Canadians Solidly Behind Justin Trudeau

[-1=e^ipi]

I have stated I do not think it wise to bring in new Muslim immigrants

Well thank you for clarifying your position, Donald Trump. Because alienating liberal muslims is clearly the most effective way to deal with Wahhabism. *sarcasm*

The federal government currently takes less as a percentage of GDP than at any time in the last 70 years. Canada is still, overall, below most of Europe.

You forget the provinces. Most countries don't have such powerful sub-national units with massive debt.

How would you suggest that every member of a society be represented?

Proportional representation.

[-1=e^ipi]

I propose returning the GST to 7% and directing the money to those 4 initiatives. We still won't meet our obligations, but we'll come a hell of a lot closer.

I propose a GST of 25%, inline with countries like Norway and Sweden, in order to increase our savings rate to the level suggested by the golden rule.

[Wilber]

Right now, we aren't able to meet our obligations to:

DND

CIDA

infrastructure

health

I propose returning the GST to 7% and directing the money to those 4 initiatives. We still won't meet our obligations, but we'll come a hell of a lot closer.

We may end up farther away from those obligations if the result is a slower economy.

Reality bites.

[TimG]

I propose a GST of 25%, inline with countries like Norway and Sweden, in order to increase our savings rate to the level suggested by the golden rule.

Not an option with cross border shopping so easy.

[Smallc]

Not an option with cross border shopping so easy.

I agree. We are in a unique circumstance. That's why I think a 2 point increase, to return the GST where it was, is the most reasonable.

[Argus]

According to history every new wave of immigrants disproved the evidence that was held against them by prior waves.

Cite?

[Smallc]

We may end up farther away from those obligations if the result is a slower economy.

That cut took something like $14B out of the government coffers. It is in such small quantities (usually pennies) that it doesn't really contribute to GDP growth the same way that other tax breaks do.

[-1=e^ipi]

Not an option with cross border shopping so easy.

put a tax on cross border shopping, or encourage the americans to also implement a 25% sales tax.

[Smallc]

put a tax on cross border shopping, or encourage the americans to also implement a 25% sales tax.

You'd have to search (thoroughly) every vehicle coming home. It would be a logistical nightmare.

[Big Guy]

Proportional representation.

Tough to get 30 million representatives into the legislature.

[Argus]

Well thank you for clarifying your position, Donald Trump. Because alienating liberal muslims is clearly the most effective way to deal with Wahhabism. *sarcasm*

There is ZERO evidence that treating Muslims with the absolute utmost respect for their feelings and culture and values will change whether or not they decide to throw in their lot with Wahabism or even ISIS. It is a religious belief, and it has no care or concern for what infidels feel about them. I can't recall a single western Muslim who went ballistic and started killing people complaining about how he wasn't being respected or how his religion was being dissed, or how people didn't like him.

[Wilber]

put a tax on cross border shopping, or encourage the americans to also implement a 25% sales tax.

Ever heard of NAFTA?

[-1=e^ipi]

You'd have to search (thoroughly) every vehicle coming home. It would be a logistical nightmare.

Maybe go with the trump option, build a wall.

Joking aside, I don't think it is that unfeasible. People in the states have been advocating for a consumption tax for nearly a century.

[-1=e^ipi]

Tough to get 30 million representatives into the legislature.

Learn how to round.

Ever heard of NAFTA?

Is it even against NAFTA? It depends how you implement the tax.

[-1=e^ipi]

There is ZERO evidence that treating Muslims with the absolute utmost respect for their feelings and culture and values will change whether or not they decide to throw in their lot with Wahabism or even ISIS.

It's not about respecting people's feelings, it's about not alienating liberal muslims. One of the most effective ways to fight against Wahhabism is to have people argue and convince muslims that it is not the correct version of islam.

[Smallc]

Hey look - https://twitter.com/DanConifer/status/676582502035644416

I wonder what that country might have in common (and in an exaggerated sense) with Canada?

[Wilber]

Is it even against NAFTA? It depends how you implement the tax.

Any thinking tribunal would see it as a tariff and you are never going to see the US impose a 25% sales tax in order to support Canada

[Wilber]

That cut took something like $14B out of the government coffers. It is in such small quantities (usually pennies) that it doesn't really contribute to GDP growth the same way that other tax breaks do.

Debt to income ratios are at a record high. Canadian consumers have little capacity to be bled more. Increase consumption taxes and they will just consume less.

[Smallc]

Debt to income ratios are at a record high. Canadian consumers have little capacity to be bled more. Increase consumption taxes and they will just consume less.

That's going to have to happen anyway. If it were up to me, things like pension income splitting would also go away.

[Wilber]

That's going to have to happen anyway. If it were up to me, things like pension income splitting would also go away.

Again, less money going back into the economy. You don't grow an economy by making people poorer.

[Smallc]

Again, less money going back into the economy. You don't grow an economy by making people poorer.

Most people didn't notice the decrease in GST. Most people won't notice if its increased.

As for pensioners - they tend to horde their money. It appears they may be the last generation to have a great deal of it.

[Wilber]

Most people didn't notice the decrease in GST. Most people won't notice if its increased.

As for pensioners - they tend to horde their money.

Well make the tax 50% if no one will notice. They won't notice 15B coming out of their pockets any more than they will a government borrowing it. The underground economy doesn't exist. Never did.

Pensioners tend to live off their money and you can only horde something until you die, then what doesn't get taxed gets spent by someone else.

How dare those retirees keep what took them a lifetime to build. They don't deserve a standard of living anywhere near they had before they retired.

[On Guard for Thee]

There will of course be a "teeth cutting" period to go through, but I suspect the move toward renewable s will continue to generate economic growth and we will have to tip out hat to JT for nudging us that way.

[Smallc]

How dare those retirees keep what took them a lifetime to build. They don't deserve a standard of living anywhere near they had before they retired.

They don't deserve a standard of living that costs society as a whole. They generally have more money than working people. Why we now allow them to split it with their spouse is beyond me.

[segnosaur]

I am not at all surprised that this liberal government headed by Trudeau is so popular and I have no doubt that its popularity will only increase with time and they will form another likely bigger majority next time. It is an open, accountable, honest, kind, hard working, honorable government totally in opposite to scandalist, corrupt, heartless, dishonorable former Harper regime.

Or, they will be like the Chretien government, who started with a solid majority, but steadily lost seats in successive elections, until they themselves were thrown out in favor of the conservatives.

The Liberal government has barely had any time in office, and already they've broken one promise (bringing in 25,000 refugees by the end of THIS year), and other promises that are actually impossible to fill. (e.g. their tax cut promises and their impact on the deficit.) Certainly not a great start to their administration.

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/does-the-government-s-math-add-up-1.3357005/finance-minister-bill-morneau-won-t-scale-back-liberal-promises-despite-concerns-of-bigger-deficit-1.3359129