Roundup: The NDP back away from carbon pricing

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The NDP have shown their true colours as populist used car salesmen, and are starting to back away from supporting the federal carbon levy, with Jagmeet Singh telling the “Progress Summit” that they can fight climate change by focusing on corporations and not working families. Which is stupid, because those corporations will pass along the costs in a less transparent manner, there won’t be the rebates that benefit lower-income households, and in the biggest irony, dismantling the consumer carbon levy will only benefit the top one percent of earners.

None of this is actually surprising, considering that the NDP don’t have original thoughts or policies—virtually everything they do is just reheat American Democrat policies, with no regard for whether the situation applies in Canada or not, and then runs with it, and that means adopting the rhetoric around billionaires and corporations, never mind that the handful of billionaires who live in this country couldn’t be taxed enough to pay for the NDP’s plans, or that taxing grocery oligopolies at a higher rate won’t lower prices. Every couple of weeks, Charlie Angus will stand up and demand to know why the government isn’t aping Joe Biden’s policies. It’s embarrassing, but what can you do?

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have forced another voting marathon on report-stage amendments to the government’s sustainable jobs legislation, which the government contends were AI-generated, which the Conservatives deny. Of course, the Conservatives have been spouting complete horseshit about the substance of the bill, calling it “a global, top-down, socialist agenda to central plan a forced economic — not only energy — transition away from the sectors and businesses that underpin all of Canada’s economy: energy, agriculture, construction, transportation and manufacturing.” Utterly unhinged. Nevertheless, thanks to the motion passed in February, there won’t be any more overnight votes, and they suspended the sitting shortly after midnight, and will resume voting at 9 AM, but that will mean it’s still Thursday in the House of Commons, and there won’t be Friday QP. (Such a loss).

Ukraine Dispatch:

Russian missiles and drones have completely destroyed the Trypilska coal-fired plant near Kyiv as part of what they claim to be retaliation for the Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. A Russian missile also struck the southern city of Mykolaiv, killing four civilians. Here is a photo series about the winter war happening. Ukraine’s parliament has now passed the mobilization bill, and this is what it contains. Ukraine has also just signed a security agreement with Latvia.

https://twitter.com/ukraine_world/status/1778322274304541004

Good reads:

  • Certain members of the media continue to lose their minds that Trudeau will challenge intelligence (which is not evidence) rather than accept it blindly.
  • Following his meeting with Justin Trudeau, French prime minister Gabriel Attal agreed that foreign interference is a “huge challenge” requiring transparency.
  • Attal then headed to Quebec City and gave a speech praising the province for their support of state secularism.
  • Chrystia Freeland announced new mortgage amortisation rules and RRSP withdrawal limits for first-time home buyers (which are likely to stoke demand).
  • The PBO has produced a report saying that Canada needs to build another 1.3 million homes by 2030 in order to close the housing gap.
  • A new research database shows the federal government is using “AI” such as machine learning and automated tools in nearly 300 projects and initiatives.
  • Conservative and NDP MPs—including Jagmeet Singh—put on a dog and pony show at the heritage committee, summoning Bell Canada’s CEO to explain job cuts.
  • Pierre Poilievre gave a rambling speech at the Conference Formerly Known as the Manning Conference accusing Trudeau of being a wannabe dictator.
  • At said conference, Poilievre’s immigration critic said the goal of non-permanent immigration should be citizenship.
  • Happening at the same time is the NDP-aligned “Progress Summit,” where Jagmeet Singh gave his own speech about Trudeau and Poilievre.
  • Doug Ford correctly delayed supporting a useless NDP bill on intimate partner violence because he wanted to bring actual tools to it. (I’m shocked!)
  • Alberta’s advanced education minister claims their desire to control federal research grants isn’t about academic freedom. (Sure, Jan).
  • Shannon Proudfood notes which persona Justin Trudeau chose to bring to his testimony at the foreign interference inquiry, and why it was the wrong one.
  • My Xtra column looks at Canada’s ongoing tepid response to the situation in Uganda with their anti-homosexuality law, and why that tarnishes our reputation.

Odds and Ends:

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2 thoughts on “Roundup: The NDP back away from carbon pricing”

  1. If one waits long enough the true character of a political leader will be revealed. Singh fell on his sword and yes, it will be interesting to see how provincial governments and party’s rationalize Singh’s betrayal of everything the NDP has supported throughout time. Such hypocrisy! SHAME

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