Welcome to Canadian Politics Roundup where I'll be writing about what's new and exciting in the realm of Canadian politics.
Vote Compass is here!
Yesterday the CBC launched their election tradition: The Vote Compass! The Vote Compass is a nifty little tool that tells you what political party your views are most aligned with. Anyone who's used the Vote Compass in previous years (or in previous elections) you'll notice some cosmetic changes. One thing they added for this election that I think is neat is a third axis to the political spectrum. The traditional conservative - progressive for social views and left - right for economic views are joined by the third axis of status quo - reformist views on the Constitution. In other words, if you like your Senate abolished, you'll fit in the "reformist" camp, if you like your Senate the way it is, you support the "status quo."
You can either visit the linked short article above and allow the CBC to introduce you to the Vote Compass, or you can go directly to the Vote Compass and dive right in by following: https://votecompass.cbc.ca/
Twitter war over C-24
Yesterday on Twitter, @JustineTrudeau tweeted:
Today I pledged to repeal Harper’s two-tier citizenship law, Bill C-24. Add your name if you’re with me: https://t.co/C46Di6KZAp
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 30, 2015
And @jkenny tweeted:
JT wants those who demonstrate violent disloyalty to CDA through acts of terror or treason to keep their citizenship https://t.co/xZVMPOA7ay
— Jason Kenney ن (@jkenney) August 29, 2015
Jason Kenny's attack seems a little spurious. I don't see Justin Trudeau not wanting to punish or prevent terrorism, Trudeau just seems to have problems with the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act (also known as bill C-24), which a lot of people seem to think will create two tiers of citizenship for Canadians.
There are also allegations that the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act will be used to kick people out of the country for protesting pipelines and other natural resource projects since the act includes nebulous language, like allowing the government to revoke citizenship for committing acts "against Canada’s national interest."
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, American Republican presidential candidate hopeful Scott Walker wants to build a wall on the Canada/US border. That article touches on the politicking going on within the Republican Party when it comes to illegal immigrants, and even Canada is not off limits. I think most Canadians would just laugh at the idea of a wall along the longest undefended and peaceful border in the world.
Both the Liberals and the Conservatives are launching attacks against the NDP's platform. Both the Liberals and the Conservatives are alleging that there is a "spending gap" in the NDP's platform, i.e. the NDP's platform has promised programs and government services that would cost $X billions, while promising to keep balanced budgets. If the NDP says they won't go into deficit, then something in their platform has to give.
What's interesting about the Liberal and Conservative attacks on the NDP''s costing of their platform is how they are different and what direction they are going in. Essentially, the Liberals are attacking the NDP from the left while the Conservatives are attacking the NDP on the right, even though their attacks are aimed at the same place.
The Liberals are saying that because the NDP's platform will lead to a budget hole, they'll need to cut government services to produce a balanced budget:
MP John McCallum, speaking for the Liberal Party said the the above linked CBC news article:
The Conservatives, on the other hand, are claiming that the NDP will achieve balanced budgets while delivering everything in
In the above CBC article, Jason Kenny, speaking on behalf of the Conservative Party, said of the NDP platform costing:
There are also allegations that the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act will be used to kick people out of the country for protesting pipelines and other natural resource projects since the act includes nebulous language, like allowing the government to revoke citizenship for committing acts "against Canada’s national interest."
When American politics touches on Canada
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, American Republican presidential candidate hopeful Scott Walker wants to build a wall on the Canada/US border. That article touches on the politicking going on within the Republican Party when it comes to illegal immigrants, and even Canada is not off limits. I think most Canadians would just laugh at the idea of a wall along the longest undefended and peaceful border in the world.
NDP, the current front-runners in the 2015 general election, attacked from all sides
Both the Liberals and the Conservatives are launching attacks against the NDP's platform. Both the Liberals and the Conservatives are alleging that there is a "spending gap" in the NDP's platform, i.e. the NDP's platform has promised programs and government services that would cost $X billions, while promising to keep balanced budgets. If the NDP says they won't go into deficit, then something in their platform has to give.
What's interesting about the Liberal and Conservative attacks on the NDP''s costing of their platform is how they are different and what direction they are going in. Essentially, the Liberals are attacking the NDP from the left while the Conservatives are attacking the NDP on the right, even though their attacks are aimed at the same place.
The Liberals are saying that because the NDP's platform will lead to a budget hole, they'll need to cut government services to produce a balanced budget:
Only one thing will fill the gap in the NDP’s promises: deep cuts that will hurt middle class Canadians. pic.twitter.com/d3stOt8KXT
— Liberal Party (@liberal_party) August 30, 2015
MP John McCallum, speaking for the Liberal Party said the the above linked CBC news article:
McCallum, a former bank economist, said Mulcair would have to slash spending or break most of his promises if he's serious about balancing the budget, adding that "Tom Mulcair is not telling the truth to Canadians. He's offering a phoney set of promises that he has no intention of keeping,"
Here's 1 way the NDP may pay for its $14B in new spending: "billions of dollars in new revenue" through a carbon tax. pic.twitter.com/BfS32F9upi
— Jason Kenney ن (@jkenney) August 30, 2015
In the above CBC article, Jason Kenny, speaking on behalf of the Conservative Party, said of the NDP platform costing:
But Kenney accused Mulcair of secretly planning to impose massive tax hikes.
"Canadians cannot afford the NDP," Kenney said. "We're only a third of the way through this campaign and already their reckless spending would mean massive tax hikes."
So which is it? Are the NDP going to raise spooky scary taxes, or are they going to cute valuable can't-live-without programs and services? If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say maybe a little of column A, a little of column B.
Thanks for reading my first ever Canadian Politics Roundup, follow me on Twitter: @WendelSchwab, and come back soon for more Canadian politics!
Wendel Schwab
Wendel Schwab
