Roundup: Reviving an abandoned capital gains plan

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Day eight of the campaign, and in spite of there being policy announcement, it was another fairly low-key day, or maybe it just felt like that without the usual wall-to-wall coverage. Mark Carney continued to hold private events in his riding, and took to media questions. There was no announcement of where Carney will be today.

Pierre Poilievre was in the GTA, and announced a plan to waive capital gains taxes if they are re-invested in Canadian companies. If this sounds familiar, it was because the Conservatives floated this in 2006, only to abandon it because it was impractical. Poilievre insists that this could be “economic rocket fuel,” but there is no lack of irony with the fact that it comes with an absolute mountain of red tape in the form of compliance paperwork. Poilievre heads to Fredericton, New Brunswick, later today.

https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1906432179493883989

https://twitter.com/MikePMoffatt/status/1906433266069963227

Ok here is the capital gains tax deferral idea (story from @stevenchase.bsky.social 17 years ago). Looks like the exact same promise from Mr. Poilievre today as from Mr. Harper in 2006. I wonder if anything has changed to now make this feasible?www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-bu…

— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan.bsky.social) 2025-03-30T16:31:49.860Z

"The problem, Mr. Flaherty has acknowledged recently, is it's proven "difficult and complicated" to enact the capital gains pledge.That's a euphemistic way of admitting what experts have long warned: that the pledge is too vague, open-ended and costly to translate into law."

— Kevin Milligan (@kevinmilligan.bsky.social) 2025-03-30T16:33:04.102Z

https://twitter.com/JohnPasalis/status/1906408130826674682

I notice the CPC, despite spending two years calling for an election, have no backgrounders for their election proposals. So here is my comment on their latest cap gains proposal: it is really stupid. Want more details? Release a backgrounder

— Dr Lindsay Tedds (@lindsaytedds.bsky.social) 2025-03-30T17:39:44.686Z

Jagmeet Singh was in Port Moody, BC, and promised to have CMHC offer low-cost loans to first-time home buyers, yet another demand-side solution to a supply-side problem. Singh is campaigning in Victoria today, before heading to Edmonton.

Meanwhile, the Paul Chiang controversy continues to simmer as the Liberals refuse to turf him, in spite of the fact that there can be no justification for the kind of behaviour he exhibited in instructing people to turn over his would-be Conservative rival to Chinese authorities for a bounty. (That would-be rival is now the Conservative candidate in nearby Don Valley North). That Chiang himself has not resigned is as much of a problem. The cut-off for nominations has not been reached yet, and they could still find a replacement in time (though not much time) rather than continue to let this complete lapse in political judgment continue to haunt them throughout the campaign. Carney is not Teflon, and the Liberals shouldn’t treat him as such.

Ukraine Dispatch

Russian drones attacked Kharkiv for a second night in a row, injuring two and damaging a kindergarten and private houses.

Good reads:

  • Here is how Indigenous leaders are viewing the prospect of a new prime minister, whether that’s Carney or Poilievre, and what it means for reconciliation.
  • The New York Times offers a reminder of America’s abysmal record of trying to annex Canada and failing on numerous occasions.
  • Liberals in Toronto say that the reception they’re getting is night-and-day with Carney in charge from when Trudeau was leader a few months ago.
  • The Conservatives are making a concerted effort to target blue-collar NDP ridings, even though a strong NDP depresses the Liberals’ vote.
  • Here’s a closer look at the rift between Pierre Poilievre and Doug Ford.
  • Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong has decided not to run again after the Liberals didn’t re-admit him to the party.
  • François Legault is pitching Quebec industry to Europe as they accelerate their process of re-arming in the changed environment.
  • Philippe Lagassé offers a reminder about what the Caretaker Convention principles are for Carney as he operates as prime minister during the trade war.
  • Susan Delacourt and Matt Gurney give their five moments that shook up the campaign in week one.
  • My weekend column looks at the dog-whistles that Pierre Poilievre is still blowing on his campaign as he tries to keep the far-right votes in his tent.

Odds and ends:

New episodes released early for C$7+ subscribers. This week I talk about why the Bloc's idea to reduce the Governor General's salary to a symbolic $1 is dangerous for democracy. #cdnpoli

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-03-31T02:48:43.613Z

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