some revenue from less harmful taxation such as the GST, and cut federal transfers to provinces and territories."

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Military-industrial complex gets a big beautiful bill

Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill will add at least $150 Billion to U.S. military spending.

A Big Beautiful Bill for the Military-Industrial Complex | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

June 30, 2025 - "The US Senate worked through the weekend on the 'Big Beautiful Bill' {BBB]. The goal was to pass it quickly to ensure the House will then pass it and send it to President Trump’s desk before the July 4th holiday....

"The House version of the BBB added 150 billion dollars to the Pentagon’s already bloated budget. The Senate bill gave the military-industrial complex 156 billion dollars. Increasing military spending contradicts President Trump’s promise to stop wasting money on endless wars that have nothing to do with ensuring the security of the American people.

"Some of the BBB’s military spending will be used to put troops on the border. I support strengthening border security. However, I do not support using the military for domestic law enforcement, which includes enforcing immigration laws. Soldiers are trained to view people as potential enemies, not as innocent civilians to be protected. Introducing this mindset into domestic law enforcement will lead to abuses of liberty.

"Increasing spending on militarism while cutting spending on programs that help low-income Americans is bad politics and bad policy. Polls show that the majority of Americans, including many Republicans, do not support overseas intervention.

"The growing opposition to our hyper-interventionist foreign policy is easy to understand. The US has engaged in numerous military actions in many countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria since the beginning of the 21st century. The American people pay for this militarism in several ways. One is the “inflation tax” imposed by the Federal Reserve in order to monetize the debt incurred by the US government for endless wars. President Trump has turned his back on his antiwar supporters by bombing Iran and by increasing military spending to over a trillion dollars.

"The Republican insistence on increasing military spending is the main reason Congress cannot cut taxes without increasing the debt, making cuts in domestic welfare programs, or both. If the Republicans want to be the Make America Great Again party, they need to embrace a true America First foreign policy. This means no more regime change wars or US taxpayer supported 'color revolutions.' Instead, America should return to the Founders’ vision of a country that, in the words of John Quincy Adams, does not go 'abroad in search of monsters to destroy' and instead is 'the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all' while 'the champion and vindicator only of her own.'

"A return to a noninterventionist foreign policy is the only way we will be able to begin to pay down the national debt and restore a government that adheres to the constitutional limits on its powers and respects all the people’s rights all the time."

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Canadian gov't rescinds Digital Services Tax

Happy Canada Day! The Canadian government has rescinded its Digital Services Tax, one day before it was to go into effect.

Canada Rescinds Digital Services Tax After Trump Halts Trade Talks | Epoch Times | Omid Ghoreishi:

June 30, 2025 - "The Canadian government is rescinding its digital services tax to avoid stalling trade talks with the United States, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would end negotiations over the levy. Ottawa says that removing the tax will put Canada back on track to reach a trade deal with the United States by July 21.

"Trump said on June 27 that he is ending all trade negotiations with Canada over Canada’s digital services tax (DST), which would impact U.S.-based tech companies such as Amazon, Google, and Netflix.... The DST imposed a 3 percent tax on revenue that tech companies earn from digital services provided to Canadian users. It was scheduled to go into effect on June 30, and was retroactive to 2022, leaving U.S. tech companies with a $2 billion bill to pay by the end of June. The Canadian tax had been an irritant to both the Biden and Trump administrations....

"The Trump administration has already imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian products, though goods falling under the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement have been exempted. Washington has also imposed blanket tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.... Ottawa has been seeking new trade negotiations with the United States to minimize U.S. tariffs. In announcing the removal of the DST, Canadian Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne said the move would allow trade negotiations with the United States to go forward....

"Champagne had insisted up until recently that Ottawa wouldn’t be putting the tax on hold, after pressure from Canadian and U.S. business groups as well as U.S. politicians to remove the tax. Canada’s Liberal government had said that the tax is in line with similar measures from a number of other countries, and that corporations should pay their 'fair share' of taxes in Canada.

The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated that the tax would bring in $7.2 billion over five years in revenue for Ottawa."

NO NETFLIX TAX - But Carbon Tariff is NEXT! | Canadian Taxpayers Federation | June 30, 2025:

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Digital Services Tax derails trade talks with USA

The U.S. government abruptly broke off trade negotiations with Canada after the Carney government announced it was going forward with its Digital Services Tax, aimed at U.S. companies who operate online in Canada.

What is Canada's digital services tax and why is it infuriating Trump? | Financial Post | Yvonne Lau:

June 27, 2025 - "U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly cut off all trade negotiations with Canada on Friday, citing Ottawa’s Digital Services Tax (DST) for the decision. The tax, enacted last June, targets U.S. technology companies that operate in Canada but pay little tax here. Under the new tax regime, the first payments are set to be collected on Monday, June 30....

"Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government enacted Canada’s Digital Services Tax Act in June 2024.... The federal tax is applicable to large businesses — both foreign and domestic — that meet two specific criteria: a total global revenue of €750 million and up, and over $20 million of profits earned in Canada annually. The legislation levies a three per cent tax on digital services revenue over $20 million, and is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022.... Taxable revenue includes those of online marketplaces, digital advertising, social media, and user data — which will primarily affect American Big Tech giants such as Amazon.com, Inc., Apple Inc., and Meta Platforms, Inc.

"Under the DST, companies were required to register with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) by Jan. 31, 2025 and are obligated to file their first DST returns on June 30, 2025. The CRA has said that more than 500 companies have already applied to register for DST purposes, and expects more than 100 companies to pay the tax. If applicable companies fail to register with the agency, they could be fined $20,000 per year. If they fail to file a DST return, Canada could dole out a penalty equal to five per cent of the unpaid tax for the year, plus one per cent of the unpaid tax for the year for each month, not exceeding 12 months, in which the return hasn’t been filed....

"The legislation however, has come under fire from business groups on both sides of the border, with critics warning that the rules could further inflame Canada-U.S. ties. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has argued that the tax could increase costs for consumers and risks 'damaging our beneficial and lucrative trade relationship with the U.S.' The U.S. meanwhile, has long denounced Canada’s proposed rules, claiming that they unfairly discriminate against American firms. Last August, under the former Biden administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) launched dispute settlement consultations with Ottawa under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement over the DST....

"Tech giant Google LLC responded to Canada’s digital services tax rules by introducing an additional 2.5 per cent fee for ads shown in Canada starting in October 2024. Called the 'Canada DST Fee,' Google said the surcharges will “cover part of the costs of complying with DST legislation in Canada'....

"Around half of all European OECD countries have announced, proposed, or implemented a DST, according to the Tax Foundation Europe. The U.S. has met those proposals with threats of retaliatory tariffs. Some countries’ DST regimes could be on the chopping block. France’s Council of State, which advises the government on the preparation of bills and other matters, recently referred the country’s DST to the Constitutional Council for review, marking the first constitutional challenge to the DST since the legislation passed in 2019.

"For months, executives of U.S. tech giants have pressured American policymakers over Canada’s DST. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Canadian business groups have also pressed the Carney government to abandon the DST. And while businesses and industry groups were holding out for a last-minute suspension of the DST, finance minister François-Philippe Champagne reconfirmed last Thursday that Canada is 'going ahead' with the tax. 'The (DST) is in force and it’s going to be applied,” he said.... 'Obviously, all of that is something that we’re considering as part of broader discussions that you may have,' Champagne said last week, suggesting that the DST could be renegotiated given the ongoing trade talks between Canada and the U.S."

What is Canada’s digital services tax, and who pays it? | CBC News: The National | June 27, 2025:

Friday, June 27, 2025

U.S.-Iran war averted for now

War between the U.S. and Iran did not happen this week. However, it is not yet off the table.

President Trump: End the War Now! | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

June 23, 2025 - "Just a few weeks ago in this space I urged President Trump to accept a deal with Iran allowing it to continue pursuing civilian nuclear power while ensuring that it would not pursue nuclear weapons. Iran signaled it was ready to sign such a deal, yet suddenly Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff changed the US position to demand no civilian nuclear enrichment at all. The US Administration understood that Iran could not accept such a demand – that it had that right as a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty – but Witkoff shifted the position anyway.

"Just days before the sixth round of negotiations were to take place, Israel blew up the whole process by launching a surprise attack on Iran and here we are just over a week later staring right into the face of World War III. Had the 'bait and switch' and subsequent Israeli attack not taken place, we likely would be seeing rapidly improving trade relations with Iran and throughout the region that would have enriched all parties....

"But the neocons and ... Benjamin Netanyahu, couldn’t stand the prospect of peace breaking out in the region so they dusted off their old lies about 'weapons of mass destruction' from the lead up to the Iraq war and soon enough the talks were sunk beneath a barrage of Israeli – and as of this past weekend American – bombs and missiles.

"President Trump’s decision to spend untold billions of dollars on what appears to be not much more than a 'symbolic' bombing of Iran’s already-vacated nuclear facilities was no doubt made with the intention of making himself look tough. Unfortunately for him, it has had the opposite effect. He has shown the world that he was no more able to resist the demands of the neocons and warmongers than his predecessors, and in abandoning his promises to be the president that ends wars instead of starting new ones he has also abandoned the most enthusiastic part of his base.

"What President Trump does not seem to understand is that true strength is not measured in how many missiles you can send to the 'Hitler of the month' as designated by the warmongers. True strength comes from standing up for your stated principles in the face of the enormous pressure that will inevitably be placed on you. Real strength is strength of character. It often comes from the ability to say 'no' when everyone around you demands that you give up a little bit of your principles for promises of riches or glory.

"As of this writing, we are standing on the precipice of a major war in the Middle East that threatens to bring in much larger actors such as Russia and China. The neocons, filled with unwarranted vainglory, welcome such a clash because they won’t be doing the fighting and dying. They will be the ones reaping the financial and other rewards. As usual.

"Unfortunately, President Trump has severely damaged his credibility by embroiling us in a war that is not our war. He would do well to immediately change course, search for off-ramps, make peace with Iran, and once and for all banish all neocons and warmongers from anywhere near his Administration. Otherwise 'MAGA' will go down in history as nothing but a cruel joke."

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Justice Centre report tallies up lockdown costs

A new report from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms examines the immediate and long-term negative impacts of Canada's Covid lockdowns, including physical, social, and economic harms.

New Report – Five years on: Tracing the costs of lockdowns } Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (news release):

May 8, 2025 - "A new report from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms examines the immediate and long-term negative impacts of Covid lockdowns, including physical, social, and economic harms. It also underscores the lack of transparent, evidence-based analysis by governments to justify these measures....

"One of the most concerning findings is the sharp decline in Canadians’ mental health. In 2019, 67 percent of Canadians rated their mental health as 'very good or excellent.' By 2023, that figure had dropped to just 54 percent. Meanwhile, the number of Canadians reporting 'fair or poor' mental health nearly doubled — from 8 percent to 15 percent. This trend was seen across all age groups, but especially among young adults.

"Indeed, despite facing minimal risk from Covid, young Canadians suffered some of the most serious consequences of lockdown measures. Non-Covid deaths among Canadians under age 45 rose by 22 percent, driven by factors such as disease, addiction, delayed treatment, and suicide. Physical activity among youth dropped significantly during this period, while time spent on screens—such as cell phones, computers, and tablets—increased sharply. Up to 70 percent of children and teens reported experiencing anxiety, depression, or other serious mental health issues.

"A particularly alarming trend was the surge in opioid-related deaths. From 2020 to 2023, annual opioid overdose deaths increased by 108 percent. In 2023 alone, 8,606 Canadians died from opioid toxicity—more than double the pre-lockdown average. British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario recorded the highest rates, with the vast majority of deaths involving fentanyl.

"During Covid, thousands of medical check-ups, diagnoses, and treatments were delayed or cancelled, resulting in a serious and ongoing backlog in Canada’s healthcare system.

"Wait times for medical treatments increased by 43 percent between 2019 and 2024, reaching a median of 30 weeks. MRI wait times rose by 55 percent. For certain cancers, including breast and prostate, surgery delays increased by as much as 34 percent. Since 2018, more than 74,000 Canadians have died while waiting for surgery or diagnostic care—over 15,000 of them in 2023–24 alone. The actual number is likely higher, due to poor provincial tracking and reporting....

"Lockdowns resulted in widespread job losses, particularly among low-wage workers, while the 'laptop class' remained largely unscathed. While many public sector jobs expanded during this time, Canadians in hospitality, retail, and service sectors faced prolonged unemployment. The expansion of public spending and government debt contributed to rising inflation, driving up the cost of food, housing, and other essentials.

"Crime rates also rose during the lockdown years. Homicides peaked in 2022 at 17 percent above trend, with 882 victims across Canada. Cybercrime nearly doubled, rising from 48,000 cases in 2019 to over 93,000 in 2023. Identity theft and fraud increased to 120 percent above trend in 2020, with similar levels in the following years. Particularly troubling was the rise in online child sexual exploitation, which reached 18,650 reported cases in 2023—a 173 percent increase from 2019.

"Benjamin Klassen, Education Coordinator at the Justice Centre, says the findings demand accountability.

This report calls for governments to take responsibility for the damage done during this period and ensure that future public health policies uphold the Charter rights and freedoms of all Canadians....
The Charter requires governments to ‘demonstrably’ justify any freedom-limiting policy. To date, no federal or provincial government in Canada has conducted the kind of comprehensive impact assessment required to justify the lockdowns....
The evidence is clear: the harms of lockdowns outweighed their benefits. Canadians deserve an honest and transparent evaluation of lockdown harms, so that these mistakes are never repeated."

Read study: https://www.jccf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Five-years-on-Tracing-the-costs-of-lockdowns-1.pdf

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

America faces a Great Big Ugly Surveillance State

Trump's March executive order on "Eliminating Information Silos" seems designed to enable a Great Big Ugly Surveillance State.

Great Big Ugly Surveillance State | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

June 16, 2025 - "On March 20, President Trump signed an executive order 'Eliminating Information Silos.' The order directed heads of federal agencies to make sure officials designated by the president 'have full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, data, software systems, and information technology systems.' The executive order did not attract much attention until it was more recently revealed that the administration was working with tech company Palantir to create a database containing all information collected by all federal agencies on all US citizens.

"A database consisting of all the information of American citizens collected by the various federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Pentagon would be a major step in creating a total surveillance state. This database could come in handy to future Dr. Faucis seeking to enforce mask and vaccine mandates.

"Those with access to this database could see personal health records, education records, and tax returns. They may even be able to see how many firearms individuals have purchased and if they were associated with any organizations the government had labeled 'extremist.'

"Despite the obvious threat to liberty the 'big ugly database' poses, some commentators and 'influencers' who would normally oppose, or at least be skeptical of, expansion of the surveillance state are supporting it because they believe it will be used to locate illegal immigrants. Some conservatives are supporting this proposal because it will help identify students who have publicly opposed the U.S. government’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Ironically, many of those supporting government cracking down on 'anti-Israel' students came to fame (and in some cases fortune) as critics of 'wokeness' and cancel culture.

"The abandonment of liberty because fear drives people to trust government promises of safety is a phenomenon we have witnessed several times.... An obvious example is the way many former friends of freedom supported the PATRIOT Act and other infringements on liberty following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. We also saw it during the covid hysteria when many embraced mask and vaccine mandates. Following the 2008 market meltdown, normally rather staunch opponents of government intervention supported the bailouts because they agreed with then-President George W. Bush who said he had 'abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system.'

"Palantir, founded in 2003, has worked on helping government become more efficient at collecting and storing information about US citizens. The company, which was named after the seeing stones from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, is ... literally the creation of the surveillance state since one of its early investors was In-Q-Tel, a venture capital firm controlled by the CIA.

"Those discouraged by the surveillance state’s continued expansion under President Trump should be encouraged that more Americans than ever, including many who voted for President Trump, are seeing through the lie that the only way we can be safe is to surrender our liberty to politicians, bureaucrats, and crony capitalism. This should inspire us to redouble our efforts to spread the message of liberty."

Monday, June 16, 2025

For-profit hospitals flourish in Switzerland

Since 2012, the government of Switzerland has successfully integrated private for-profit hospitals into its system of universal health coverage.

Integrating Private Health Care into Canada’s Public System: What We Can Learn from Switzerland | Fraser Institute | Yanick Labrie:

June 12, 2025 - Executive Summary

"Access to timely care remains the Achilles’ heel of Canada’s health systems. To reduce wait times, some provinces have partnered with private clinics for publicly funded surgeries—a strategy that has proven effective, but continues to spark debate in Canada. This study explores how Switzerland successfully integrates private health care into a universal public system....

In Switzerland, universal coverage is delivered through a system of managed competition among 44 non-profit private insurers, while decentralized governance allows each of the 26 cantons to coordinate and oversee hospital services in ways that reflect local needs and priorities.
Nearly two-thirds of Swiss hospitals are for-profit institutions; they provide roughly half of all hospitalizations, births, and hospital beds across the country.
All hospitals are treated equally—regardless of legal status—and funded through the same activity-based model, implemented nationwide in 2012.
The reform led to a significant increase in the number of cases treated without a corresponding rise in expenditures per case, suggesting improved efficiency, better use of resources, and expanded access to hospital care.
The average length of hospital stay steadily decreased over time and now stands at 4.87 days in for-profit hospitals versus 5.53 days in public ones, indicating faster patient turnover and more streamlined care pathways.
Hospital-acquired infection rates are significantly lower in private hospitals (2.7%) than in public hospitals (6.2%), a key indicator of care quality.
Case-mix severity is as high or higher in private hospitals, countering the notion that they only take on simpler or less risky cases.
Patient satisfaction is slightly higher in private hospitals (4.28/5) than in public ones (4.17/5), reflecting strong user experience across multiple dimensions.

"Canada could benefit from regulated competition between public and private providers and activity-based funding, without breaching the Canada Health Act."

Read study: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/integrating-private-health-care-into-canadas-public-system.pdf

Friday, June 13, 2025

Court waives $38K in ArriveCan fines on Amish

A provincial court has waived more than $38,000 in outstanding fines on Ontario Amish who were convicted in absentia during the Covid pandemic, and faced loss of their homes and farms. for not using the controversial ArriveCan app.

TDF secures new victory for Amish: over $38,000 in fines waived | The Democracy Fund (news release):

June 05, 2025 - "The Democracy Fund (TDF) has achieved a significant legal victory for a group of Amish individuals convicted under the Quarantine Act for failure to complete the ArriveCan app. Following a May 22, 2025 court appearance, seven months of negotiations and numerous court appearances, TDF lawyers successfully had the group’s convictions set aside, resulting in over $38,000 in fines being waived.

"The Amish community, known for their traditional lifestyle and faith-based avoidance of modern technology, faced legal challenges after crossing the border at Niagara Falls. Their inability to use smartphones or interact with modern technology made it almost impossible to comply with the strict and continually-shifting COVID-19 regulations, particularly requirements involving the ArriveCan app. TDF took the position that the Amish did not receive proper notice of the offences, trial or conviction. They were convicted in absentia, and subsequently fined over $38,000. However, with the assistance of TDF, their cases were reopened, and through persistent advocacy, the convictions were ultimately set aside with fines being waived.

"For these Amish families, who depend on farming and community support, the prospect of paying such excessive fines was daunting. This resolution ensures that these legal entanglements do not threaten their livelihoods and properties.

"TDF Litigation Director Mark Joseph stated, 'This outcome is a testament to the importance of access to justice for all Canadians, regardless of their background or way of life. We are pleased that these families can now move forward without the burden of these oppressive fines. The Amish are extremely grateful for the support they've received from TDF donors.'

"While this case has been resolved, TDF continues to advocate for other members of the Amish community and other Canadians facing similar challenges with the legal system. The organization remains committed to defending constitutional rights and ensuring that all individuals receive fair treatment.

Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

What's up between Musk and Trump?

After Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," conflict between Trump and Elon Musk was only a matter of time.

Can Trump and Musk Make Up? | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

June 9, 2025 - "Last week’s dramatic blowout between President Trump and his one-time top collaborator Elon Musk was shocking yet predictable. According to media reports, a cold war had been brewing between Musk’s people and Trump’s appointees and it was bound to break out into the open. It was only a matter of time.

Trump and Musk. Composite by Buadh, Wikimedia Commons.

"On the campaign trail, Musk provided much energy and helped ramp up enthusiasm for Donald Trump. His support for Trump made him a lightning rod for Trump-haters and he saw his personal wealth take a hit for his troubles.

"After Trump’s victory, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency [DOGE] project was truly revolutionary. Americans were able to see up close and in real time just how government operates. Not only did the billions and trillions of dollars spent by the federal government not achieve the stated goals, but much of the spending actually harmed the United States.

"Americans were able to see that the 'aid' they send overseas does not provide food and relief for those suffering through disasters but is actually used to create a global US empire encompassing everything from the media to military spending to non-profits.

"Once USAID was targeted by DOGE, for example, we learned that 90 percent of the 'independent' media in Ukraine was US government controlled. Other countries chimed in to say that much of their own 'independent' media is propped up by the US government. Foreign 'journalists' paid by the US government are going to publish what the US government wants to be published. That is one reason Americans to this day are so ill-informed about Ukraine and what started the war. For example, how many Americans know that their own government staged a coup in Ukraine in 2014 that directly led to the disaster we have seen these past three years?

"The message was there for anyone who wanted to see it: The United States is being undermined by a government that demands the right to intervene in every aspect of our lives – and of the lives of everyone on the planet. It is not sustainable.

"In the end it was Trump’s 'Big Beautiful Bill' that broke it all apart. The US House served up a massive funding bill that, as usual, blew up the national debt with more spending and promised that sometime down the road spending cuts would kick in and we would start saving money. We’ve seen this movie many times before.

"In a post seen by over a hundred million people on his social media platform X, Elon Musk finally could hold his tongue no longer. 'This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,' he wrote.... Musk was no-doubt frustrated that despite all of the work he and his team did to uncover government waste, he hit a brick wall in a Washington that recoils from any attempt to shrink its size and level of interference in our lives.

"Can Trump and Musk 'make up' and find a way to work together in the future? After the smoke has cleared we can only hope for a return to the principles of DOGE and the idea that current levels of spending and debt are unsustainable. Surely both men can agree on that."

Friday, June 6, 2025

Ron Paul to US Steel: beware the 'Golden Share'

President Trump will allow the Japanese takeover of U.S. Steel, but wants a "Golden Share" that will let him dictate company policy when national security is at stake. In fact, as Ron Paul notes, "there is almost no decision US Steel’s management could make that cannot be labeled as involving 'national security.'"

A Golden Share Will Not Make America Great Again | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

Jun 2, 2025 - "Japanese company Nippon Steel’s plan to purchase US Steel was bound to provoke a strong reaction from left- and right-wing economic nationalists. After all, US Steel was once the world’s largest company, and it was the first company to be valued at over a billion dollars. US Steel was thus a symbol of America’s economic dominance. So it was not surprising that Nippon Steel’s purchase of US Steel was blocked by both the Biden and Trump administrations. This was disappointing — especially since Nippon Steel planned to invest billions in modernizing US Steel’s facilities.

"Last week, President Trump praised the deal with some added conditions. One major condition is that the US government will receive a 'golden share' in US Steel. This will enable the government to overrule any business decision made by the company’s management if the government determines the business decision threatens 'national security.' This power could be used to prevent US Steel from exporting steel to certain countries, as well as to require US Steel to prioritize production for the military and other government agencies. It could also be used to interfere with labor-management relations based on the idea that a labor dispute can disrupt production and thus harm national security. In fact, there is almost no decision US Steel’s management could make that cannot be labeled as involving 'national security.'

"Supporters of the 'golden share' have forgotten (or never learned) the lessons from the failures of allowing politicians and bureaucrats to run private businesses. When government takes a full or partial ownership interest in a business, the result is decisions made based on political considerations rather than on seeking to improve the company’s productivity and profits. This causes the company to lose money, resulting in laid off workers unless the government tries to cover up failures with subsidies. It also distorts the signals sent to other market actors via the price system because the government-run company is allocating resources based on considerations other than their most efficient use.

"This is not the only case where the Trump administration is harming the economy by interfering with businesses. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government sponsored enterprises created to support the housing market, may soon go public. President Trump has stated that the government would nonetheless continue to guarantee Fannie and Freddie backed mortgage loans. This will cause over-investment in housing as investors see only an upside from investing in Fannie and Freddie since the government will bail out Fannie and Freddie if they lose money while investors will keep the profits. The result will be a housing bubble, followed by a housing crash that may be worse than the one Fannie and Freddie — along with the Federal Reserve — helped cause in 2008. Once again, President Trump and his advisors have failed to learn from history.

"Government involvement with businesses may be promoted as intended to protect national security, or to protect 'great American companies' from being taken over by foreign companies, or to make the American dream of homeownership possible for every American, or to accomplish a myriad of other goals that may sound good in sound bites on the campaign trail. However, the result will be economic stagnation, recessions, or even depressions. To ensure a strong economy, government can get out of the way. A policy of limited government, free markets, free trade, peace, and sound money is the path to prosperity."

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Hillier ruling strengthens Charter right of assembly

In this year's case of Hillier v. Ontario, for the first time ever, a Canadian court has invoked the Charter right of peaceful assembly to overturn a law as unconstitutional.

Hillier at 2021 anti-lockdown protest, Niagara Falls, Ont, Photo: Beth Baisch, Dreamstime

Ontario court ruling in Hillier case a positive sign for Charter freedoms | Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms | John Carpay:

April 10, 2025 - "Since lockdowns were imposed in March 2020, governments across Canada have admitted in numerous court challenges that provincial and federal health orders did violate one or more of the Charter freedoms of conscience, religion, expression, peaceful assembly, association, and mobility. In like manner, governments have admitted that vaccine mandates violated the Charter right to bodily autonomy. Canadian courts have consistently upheld these Charter violations as being reasonable and justified in a free and democratic society — until the Ontario Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in Hillier v. Ontario on April 7.

"Randy Hillier, a former Member of Ontario’s Provincial Parliament, challenged Ontario’s total and absolute ban on all outdoor protests, which the government imposed on citizens in April and May of 2021. While up to 10 people could gather for a wedding or funeral, or for a religious service or ceremony, it was illegal for two people to meet outdoors for a peaceful protest!

"Mr. Hillier faced charges and fines up to $100,000 for organizing peaceful political protests in Kemptville and Cornwall, and for attending protests in Smiths Falls, Belleville, Peterborough, Stratford, Kitchener, and Chatham throughout April and May 2021. His defence to these charges was that Ontario unjustifiably restricted his Charter freedom of peaceful assembly. In court, Ontario presented no evidence that its total ban on outdoor protests, including those in which Mr. Hillier participated, would reduce the spread of Covid.

"Overturning the November 2023 lower court ruling, Court of Appeal Justices Lauwers, Zarnett, and Pomerance ruled unanimously that Ontario’s absolute ban on peaceful assembly in 2021, particularly outdoor political protests, was an unjustified violation of the freedom of peaceful assembly as protected by Section 2(c) of the Charter.... The court declared that it could not countenance 'an outcome in which the state eliminates the free exercise of a fundamental freedom, without giving that elimination any actual thought'.... While stating that 'the pandemic posed significant challenges for Ontario,' the court declared that 'the Constitution does not fade from view in times of crisis.'

"For the first time in Canadian judicial history, an appellate court has outlined the nature, purpose, and benefits of the Charter section 2(c) freedom of peaceful assembly, declaring it 'elemental' and 'integral to a functioning democracy.' Previously, peaceful assembly has been ignored and subsumed into the other Charter section 2 freedoms.... Peaceful assembly differs from the other fundamental freedoms because 'a demonstration is an act of solidarity, a coming together of similarly minded individuals,' who can 'make visible the extent and depth of support for a position,' the ruling said.

"The freedom of peaceful assembly protects the ability of citizens to get the community to pay attention to their message of protest or dissent, and entice others to become involved in redressing grievances. The court noted that 'outdoor protests are especially effective at amplifying minority voices and expressing political dissent.' Ontario’s total ban on peaceful protests denied citizens of their 'opportunity to influence public policy by this time-honoured method.' Significantly, the court ruled that social media and virtual gatherings ... cannot replace the 'traditional means of participating in public assemblies'.....

"Governments across Canada have been put on notice that they cannot ban peaceful political gatherings. Freedom-loving Canadians can be encouraged that the Ontario Court of Appeal has elevated a previously 'forgotten freedom' to overturn a Covid-era ban on the exercise of that same Charter freedom. Could protection of Charter freedoms in Canada be making a comeback?"

The bridge to Freedom is never too far. Hillier Wins-Government loses! | Randy Hillier | April 7, 2025:

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Ron Paul: Can Trump secure a Deal with Iran?

After five years of futile negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the latter's nuclear enrichment program, it's time for President Trump to use his vaunted dealmaking powers.

Take the Deal, President Trump | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

May 26, 2025 - "Deal-making is said to be President Trump’s specialty, yet after five rounds of indirect talks with Iran – most recently just days ago – we seem as far away from an agreement as ever. The fifth round ended last Friday with no breakthrough, but at least no breakdown. However, each day that passes without a document signed on the table is another day for the neocons to maneuver the US president toward an attack on Iran.

"One way the war party does this is to continuously move the goal posts and change the rules of the game. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, under great pressure from the neocons, has himself signaled at least three position-shifts: from no enrichment at all, to low-level enrichment for civilian uses, back to no enrichment at all.

"The neocons know that Iran will not give up its right to the civilian use of nuclear power and that is why they are applying maximum pressure to force Trump to officially adopt that position. They know if that becomes the US 'red line' then they will win and they will get their war.

"Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in league with US neocons, has been warning us for 20 years that Iran is “months away” from a nuclear weapon – even though our own Intelligence Community recently re-affirmed that Iran is not working on a nuclear weapon at all.

"Of course this is the same Netanyahu who promised Congress in 2002 if the US would just invade Iraq, peace and prosperity would break out in the Middle East. 'If you take out Saddam, Saddam’s regime,' he told Congress in March of that year, 'I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.' We know how that worked out.

"Poll after poll shows that the American people are tired of intervention and tired of Middle East wars. President Trump himself recognized this in his scathing rebuke of neocons and interventionists during a recent speech in Saudi Arabia. But rebuke in a speech is not enough. President Trump must actively turn away from the neocons – many of whom are prominent in his own administration.

"The recent US debacle in Yemen – where billions were wasted, civilians killed, and US military equipment destroyed – is just a taste of what the US would be in for if the neocons get their way and take us to war with Iran.

"The Iranian foreign minister laid down in the simplest terms how the impasse could be solved, posting on X that, 'Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal; Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal.'

"My own preference is non-intervention and I do not believe Iran has the desire or the ability to militarily harm the United States. I share President Trump’s view that it would be far better to re-establish relations with Iran and begin mutually beneficial trade with the country. But if a mutually acceptable nuclear deal is the best way to take the neocon war with Iran off the table, then a deal is worth supporting.

"President Trump should make his position clear to his negotiators: no more waffling or contradictions, get this agreement signed and put one in the 'win' column."

https://ronpaulinstitute.org/take-the-deal-president-trump/

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

King opens Parliament – Canadians don't care

In an historic first, King Charles III flew to Ottawa this week to open Canada's new Parliament and read the Throne Speech. More than four out of five Canadians polled said they didn't care.

Royally Indifferent: 83 per cent of Canadians say they ‘don’t care’ that King Charles will deliver throne speech | Angus Reid Institute: (news release):

May 26, 2025 – "While Prime Minister Mark Carney’s now-accepted invitation to King Charles to read the throne speech opening Canada’s 45th parliament may have been politically intended to leave U.S. President Donald Trump gobsmacked, Canadians themselves are raising little more than an arched eyebrow at the visit. A new public opinion poll from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute shows a whopping 83 per cent of Canadians say they are 'indifferent' or 'don’t care' about the monarch’s historic visit, where Charles will read the throne speech – which will outline the Carney government’s priorities for the upcoming parliamentary session....

"This week’s official visit to Canada by King Charles III represents a mixture of realpolitik, the unprecedented and the ordinary. It is Charles’ 20th visit to Canada, but his first as monarch. The occasion also marks the first time in 47 years that the sovereign has read a Canadian speech from the throne.

"As to the motivations of the invitation to His Majesty, political symbolism appears to trump (pun intended) domestic desire.... Prime Minister Mark Carney has leaned heavily into invoking U.S. President Donald Trump’s infatuation with the British (and Canadian) royal family.... Domestically however, Canadians are less enchanted by the pomp, circumstance and mysticism of the crown and its accoutrements. Views of individual royals, along with the monarchy, have been steadily declining over time in this country....

"More Canadians say it’s a 'good thing' (37%) rather than a 'bad thing' (23%) that the king is opening parliament. It should be noted however, that a plurality (40%) say they 'aren’t sure' quite what to make of the whole endeavour....

"It’s rare that four-in-five Canadians agree on anything. But they are largely united in their ambivalence towards the king’s visit to Canada to open parliament. Apathy appears to rule even among those who see positives in Charles’ visit. A majority of those who describe the fact the King is delivering the throne speech as a 'good thing' also describe themselves as indifferent to the proceedings....

"The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from May 20-23, 2025, among a randomized sample of 1,685 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. The sample was weighted to be representative of adults nationwide according to region, gender, age, household income, and education, based on the Canadian census. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20."

Monday, May 26, 2025

Chris Barber petitions court for stay of proceedings

Chris Barber, who has been convicted and could be imprisoned for his part in organizing the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa, is petitioning the court to stay proceedings before sentencing.

Barber testifies to have Freedom Convoy charges dropped | Western Standard | Jen Hodgson:

May 21, 2025 - "Freedom Convoy organizer Chris Barber [was] in court [May 21] for hearings related to a Stay of Proceedings application in an attempt to have his charges dropped.... Ontario Justice Heather Perkins-McVey found Barber and co-organizer Tamara Lich guilty of mischief for their involvement in the peaceful protest in Ottawa in January and February of 2022. The decision [was] released on April 3.... Diane Magas, Barber’s lawyer, filed the stay application on April 16, arguing Barber had sought legal advice during the time of the protest and acted in good faith with local authorities.

"Barber in his application argued 'the legal advice given to him … during the Freedom Convoy was erroneous and that, as a result, the Crown is not entitled to convict him,' said the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).... The application was filed one day after Barber learned the sentence the Crown was pursuing: two years in prison and the confiscation of Big Red [his truck].... If the judge approves the stay application, Barber will not go to prison, nor will his truck be seized."
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/barber-testifies-to-have-freedom-convoy-charges-dropped/64917

Will Chris Barber be jailed for peacefully protesting? Court to decide soon | Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms (news release):

Big Red, courtesy Chris Barber/JCCF.

May 20, 2025 ""Mr. Barber’s legal team ... argue that he followed the advice of officials and the police in good faith during the protest and that the charges should be stayed despite his conviction for mischief and for counselling others to breach a court order on April 3, 2025.

"In court documents submitted to the judge, the Crown claims that there is no merit to Mr. Barber’s Application and that it should be thrown out. The Crown argues that he knowingly broke the law during the peaceful Freedom Convoy protest. The Crown is also demanding that Mr. Barber’s primary source of income, his 2004 Kenworth long haul truck, called 'Big Red,' be seized and forfeited to His Majesty the King.

"If Justice Heather Perkins-McVey of the Ontario Court of Justice grants the Application, sentencing would not proceed, and the charges would be stayed.... Diane Magas, Mr. Barber’s lawyer, explained that an 'officially induced error defence' is rarely used but that it is an appropriate defence in the particular circumstances of this case....

"'To imprison a man who sought and followed legal advice would bring the administration of justice into disrepute,' stated John Carpay, President of the Justice Centre. 'Mr. Barber consistently followed the legal advice that he received from police officers, lawyers, and a Superior Court judge.'"
Read more: https://www.jccf.ca/will-chris-barber-be-jailed-for-peacefully-protesting-court-to-decide-soon/

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Freedom Convoy organizer acquitted on all counts

Harold Jonker, Niagara region 'road captain' for the 2022 Freedom Convoy — who was charged with four counts of mischief and intimidation more than a year after the protest was over — was acquitted this week on all counts.

Judge rules Crown did not prove any criminal wrongdoing by Niagara business owner Harold Jonker. JCCF photo.

Freedom Convoy victory: Trucker Harold Jonker cleared of all charges in Ontario court | Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (news release):

May 20, 2025 - "The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased to announce that Harold Jonker, a trucking company owner, has been acquitted on all charges related to his peaceful involvement in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa. The decision was delivered today by Justice Kevin B. Phillips of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

"Mr. Jonker, a trucker from West Lincoln in Ontario’s Niagara region, joined the Freedom Convoy as a 'road captain' for the Niagara contingent and arrived in Ottawa on January 28, 2022. He remained in the capital for three weeks. During that time, he parked his vehicle along Coventry Road — away from the downtown — and was not fined or charged with any offences while in the city.

"Fifteen months after the protest ended, in May 2023, police charged Mr. Jonker with mischief, counselling mischief, intimidation, and counselling intimidation. The allegations included that he helped organize and lead part of the Convoy, and that multiple trucks affiliated with his business, Jonker Trucking Inc., were present in downtown Ottawa during the protest.

"Mr. Jonker’s trial took place from May 12 to 14, 2025, before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa. The Crown presented four witnesses, including two police officers and two civilians. In delivering his oral judgment on May 20, 2025, Justice Phillips addressed two main themes advanced by the Crown.

"First, the Crown argued that interviews given by Mr. Jonker during and after the protest amounted to counselling mischief. However, Justice Phillips found that Mr. Jonker was treated by interviewers like ... someone describing events as he witnessed them. While supportive of the protest, Mr. Jonker’s words were expressions of opinion, not incitement to unlawful action.

"Second, the Crown alleged that Mr. Jonker was responsible for Jonker Trucking vehicles that were observed in the downtown core. But the Court found insufficient evidence to show that Mr. Jonker had control over those trucks. Justice Phillips noted that, in Crown-submitted videos, Mr. Jonker explicitly stated that his own truck was parked in a yard, not downtown. Furthermore, the Crown offered no evidence ... that could prove Mr. Jonker had authority over vehicles belonging to the company.

"Justice Phillips concluded that while the broader Freedom Convoy could be seen as a collective act of mischief, the Crown had failed to prove that Mr. Jonker was guilty of any of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury welcomed the decision, stating, 'Harold and I are elated with the outcome of his case. We agree with the trial judge that the Crown had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt'.... Mr. Jonker expressed his gratitude, stating, 'We are very thankful for the excellent legal support provided by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, and thankful that the judge saw through the Crown’s weak case and had the courage to do the right thing.'”

For media inquiries, please contact media@jccf.ca.

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Ron Paul: USA needs to rein in military spending

Cutting spending wasted on a futile pursuit of a global empire is not just a fiscal necessity. It is also the best thing Congress can do to promote peace and prosperity.

Cutting Military Spending Would Make for a Big and Beautiful Bill | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

May 19, 2025 - "Last week, Moody’s Ratings lowered the United States credit rating. Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings had already lowered the US rating. This new downgrade was driven by Congress’s failure to make any efforts to reduce the almost 37 trillion dollars national debt. When Moody’s made its announcement, the House Budget Committee was scrambling to get the votes to pass legislation extending the 2017 tax cuts.

"President Trump has dubbed this the “big beautiful bill.” The bill also has new tax cuts including repealing federal taxes on tips and overtime. The bill 'offsets' the 'lost' revenue from the cuts by making some cost saving reforms in domestic welfare programs, most notably Medicaid and food stamps. However, it increases spending in other areas, most notably military spending.

"According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the 'big beautiful bill' would increase the national debt by at least 3.3 trillion dollars over ten years. This number is likely to rise because several moderate Republicans are threatening to vote against the bill unless the Medicaid and food stamps 'reforms' are limited or dropped.

"Tax cuts are always worth supporting because they advance liberty and sound economics by ensuring the people have more and the government has less. However, tax cuts that are not combined with real spending cuts are delayed tax increases. This is because cutting taxes without cutting spending leads to more debt that leads to higher taxes. These tax increases are likely to come from the Federal Reserve’s monetization of debt, which weakens the dollar’s purchasing power. This 'inflation tax' benefits political and financial elites while hurting most Americans.

"The reason Republicans are finding it difficult to offset their tax plan in a way that is politically palatable is that they are following exactly the opposite of the politically smart path to cut spending. Instead of starting by cutting welfare for the poor, Republicans should have started by cutting welfare for the rich, particularly the military-industrial complex.

"Last week, while visiting the Middle East, President Trump delivered an important speech refuting the neocon crusade that has dominated American foreign policy thinking since 9-11. Yet, President Trump is proposing to increase the military budget to one trillion dollars.

"President Trump and congressional Republicans will never cut spending until they stop pretending they can pay down the national debt, cut taxes, and continue massive spending on militarism. Similarly, fiscal conservatives need to stop targeting single mothers on food stamps while increasing federal spending on foreign intervention.

"The debt that caused Moody’s and other credit rating agencies to lower the US government’s credit rating is because of spending, not tax cuts. Congress should be giving the people more tax cuts and offsetting them with deep cuts in military spending. Cutting spending wasted on a futile pursuit of a global empire is not just a fiscal necessity. It is also the best thing Congress can do to promote peace and prosperity. Congress should then begin phasing out welfare programs in a manner that does not harm those currently reliant on the programs. Congress should also rein in the welfare-warfare state’s great enabler by auditing then ending the Federal Reserve. It should also repeal the 16th Amendment. These actions would free the people from 1913’s great mistakes — fiat money and income taxes."

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Carney bypasses Parliament to spend $70 Billion

Since taking power, Prime Minister Mark Carney has authorized more than $70 billion in spending without parliamentary approval, by using "special warrants" normally reserved for emergencies.

Carney is already steamrolling basic constraints on power | National Post | Tristin Hopper:

May 16, 2025 - "Only two months into the job, Prime Minister Mark Carney is already steamrolling through the usual checks by which a Canadian government is supposed to spend and manage taxpayer money. During the federal election, Carney greenlit a record $70 billion without Parliamentary approval. And now, even before the House of Commons has reconvened, his government has signalled its intentions not to publish a budget. With both actions, the new Liberal government has neutered one of the reasons Canada has a Parliament in the first place: To review and manage the disbursement of money....

Mark Carney at World Economic Forum, Davos, 2010.

Photo by WEF. CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.

"During his brief tenure, Carney has already used his executive authority to request two disbursements of money outside the federal government’s usual spending channels. On April 1, Carney was granted an order-in-council releasing $40.3 billion in emergency funds. The second, granted on May 2, was for $33.1 billion.

"The orders alone are not unprecedented: There’s long been a provision for the Governor General to release emergency funds to keep the lights on during a federal election. It’s called a 'special warrant'; an emergency dispensation of money 'urgently required for the public good.'

"Where Carney took the provision into uncharted territory is in the sheer scale of money, $73.4 billion, that he released via special warrants without the figures being approved by the House of Commons. In the snap election of 2011, by contrast, it only took $24.5 billion in special warrants to keep the federal government operational. The 2008 election required no special warrants....

"On the issue of a federal budget, Carney is also not violating any written rules in refusing to produce one. He’ll simply be breaking with more than a century of Parliamentary precedent in tabling multi-billion-dollar appropriations bills before the House of Commons with few specifics as to his government’s wider fiscal plans.

"It’s been more than five months since the federal government has actually approved funding the way it’s supposed to: Via an itemized 'money bill' that is approved in a vote by the House of Commons. The last one, for $21.6 billion, was passed on Dec. 10.... The Dec. 10 appropriations bill ... only covers four months of government spending.... There have been periods in Canadian history where the country has gone more than a year without a federal budget. But there were always extenuating circumstances. The most obvious being the failure to table a federal budget in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of the Second World War, similarly, the feds went a then-record 482 days between budget presentations.

"But what hasn’t really happened before is a government refusing to table a budget in the immediate aftermath of a contentious federal election resulting in a hung parliament.... Conservative MP Mike Lake noted that the Tories had a budget ready only five weeks after their victory in the 2011 general election. Wrote Lake, 'it is entirely unacceptable for this new Carney Liberal government not to present a budget at this time of fiscal chaos caused by the previous Liberal government.'"

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Two provincial gov'ts question equalization formula

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador supports the Alberta premier's call for changes to the federal government's equalization formula.

Per Capita Equalization Payments to Provinces 2018-2019 ($millions). Courtesy Fairness Alberta.

Newfoundland Liberal gov backs Smith’s call for equalization rethink | The Counter-Signal | Quinn Patrick:

May 10, 2025 - "Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has garnered the support of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Liberal government for a reset on how the federal government distributes equalization payments.

"Smith has called on Alberta to stop subsidizing provinces with productive economies like Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.... 'That was never the intent of equalization, and it needs to end,' said Smith.

"Spokesperson for Newfoundland’s Liberal government Greg Gill responded by telling the National Post that he agreed with Smith’s sentiment on Thursday. 'Equalization is intended to ensure … fairness for all citizens. Currently, this fairness is not achieved for Newfoundland and Labrador,' said Gill.

"[Gill] said the equalization program hurts residents by negating the high cost of delivering services to the remote areas of the sparsely populated province.... Additionally, he argued that the program currently penalizes the province for developing offshore oil and its other natural resources.

"Last year, Newfoundland filed a court challenge against the federal program on the basis that it doesn’t make good on its constitutional purpose. The lawsuit seeks relief over several issues: the exclusion of service delivery costs in payment calculations, the fiscal capacity cap, the inequitable distribution of excess equalization program funding and the gross domestic product growth ceiling....

"Smith said in March that Alberta would no longer agree to 'subsidizing other large provinces who are fully capable of funding themselves.'

"Of the $26.17 billion in equalization payments earmarked for 2025-26, Quebec and Ontario will take the lion’s share for a combined $14.15 billion. Quebec alone will get $13.57 billion.

"On Monday Smith called for Albertans to begin receiving equitable per capita federal transfers and equalization payments at the same rate as Ontario, Quebec and B.C."

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Trump revisits a changed Middle East

President Donald Trump's return visit this week is to a Middle East that has changed dramatically since his first-term trip seven years ago.

Trump plane 001, 2011, courtesy IowaPolitics.com. CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.

What Will Trump Find in the Middle East This Week? | Ron Paul Institute | Ron Paul:

May 12, 2025 - "President Trump’s return to the Middle East this week, the first since his first-term 2017 visit, will take place amidst great turmoil. It is a region that bears little resemblance to the Middle East of 2017 and it appears, at least from media reporting this past week, that the Trump Administration has some understanding of this reality.

"Syria has been over-run and is now controlled by the same al-Qaeda that the US government supposedly spent 20 years fighting in the 'war on terror.' Violence against religious and ethnic minorities has, predictably, exploded under the 'rule' of a self-proclaimed Syrian president who until very recently was on the US 'most wanted' terrorist list.

"After the October 7, 2023, Hamas raid [on Israel], Gaza has been reduced to rubble and turned into a humanitarian catastrophe. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and perhaps another million face starvation. US bombs and financial aid have facilitated the utter destruction of Gaza.

"Iran has made peace with Saudi Arabia thanks to Chinese mediation and is deepening its ties with the Kingdom. Thus, the US has little leverage in talks with the two former enemies.

"Israel is conducting military operations against several countries in the region simultaneously as the world increasingly condemns its aggression against its neighbors.

"After tearing up the JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran in his first term, President Trump is pushing for a new deal with Iran while threatening to attack if negotiations do not produce the results he demands.

"Massively increased US military action against the Houthis in Yemen starting in March did not result in their capitulation to US demands. Despite attempting to put the best spin on things, it is clear that the US retreated from the region in the face of a series of successful Yemeni actions in defense of their homeland. Biden and then Trump launched attacks against Yemen on behalf of Israel, but in the end the US president wisely removed US military assets from the area and called off the bombing.

"In short, President Trump will be wading into a minefield this week, but it is a peril that the US government has largely brought upon itself. Decades of US interventionism, from at least the 2003 Iraq war, have not produced the peaceful transformation of the region, as promised by the neocons and their mentor, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. From the unnecessary Iraq war – based on lies – to the destruction of Libya and Syria and countless other interventions, the Middle East is a basket case.

"And it turns out none of it actually helped Israel at all! Having ignited the tinder box of the region with US backing, Israel has now found itself friendless in a region increasingly hostile to its policies and even its very existence. Now there are indications that the Trump Administration is tiring of this entangling alliance as the MAGA base looks more warily on foreign interventionism.

"The lesson that President Trump should take with him is that to a large degree it has been US interventionism in the Middle East that has produced these poisoned fruits. His wise military disengagement from the Houthis in Yemen should serve as a US model for the region. Ties forged by trade and friendship produce peace and prosperity and are far preferable to endless neocon war cries."

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