Liberal Minority Government 2025 - ???

[Czech_pivo]

You want more government in every aspect of life? Socialism has been tried and failed. Every time.

Tell that to Trump with his taking of Federal Gov't stakes in US/Canadian private enterprises, shutting down dividend payments and share buybacks for certain industries, instructing Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac to buy 200 billion in bonds - those things are very very much socialist.

 

[daftandbarmy]

You want more government in every aspect of life? Socialism has been tried and failed. Every time.

Except for Canada and the EU, right?

 

[CBH99]

Tell that to Trump with his taking of Federal Gov't stakes in US/Canadian private enterprises, shutting down dividend payments and share buybacks for certain industries, instructing Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac to buy 200 billion in bonds - those things are very very much socialist.

Are they socialist? Or are they capitalist?

Can they be both?

 

[CBH99]

Except for Canada and the EU, right?

Are you meaning Canada and the EU as examples of socialism that's worked? Or hasn't worked?

 

[Brad Sallows]

Tell that to Trump with his taking of Federal Gov't stakes in US/Canadian private enterprises, shutting down dividend payments and share buybacks for certain industries, instructing Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac to buy 200 billion in bonds - those things are very very much socialist.

They certainly are. And they are certainly not 95+% levels of socialism, either.

 

[Eaglelord17]

You want more government in every aspect of life? Socialism has been tried and failed. Every time.

The government is already involved in this. They already have set a limit on interest rates (approximately 60% annually currently), yet we aren’t collapsing today. My argument is the limit should be lower.

The Socialism boogeyman is a quick straw to grab. By the same regard the government should not have gotten involved in my right to own slaves or beat my wife because ‘socialism’.

Every major improvement in societal standard of living/rights have been pushed by governments like it or not. Labour laws, codified rights and freedoms, etc. pretending that the government can only do harm is just as wrong as pretending the government can only do right.

Believe it or not selective socialism can have greater benefit than ‘free market’ the key is it has to be selective and specific. Look at Vienna and their housing market. The only city in Europe with cheap quality housing in a major city and it is 100% a result of a program started by communists in the 20s.

Duplicating said program would create tons of economic growth, security, and long term benefits. We won’t do that though because it’s hard and not profit bringing for the elites.

Interest is the price of risk. Set a cap below what the risk requires, and the service goes away.

There are people who think payday loan companies ought not to exist because they are "exploitative" (a common framing), but they're almost always people comfortably outside the set of those who need the service.

When looking at the entire universe of fiscal matters, all the costs of social ills - shoplifting, property destruction, arson, injury, etc - not directly covered by governments are included in everything else - insurance premiums, retail prices, interest rates, reduced profits, unproductive uses of resources (replacing broken stuff), etc.

Canada and the provinces don't save the country money by shorting police and court and detention and medical spending; they just transfer the costs outside their own books (and usually in greater amounts, since problems are best and least expensively solved early).

Sometimes it is better to not have a service which is a trap than it is to have it. Considering the profit margins on these businesses they could take a cut without much issue and if they can’t maybe they shouldn’t exist in the first place.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Every major improvement in societal standard of living/rights have been pushed by governments like it or not. Labour laws, codified rights and freedoms, etc. pretending that the government can only do harm is just as wrong as pretending the government can only do right.

You're asking "every" to do too much work. Much of what is useful originates with private technological and commercial interests, and happens without, and often despite, government involvement, except in some cases providing funding but without really any particular direction. On the flip side, businesses have pretty limited impact compared to governments that can go to war and run institutional schools.

"Socialism" is almost too vague to be useful. Some will interpret it as the ideology of Stalin and Mao, which it is. Some will interpret it as the ideology of the NDP and Labour, which it is. There is a gulf between them measured in millions of deaths.

If any particular government scheme is particularly useful, it's often enough widely copied. If it isn't (eg. a facially admirable housing or education regime), then the two most obvious explanations are that it isn't as rosy as it looks, or other governments are themselves the impediments.

The Scandinavian nations have rolled back some of their socialism, which suggests practical limits exist.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Are they socialist? Or are they capitalist?

Can they be both?

I guess it comes down to your view on what Capitalism is.

What Trump is doing is under the definition/belief of 1 single individual - its not an informed decision based on feedback from market experts, Congress, discovery sessions with industry field specialists. Its Trump being Trump.

 

[MilEME09]

Well this is a win

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-08/trump-s-venezuela-oil-grab-is-pushing-chinese-refiners-to-canada

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009676309882937372

 

[brihard]

Well this is a win

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-08/trump-s-venezuela-oil-grab-is-pushing-chinese-refiners-to-canada

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009676309882937372

Alberta has said they plan to put forth an actual proposal NLT June and hope for approval by the fall. So I guess we can expect a rumble between the feds and B.C. over the summer. Alberta has made it clear they intend to pursue the ‘northern gateway’ option, so we’ll see some brisk legal action by BC FNs. I hope the consultation has started already.

 

[QV]

HOME | Dotting the Map

www.canfriendshk.ca

Not sure this is the best thread, but have a look at this. Posted by Michael Kovrig on X.

 

[HavokFour]

Well this is a win

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-08/trump-s-venezuela-oil-grab-is-pushing-chinese-refiners-to-canada

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009676309882937372

Meanwhile, learning absolutely nothing...

Conservative grassroots to debate DEI, conversion therapy, abortion and immigration at convention

Late Thursday, the Conservative party published a list of policy proposals submitted by party members across riding associations.

ottawacitizen.com

Archive

 

[brihard]

Meanwhile, learning absolutely nothing...

Conservative grassroots to debate DEI, conversion therapy, abortion and immigration at convention

Late Thursday, the Conservative party published a list of policy proposals submitted by party members across riding associations.

ottawacitizen.com

Archive

Meh. Same thing every time one of the party’s grassroots comes up with policy debates for their respective convention; some terminally partisan kooks come up with absurdities, much thunderous fury erupts in social media, and most of it it does not end up reflected in anything the party officially adopts as policy. Nothing to get worked up over, and it’s not like it’s a slow news day…

 

[Altair]

https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/slim-majority-canadians-54-support-stronger-trade-ties-china

When it comes to where to pursue more international trade deals, support for pursuing trade deals with China is soft, with just over half of Canadians (54%) expressing support for closer trade ties and economic agreements with this country. However, these most recent results are a departure from data collected in 2020, during the “two Michaels” incident, which showed that eight in 10 wanted to rely less on trade with China. The current numbers reflect a growing recognition that Canada should diversify its trading relationships amid uncertainty in its relationship with the United States.

Predictable. Best of luck to Carney on his trip to China next week!

 

[CBH99]

Meanwhile, learning absolutely nothing...

Conservative grassroots to debate DEI, conversion therapy, abortion and immigration at convention

Late Thursday, the Conservative party published a list of policy proposals submitted by party members across riding associations.

ottawacitizen.com

Archive

I wouldn't put too much weight on this...meh

Brihard is right.

 

[Altair]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chance-of-privately-developed-pipeline-almost-zero-if-no-government-backstop-former-alberta-energy-minister-9.7040397

A former Alberta energy minister says a proposed bitumen pipeline to the northwest B.C. coast is unlikely to materialize if Canada relies on the private sector alone to build it.

“I would say it's not just diminishing, the likelihood of a private sector proponent … I would almost say it is zero at this point,” Sonya Savage said on CBC's West of Centre podcast.

The former United Conservative minister's caution comes as Premier Danielle Smith argued that Ottawa act with new urgency to green-light that pipeline, highlighting the U.S. capture of Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro and prospect of increased oil development in that country as a new reason.

As I said, Alberta is going to need to create a crown corparation to make this happen.

As I also said, Venezuela redirecting their oil to US gulf refineries means this needs to happen sooner than later.

 

[Czech_pivo]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/chance-of-privately-developed-pipeline-almost-zero-if-no-government-backstop-former-alberta-energy-minister-9.7040397

As I said, Alberta is going to need to create a crown corparation to make this happen.

As I also said, Venezuela getting redirecting their oil to US gulf refineries means this needs to happen sooner than later.

Alberta really should consider setting up a joint corp with Sask and BC/Manitoba if they want in, say 15% each for a possible 60-40 split with private industry. Better yet, those 4 add in an Indigenous 5th partner and they each take a 20% equity stake.

 

[Altair]

Alberta really should consider setting up a joint corp with Sask and BC/Manitoba if they want in, say 15% each for a possible 60-40 split with private industry. Better yet, those 4 add in an Indigenous 5th partner and they each take a 20% equity stake.

100 percent.

What's pretty clear is the Feds are not buying another pipeline and private industry doesn't want to foot the bill, Alberta will need to be the money behind it.

 

[Czech_pivo]

100 percent.

What's pretty clear is the Feds are not buying another pipeline and private industry doesn't want to foot the bill, Alberta will need to be the money behind it.

It’s not that private industry is not interested - I’m sure they are, they are not willing to tie up capital that may be locked in a longer than necessary delivery timeline. If this gets built, gets mature and consistent, they will come knocking to buy out positions.

 

[daftandbarmy]

It’s not that private industry is not interested - I’m sure they are, they are not willing to tie up capital that may be locked in a longer than necessary delivery timeline. If this gets built, gets mature and consistent, they will come knocking to buy out positions.

Oh, they're definitely not interested in Canada.

The USA on the other hand... viz:

TC Energy shifts billions to U.S. as Canadian investment climate falters​

One of Canada’s largest energy companies is sending billions south of the border, citing better returns and faster permitting processes in the United States.​

One of Canada’s largest energy companies is sending billions south of the border, citing better returns and faster permitting processes in the United States.

TC Energy announced plans to invest $8.5 billion in U.S. energy infrastructure projects over the next five years, including a major pipeline upgrade in Virginia.

President and CEO François Poirier expects natural gas demand to grow by 45 billion cubic feet daily over the next decade.

He added that accelerating project timelines has been a key focus in the United States. What used to take two to three years to permit and the same amount of time to construct could be cut in half or better in the U.S.

Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs blamed Prime Minister Mark Carney for stifling investment in Canada.

“If it wasn’t bad enough that Canada has lost $63 billion in investment since Carney became PM, yet another major Canadian energy company takes money and jobs to the US, instead of Canada,” she said.

Stubbs added that TC Energy, formerly TransCanada, proposed building a west-to-east pipeline in Canada, but “the anti-development Liberals killed it.”

“The lost Liberal anti-development decade of blocked Canadian energy projects drives multiple Canadian companies with billions of dollars to the US to create American jobs, opportunities, and wealth, while the Liberals make Canada fall further behind,” she said.

TC Energy warned back in August that without a positive change in the sector, the U.S. would be a lower-risk investment climate.

TC Energy shifts billions to U.S. as Canadian investment climate falters

One of Canada’s largest energy companies is sending billions south of the border, citing better returns and faster permitting processes in the United States.

www.junonews.com