Politics
Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Has Destroyed Jack Layton’s Legacy
Former NDP leader Jack Layton, who had a genuine relationship with a broad cross-section of Canadians, led his party to its largest electoral victory ever in 2011, securing official opposition status. Since then, things have largely gone south.
Looking at today’s New Democrats, Layton’s broad appeal based on sincerity, friendliness, and a pleasant demeanor has been replaced with a more narrow one centered on divisive identity politics.
Jagmeet Singh, who took over the party’s leadership following Tom Mulcair’s ouster at the 2016 national convention, has unfortunately led the NDP down an ideological and electoral dead end.
According to Ryan Painter, a former NDP executive, under Singh’s leadership, the NDP has been all but annihilated in Quebec, losing 15 of its 16 seats, and even in the prairies, the party’s origin.
Under Singh, the NDP has become almost exclusively an urban party, the result of a leader who prioritizes the interests of individuals on university campuses and in white-collar government offices.
While balancing identity politics and the effort to advance progress for all Canadians has always been a challenge within the NDP, Layton understood how to appeal to activists without allowing them to co-opt the party, avoiding the virulently toxic wedge politics that the NDP now embraces.
Layton Fought for the Middle Class
Painter stated that Jack Layton recognized that realistic ideas may benefit middle-class Canadians. Whether it was his push to revitalize the automotive sector by investing billions of dollars in environmentally friendly cars and trucks made in Canada, or his commitment to working with the provinces to strengthen and eventually double the pension system.
Layton saw his job as fighting to build and strengthen the middle class. Not so for Singh, who showed no enthusiasm for a stronger middle class.
Instead, Jagmeet Singh focuses his attention on populist attacks on the “ultra-rich” and large corporations such as grocery chains, frequently targeting Loblaws and its CEO, Galen Weston.
It is important to note that Singh’s brother, Gurratan Singh, former Ontario NDP MPP, works for a firm that lobbies for Loblaws competitor Metro. Painter points out.
Millennials and younger voters are clearly anxious for at least one Canadian leader to acknowledge their growing sense of pessimism. However, Singh’s words of support and understanding concerning cost ring hollow coming from someone who enjoys pricey clothes, Rolex watches, and Versace bags.
A recent Abacus Data poll found that people aged 30-44—the elder millennial cohort, which generally favors the NDP—have all but abandoned the party.
Instead, they largely back Pierre Poilieve and the Conservatives. Why? Simple: Singh is providing nothing tangible for millennial and working-class voters to latch upon.
According to Painter, Singh has squandered Layton’s goodwill and transformed the NDP from the nation’s so-called conscience to the epitome of irrelevance.
Jagmeet Singh is Canada’s most expensive NDP MP
Meanwhile, according to the National Post, Jagmeet Singh has spent more than $500,000 on running his constituency office during the first nine months of 2024.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is now the highest-spending individual member of Parliament in the House of Commons, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre ranking lowest.
The most recent MP spending numbers were issued in late March, and they show that Singh spent $533,533 in his position as MP for Burnaby South for the first three quarters of the previous fiscal year (April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023).
During the same time period, Poilievre claimed $143,201 in costs relating to his work as MP for the Carleton riding, which was nearly one-fourth of Singh’s total.
Poilievre was also one of just a few MPs whose constituency costs did not include any funds for “travel” or “hospitality.”
To be true, Poilievre and Singh have significantly larger annual expenses as party leaders. However, in terms of expenses incurred as individual members of Parliament, Singh charged the most while Poilievre charged the least.
Singh’s seat is 4,000 kilometers west of Parliament Hill, but Poilievre represents an Ottawa suburb, thus it stands to reason that their travel expenses would be vastly different.
Singh’s outrageous expenses
Singh, while being born in Scarborough, Ont., and having previously represented Toronto-area ridings as a member of Ontario’s provincial parliament, chose to run in Burnaby South in the 2019 election and has represented the city near Vancouver since.
In 2023, Singh routinely rated among the top ten MPs in terms of travel expenses.
Between July 1 and September 30, his travel expenses of $65,836.58 were nearly identical to those of Lori Idlout ($66,181.59), a perennial high-spender in parliamentary travel due to the fact that she represents Nunavut.
Singh’s charges for paying salaries to employees working in his offices are roughly twice those of Poilievre. Singh’s salary costs were $63,790.64 in the most recent quarter, compared to Poilievre’s expense of $33,808.68.
In the second quarter (July 1 to September 30), the spread nearly tripled: $94,051.82 to $33,751.19.
Singh would also quadruple Poilievre’s constituency budget for “contracts,” which include incidental office expenses such as rent, advertising, and janitorial services.
Over three months, the NDP leader earned $45,535.99 to Poilievre’s $15,510.25. Poilievre’s whole budget for that period was nearly identical to Singh’s spending on the $4,500/month lease for his Kingsway constituency office.
Poilievre’s advantage over Singh
Of course, it’s a very different scenario when it comes to the expenses that Poilievre and Singh incur as party leaders. Those expenses are counted separately in their capacity as “presiding officers” of the House of Commons.
Approximately two dozen MPs, including the prime minister, speaker, and party whips, are paid budgets in addition to their MP expenses.
In these data, Poilievre has a significant advantage over Singh.
Poilievre’s expenses as “Leader of the Official Opposition” cost taxpayers around $1.1 million in the last three months of 2023, with an additional $35,463 going to the upkeep of Stornoway, Poilievre’s official residence.
The prime minister, the official opposition leader, and the Speaker of the House of Commons all have official residences.
During the same year, Singh’s costs as leader of the “Other Opposition Party” totaled only $330,994.71.
Despite the fact that Poilievre represents a caucus of 118 to Singh’s 24, the Conservative leader’s per-member cost to taxpayers remains lower.
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In terms of prime ministerial expenses, while Justin Trudeau is well-known for his exorbitant travel costs, the most recent numbers show that his Montreal constituency office is also one of the most cost-effective in the country.
In one quarter, Trudeau’s Papineau riding was one of the few offices, along from Carleton, that had no travel or hospitality expenses.
By Geoff Thomas
Politics
Trudeau GST Tax Holiday to Cost Taxpayers $6.3 Billion
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a two-month GST break on some purchases and a one-time $250 rebate for all Canadians earning less than $150,000. The proposed GST break would last from December 14 to February 15.
The Liberals said it would cover various things, including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals, and beer and wine. It also refers to real and artificial Christmas trees, snack foods and beverages, and video game systems.
The move will cost taxpayers almost $4.7 billion, and the GST exemption will cost an additional $1.6 billion, totaling $6.3 Billion.
The federal government is now running a significant deficit. This raises the question of who will have to foot the $6.3 billion bill for today’s one-time payments. The government will have to borrow the money, and future taxpayers must either repay it or service the additional debt perpetually.
Critics argue that the GST credit is a collection of terrible ideas that will do little to lift Canada out of the long-term economic rut in which our economy is stuck.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre responded Thursday to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pledge of a “GST Holiday” for Canadians, calling it a “tax trick.”
Poilievre stated that the temporary exemption from the Goods and Services Tax on various ordinary commodities “would not make up for the permanent quadrupling carbon tax on heat, housing, food, and fuel.”
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet stated he is “against any idea of a prime minister who says, ‘I will give you money in order for you to consider voting for me.'”
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, temporary sales tax holidays will only increase confusion and administrative burden for small business owners.
A temporary sales tax decrease would help boost demand in some industries, including restaurants, Canadians, and companies, which require sustainable tax relief during the slow post-holiday season.
The changes amid an inflation-driven affordability crisis have left many dissatisfied with the Trudeau government. A federal election is scheduled for before next October, although it might happen sooner if the minority government falls before then.
For months, the Conservatives have held a double-digit lead over the Liberals in public opinion polls, with Leader Pierre Poilievre promising to cut taxes and government spending to restore affordability.
High inflation has also pressured the Liberals to avoid proposing policies that would boost spending and raise fuel prices.
According to the Fraser Institute, The Trudeau government got one thing fundamentally right: Lowering the tax burden on Canadians has benefits. Unfortunately, the policy package it has proposed to deliver tax relief is completely wrong.
It lowers the incorrect taxes, moves taxes temporarily rather than lowering them, does little to improve economic incentives, and punishes future taxpayers. With the holiday season approaching, this attempt at a gift for Canadian taxpayers is the economic equivalent of a lump of coal in the stocking.
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Politics
Matt Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General
Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s candidate for Attorney General, citing concerns about a federal sex trafficking probe that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed.
Gaetz resigned after failing to persuade the Senate to endorse his contentious candidacy. Shortly after Gaetz’s unexpected departure, the president-elect issued a statement applauding his former AG nominee’s choice to seek Senate confirmation.
“I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all the great things he will do!” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.
Gaetz had earlier stated that he was retiring from his current seat in Congress and would not take the oath of office for the upcoming session, which begins in January. Now that he has withdrawn from consideration for AG, his future in Washington is uncertain.
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Politics
Eric Hovde Concedes The United States Senate Race To Tammy Baldwin.
(VOR News) – Eric Hovde, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, has acknowledged that he was defeated by Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate for the same seat on the ballot.
Baldwin acknowledged Hovde’s defeat and consented to it. Furthermore, he released a statement in which he contends that the election results are not only inaccurate, but also devoid of any factual foundation.
Eric Hovde experienced this two weeks after the election.
Baldwin emerged as the unofficial victor of the Senate campaign in Wisconsin, a race that was closely monitored by a significant number of individuals. Baldwin was awarded the title of victor on November 6th. Baldwin emerged victorious by a razor-thin margin.
According to the data provided by the Associated Press, Baldwin emerged victorious by a margin of 29,116 ballots, which is approximately equivalent to 0.9 percent of the total votes cast. Baldwin emerged victorious by a substantial margin, as indicated by the results.
Hovde issued his public apology subsequent to the conclusion of the canvassing of the results by the majority of county clerks throughout the state. This process will ultimately result in the results being recognized as official. Publication of Eric Hovde’s decision. Not only were the results announced at this time, but they were also proclaimed in an official capacity.
The exact phrase of the announcement, “Thank you for your support,” was included in a post by Eric Hovde on Monday and published on the social networking site X.
The public was notified of this announcement. The announcement was public on Monday. It has drawn a lot of attention. “It is time to begin moving on.”
In contrast, Eric Hovde’s film began with a somewhat less inclusive tone, which persisted throughout. He made this assumption without offering any evidence to back it up, and his claims that there were “many troubling issues” with absentee ballots tabulated late on election night were factually incorrect. His claims were not supported by empirical evidence.
His claims were unsupported by any proof. Not a single piece of evidence could possibly prove that his allegations were correct. He stated in the statement that “numerous supporters” had demanded that he challenge the election results. He acknowledged receiving the request.
Eric Hovde acknowledged receiving these demands.
In particular, Eric Hovde asserts, “However, a request for a recount would serve no purpose if it were not for a detailed review of all the ballots and their legitimacy, which will be difficult to obtain in the courts.”
Subsequently, you would recount the identical ballots, regardless of their authenticity. This is the reason, as elucidated in this article. This is the rationale for the current state of affairs.
Hovde and his campaign refrained from issuing any public statements subsequent to Baldwin’s disclosure that Eric Hovde had emerged victorious in the election, which transpired over a week after Baldwin’s initial announcement.
The previous week, he uploaded a video to social media platforms that expressed his “deeply concerned” sentiments regarding the election results in Milwaukee.
The election was conducted in Milwaukee. While the film was being screened, there was a discussion regarding the results of the election in Milwaukee. As the ballots were still being counted in the largest city in Wisconsin on the evening of the election, he expressed his “shock” at the sequence of events that had transpired.
Eric Hovde was emphasizing the occurrence of specific events.
In addition, he declared that ballots were still being tallied at the time of the election. Eric Hovde made this declaration during the voting period, while ballots were still being tabulated.
Baldwin’s team referenced her victory speech, which she delivered the week prior to the election, in response to a request for comment that was submitted on Monday.
In response to the campaign’s request, this action was implemented.
A representative of Baldwin’s team has verified that “Hovde has not called,” which is consistent with the information that was disclosed on Monday morning. The representative who provided these details has worked in a variety of capacities throughout their career.
SOURCE: WPR
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