#IStandWithTrudeau2025 is trending tonight:
Good job. Now carry on fighting the good fight at least until we see where we’re at with the Trump/Musk situation by Inauguration Day and have the foreign interference report in hand at the end of January. No…

The government shutdown talk in the United States shows Trump for what he really is — a weak clown Oliver Willis / Daily Kos Billionaires lead GOP revolt against critical spending bill …Led by billionaires who have been appointed…

Rough math, Canada’s deficit is at like 2.1% of gdp….. A little context: The U.S is at like 6%, The EU guardrail is 3%.

The sky is in fact; not falling

#Cdnpoli

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— booth4scartown.bsky.social (@booth4scartown.bsky.social) December 16, 2024 at 1:36 PM

Correct, don’t let anyone tell you $61B is a terrible deficit. Canada has a larger population and much higher GDP than when Harper was PM.

There are reasons for Trudeau to step down. The budget isn’t one of them.

#cdnpoli #bcpoli #onpoli

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— elcanaco.bsky.social (@elcanaco.bsky.social) December 16, 2024 at 7:59 PM

 …last year’s deficit was larger than expected because the government booked a bunch of legal settlements—primarily for the Indigenous communities—onto last year’s books (which is probably also why the Public Accounts have been delayed). These were one-time costs, so that means the deficit can continue to decline in the future, and economist Armine Yalnizyan noted that this was essentially a gift to the next government because it’s off their books, and they can make it look like they were more prudent managers when that’s not necessarily the case. Nevertheless, the government didn’t try to tease or hint that this was coming, which really makes you wonder about whoever is trying to decide on their communications strategy.

With all the goings on, there’s probably no interest in why the 2023-24 deficit grew from $40B to $62B.

Just in case: ~75% due to contingent liabilities related to Indigenous rulings/awards; rest due to lower tax revenues.

Details: https://t.co/0VvSbWBIh9 #cdnecon #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/UlWIpKDJQW

— Trevor Tombe (@trevortombe) December 16, 2024

…

The biggest ticket item in the FES is the extension of the Accelerated Investment Incentive. This is a huge deal.

This allows companies to save taxes when they invest, and only when they invest. It will cost $17.9B in foregone revenue over the next 6 fiscal years.

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— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan.bsky.social) December 16, 2024 at 3:44 PM

Next, debt to GDP. We put on some debt during the pandemic. (Which was the right thing to do!) We have now knocked a few points off it. (Which is the right thing to do!). I’m hoping to see this trend continue in the FES. (It’s the right thing to do!)

We are nowhere near 1995 levels. This is fine.

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— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan.bsky.social) December 16, 2024 at 1:00 PM

Finally, here’s the deficit to GDP. As a rough line, I’m pretty comfortable so long as the defict is under 2% of GDP. (We can run deficits of that size forever and still have Debt/GDP fall. Sustainable fiscal policy is about Debt/GDP.)

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— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan.bsky.social) December 16, 2024 at 1:14 PM

And remember this, too:

Final report on foreign interference in Canada will be released no later than January 31, 2025.

Early election? sure, but not before the release of that inquiry. Too many rumors about Chinese, India, Russian interference & foreign countries wanting Pierre Poilievre elected.

— J Hunter🍁 (@MrJoKeR604) December 17, 2024

After a day of breathless anticipation, Trudeau is still Prime Minister tonight. But tune in tomorrow….Here’s Scrimshaw’s liveblog of what happened through this afternoon and caucus meeting: Liberals In Crisis LiveBlog: Freeland Resigns On The …

Enjoy some of the funny stuff and the words of wisdom that I have been collecting lately:

I passed it too, did you? pic.twitter.com/98U7kI62Ob— Jerseygirl #FBR 🟧 (@gggirl924) December 4, 2024

pic.twitter.com/pQfcrLu3Ua— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAl…

So how does one prepare for a dictatorship?— Rocket’s Bitch (@Cheezydork74) December 11, 2024

Is everyone just whistling past the American graveyard right now?I’m seeing a lot of coverage of Trump’s incompetent, unqualified toady nominees for this …

This gentleman is spot-fucking-on. The assassination of United Healthcare’s CEO by a highly intelligent Ivy League graduate dealing with chronic pain is a watershed moment in our history and an example of the Republican deregulation machine attacking i…

I was looking at X tonight, and saw that Maple MAGA is just delighted with the “Governor Trudeau” insult.Jerks!Here’s what I think happened: Trump saw all the praise in Canada for Trudeau’s dinner initiative, and saw how Trudeau charmed the other…

Today’s edition of “Christ, What An Asshole” (CWAA):Donald Trump is once again “joking” about annexing Canada into the United States, this time calling Justin Trudeau the “Governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”

Totally normal and not crazy at all[i…

In the category of “things I didn’t know”:First, isn’t this interesting:Next, I found out today that the United States still has hundreds, maybe thousands, of soldiers at bases sprinkled around the Middle East including military now active in Syria:Sig…

You know how it feels when someone puts into words something you felt but couldn’t describe? Well, here’s an article from George Washington University professor Dave Karpf that describes exactly why the media have such problems covering politica…

The Syrian rebels are winning.The Washington Post provides this timeline article:

The shocking speed of Syria’s rebel advance against Assad: A visual timeline
Videos, photos and maps show how Syrian fighters mounted a stunning offensive against t…

Once again, Trump is shooting himself in the foot. I think that he and his minions thought it would be terribly ballsey to make a whole bunch of controversial nominations right away for Cabinet positions and directorships, so he could swagger arou…

Following Poilievre’s apparent rejection of Trudeau’s request for a united front against Trump, I’m reading some commentary about Poilievre and it ain’t pretty:Andrew Coyne / The Globe and Mail

Poilievre fumbles the Trump crisis: a missed opportunity …

On Tuesday, Trudeau told the opposition leaders to man up and fly in formation. I think the message was received loud and clear:  …Trudeau met with opposition leaders in his office on Parliament Hill on Tuesday to brief them on the sit…

Hey, sounds like that dinner was sorta creepy, doesn’t it?Some countries might go as far as mobilizing their troops over a statement like this

Canada’s political, business and media discourse will no doubt revolve around how we need to do more to appe…

I can’t stand Poilievre but Doug Ford? He’s the dopiest fucker outside of Smith ,and Ferrari perhaps.
What does that say about the party when Premier Lardass is the best they can come up with?

— KNugent4118 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@KNugent4118) December 1, 2024

Yeah, probably not:

If you’re going to say this, put up or shut up: groomed by who, what is the evidence, how are they going to get Poilievre to drop out

I want memos, meeting records, CCTV, OR SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH YOUR DISINFORMATION https://t.co/9ioOOcssKO

— Evan Scrimshaw (@EScrimshaw) December 1, 2024

But Ford likely couldn’t do a worse job than Poilievre is doing now:

Maple leaf milhouse lacks critical thought, patience, and well, ideas. He’s gonna be an abject disaster as prime minister.

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— Seafra (@woodward.ca) December 1, 2024 at 4:01 PM

Pretty pathetic when even Doug Ford has a more intelligent response to the PM’s visit. Poilievre stumbles when asked a question, resorting to insults and distraction, followed by changing the subject so he can repeat his mindless slogans. He then usually makes a hasty exit. He’s an embarrassment.

— Foolishly optimistic 🇨🇦 #CanadaSky (@ladyjaynes.bsky.social) December 1, 2024 at 7:44 PM

“I’m not the Prime Minister” – ya got that right, buddy!

Final question this morning from Politico.

“Who from Trump’s transition team have you or your party been in touch with since the US election?”

“I’m not the Prime Minister.”

??

Am I missing something here or… pic.twitter.com/MzUV3KziZd

— David Beaudoin (@DavidABeaudoin) December 1, 2024

The Toronto Star had the skinny on the Meat Loaf Summit: Tonda MacCharles / The Toronto Star Inside Justin Trudeau’s surprise dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida Trudeau and LeBlanc discussed trade and the border over din…

Tonight, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with Trump and talk turkey about tariffs. Now, Trump is a vain, stupid man and Trudeau is a progressive, a scholar and a gentleman, but both have great charm and both can use it ruthlessly wheneve…

Canada got to see its premiers in action yesterday, facing the first of the many existential crises that will define the Trump Administration, and it wasn’t a pretty sight. Dale Smith / Routine ProceedingsRoundup: The virtual meeting with the prem…

“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”
And more here

Slapping a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico is like trying to rob a bank by threatening to shoot your own toe off.— Human☮🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇸🌊 (@4HumanUnity) November 26, 2024

Trump wants to put massive tariffs on Canadian exports to the US: President-elect D…

So how come Canada is hosting nine Taylor Swift concerts?  Because when Trudeau invites you, you come:It’s me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you. So, don’t make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon.— Justin Trud…

This was the very first strip in Calvin and Hobbes, on Nov. 18, 1985 – all in all, I think Calvin and Hobbes was the world’s best comic strip. Moving on, some comments about the current scene:

I never wanted to live in interesting times.— Molly J…

Thanks, Justin!Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday a suite of new measures meant to alleviate some of the affordability pressures people have been experiencing in the post-COVID era — including a two-month GST holiday on some goods an…

On October 1st 2022, the Government of Canada removed all COVID-19 border measures such as required proof of vaccination, random testing, and mandatory isolation for high-risk travelers. For the first time since early 2020, the Canadian border is operating under “normal” conditions. For example: Americans interested in visiting Canada no longer need to download the […]

As of April 1st 2022, the Canadian border will no longer require a pre-arrival negative COVID-19 test from fully vaccinated travellers entering or returning to the country. Previously, a rapid antigen test or a PCR test indicating a person does not have COVID was required by border authorities. This rule change should encourage Canadians to […]

After being closed for nearly 19 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on November 8th 2021 the United States land border officially opened to all fully vaccinated Canadians. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced they will be staffing their border at pre-pandemic levels, but warns that wait times may be longer than in […]

On August 9th 2021, Canada opened its border to all fully vaccinated Americans allowing tourists from the United States to visit the country once again. The US border remains closed to Canadians, however, and American authorities recently extended the border closure until September 21st citing COVID-19 transmission rates south of the border as well as […]

Most Canadians are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Consequently, Canadians are starting to think about international travel again, and are beginning to research possible vacation destinations. This leads to the question, which countries can a fully vaccinated Canadian visit? As of July 2021, Canadian citizens who have received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or […]