It is difficult to recall a time when so many of our politicians don’t give a damn about Canada and Canadians but only stay in office to inflict more pain on the electorate. Pictured: Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet. Photo Credit: Yves-Francois Blanchet/X.
As a result of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s determination to remain in office as long as possible and thwart the desire of most Canadians to have an election, he is looking at the possibility of doing a deal with the folks that want to break up the country. Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet has said he plans to “grab something” from Trudeau in return for supporting him in the House of Commons in the event of a non-confidence motion put forward by the Conservative party. The notion of permitting the existence of a political party in our House of Commons whose key objective is to break up the country is ridiculous in and of itself, but at least you can’t criticize the Bloc for not being clear about their goal. Hence the blackmail (Bloc mail?) of the rest of us.
Blanchet has two priorities. The first is to increase the amount of Old Age Security (OAS) going to seniors between the ages of 65 and 74. Trudeau foolishly increased OAS payments to seniors over the age of 75 in 2022, and Blanchet has now decided this should be extended to younger seniors. Although it’s unlikely too many people would oppose getting more of their money back from government, it’s odd that Blanchet chose this as his priority.
The current generation of seniors in Canada is the most well-off financially in our country’s history. High poverty rates affect younger age groups much more than they do senior Canadians. The poverty rate in 2022 among 18-to-64-year-olds was 11.1 per cent, as compared to six per cent for those over 65. For single individuals under 65, the poverty rate was dramatically worse at 31 per cent. Unless Blanchet’s goal is to hasten the bankruptcy of Canada – which may well be the case – it’s hard to figure out why he chose this particular hill to die on.
Inter-generational equity is a big issue in Canada right now, and deservedly so. Bad government policy has drastically driven up housing prices, to the detriment of young people. Out-of-control immigration has meant that students have had trouble getting part-time or summer employment as temporary foreign workers take their spots. Trudeau has massively expanded the size and cost of government, raising taxes for all Canadians and increasing our debt burden for future generations to pay. OAS is a program funded out of general revenues, not a separate fund as is the CPP. Former prime minister Stephen Harper tried to reasonably rein in the growth in OAS liabilities as our population ages by increasing the age to collect OAS from 65 to 67 in a very gradual, sensible way.
Trudeau stupidly reversed this plan when he was first elected, which maybe wasn’t a surprising move from someone who admits they don’t understand monetary policy – or much else to do with our financial or economic affairs for that matter. This change meant another $15 billion annual hit on our national treasury, which is already in serious trouble. Blanchet’s desire to further increase payments for OAS will add several more billions to our burgeoning debt, which will increase over time as the population continues to age.
Most sensible seniors know better than to think a few more bucks in their pockets from government is a good idea, especially as they realize this will only come out of the pockets of their children and grandchildren. If Trudeau is stupid enough to agree to this Bloc demand for what can only be selfish reasons despite all of its many downsides, Canadians of all ages should rise up in vigorous disagreement to oppose this change.
Blanchet’s second demand is to inflict further punishment on Canada’s oil and gas industry. Quebec has stood in the way of national pipelines and other policies that would foster growth in Canada’s single most important contributor to our national Gross Domestic Product, which is the oil and gas industry. It is especially perverse that Blanchet would want to punish Alberta’s key industry, as Alberta is the main contributor to Quebec’s bonanza of $13 billion annually from Canada’s broken “equalization” payment system. It’s also pretty ironic that Quebec, which claims to care about environmental issues, is opposed to the development of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) exports when such exports could not only bring billions of dollars of value to Canada’s economy but replace dirty coal in developing countries which are the worst polluters on the planet.
Of course, Blanchet won’t be “grabbing” anything from Trudeau at all despite what he likes to tell his Quebec acolytes, but he will be grabbing even more money from taxpayers across Canada, including his Quebec brethren. Although politicians have virtually always been venal creatures, it is difficult to recall a time when so many of our politicians don’t give a damn about Canada and Canadians, but only stay in office to inflict more pain on the electorate, secure their own generous pensions or otherwise feather their own nests. Writing about political goings-on in the nation’s capital these days feels like writing fiction, but this author imagines even the most creative mind would have trouble inventing the absurd goings-on in Ottawa.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
