Donald Trump promises 25 per cent tariff on products from Canada, Mexico

[email protected]

Yeah, the next test is how he responds to all the Americans begging him for a carve-out at the very least. He could tell them to pound sand, or completely reverse course. Both seem about as likely.

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I’m talking about things like housing and affordability, which affect people across the country.

Housing is not the responsibility of the federal government. Any support they offer would need to be handled by Provincial leadership and municipalities.

As for “affordability”… that’s a very broad term. Are you referring to anything in particular?

The issue with blaming the feds, is that the feds can only do as much as the other governments (provincial and municipal) are willing to do.

In Ontario, for example, we have a crisis in education, healthcare, public safety, poverty, and crime.

These are issues that affect nearly all Ontarians on a daily basis, yet our government wants to waste money, and people want to blame Trudeau.

Our Provincial Government should be primarily focused on those concerns, but they’d rather misspend tens of millions to remove safe cycling infrastructure from the City of Toronto.

And you should also keep in mind that we have a minority Federal Government, so other parties, including those known to NOT CARE about people, are creating consistent roadblocks to progress in areas where the Feds have influence.

[email protected]

Trust me, I know EVERYONE will get hurt by a trade war because each province trade with the US more than with each other. But one in particular will be brought to its knees.

[email protected]

Ontario?

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Oh this isn’t ill will. It’s good for them. Some lessons are hard. Hopefully Trump will give them some self-realization that they are not American but Trump’s enemies.

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Oil and gas products were the single biggest export item to the US at US$128.5b in 2023. The next biggest category was vehicles at US$58b.

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Oil can, at some additional price, be redirected, though. A specific part for an American automobile, on the other hand…

Then again, Ontario is just as conservative lately, and has always been more American, so if it’s revenge against the right you’re after maybe that works.

[email protected]

No. Oil and gas are very hard to ship. Canadian oil is of heavy type which most of the world doesn’t use. Gas needs LNG terminals and we simply haven’t built. EU has been urging Canada to build some in Quebec and Maritimes so they can reduce dependence on Russia. Most of the pipelines go to the US south for refining - in Louisiana and Texas. Canadian producers have no choice but to sell to them, at whatever they want to pay. That’s why Alberta was bitching and moaning about building the pipeline to BC so that they can get a better price for their heavy oil elsewhere and Trudeau spent billions to appease them but that pipeline’s been in limbo.

[email protected]

Tank trucks exist, they’re just more expensive, which is why pipelines have been on the agenda. We also have upgraders that make heavy oil light - I’ve seen some desulfering plants in person (yes, I’m in this picture, if only geographically). It’s a distillation away from being petrol (and heavy/heating oil and asphalt), and the main cost of shipping is petrol, so the economic case is really just driven by the need for it at the other end.

Meanwhile, in Ontario a part crosses the border multiple times on it’s way to being generally saleable as a car, and would rack up 25% every time as the policy is currently proposed. You’re right, Alberta will be in the shitter economically, but we’re not the most vulnerable, let alone the most vulnerable by far.

[email protected]

How many tanker trucks you want clogging roads?

acargitz

In theory, USMCA is a law (his own law…) that has been passed by the US Congress. So in theory, he shouldn’t be able to just tear it up at a whim.

In practice, with US institutions captured by the trumpist republicans, lol yea.

EDIT: also “the 2020 deal allows for national security exceptions”, so that’s why he’s blathering about the crap he’s blathering about. EDIT2: Here, article 32.2.

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Two problems with your suggestion: 1)not enough truck drivers, nor trucks to move that kind of volume (this has existed for nearly 2 decades and getting worse - google it). 2) refining CAPACITY isn’t sufficient or they would already be doing what you’re suggesting. Upgraders, refiners are UBER EXPENSIVE to build, and NO CAPITALIST is investing in new refining capacity for the last 10 years. This is why most of the refining is done where it’s already built.

acargitz

It probably is under USMCA:

“[T]he 2020 deal allows for national security exceptions”, which is why he’s blathering about the crap he’s blathering about.

See here, article 32.2(b).

[email protected]

In the current NAFTA 2.0 agreement, signed in 2018, there is a 6-year renegotiation provision. That’s what Trump is using to change a whole host of things in the deal.

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Why would we waste time with a new agreement in the next 4 years when it won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on?

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Housing is not the responsibility of the federal government. Any support they offer would need to be handled by Provincial leadership and municipalities.

Better tax breaks and incentives for first time buyers, higher restrictions on foreign and corporate ownership of single family homes. Etc. There are plenty of things a motivated federal government could do. This government isn’t motivated to address the housing issue.

As for “affordability”… that’s a very broad term. Are you referring to anything in particular?

Something over and above the toothless grocery code of conduct, which hasn’t even been agreed upon? Lower tax rates on earnings for people near and below a living wage, which itself is indexed to inflation.

And you should also keep in mind that we have a minority Federal Government

Not while the Liberals held a majority from 2015-2019, and not during the supply and confidence agreement from 2021-2024. It’s incorrect to argue that the Liberals have been hamstrung by a minority Parliament. They could have accomplished anything they wanted to.

We should demand more from our federal government. The Liberals have been bad, and I don’t understand the view that they’ve done well under the circumstances. They haven’t. I read your comment as apologism for the Liberals, and I genuinely don’t understand that position.

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Better tax breaks and incentives for first time buyers

The feds doubled first time home buyer’s tax credit (2022), set up a “first home savings account” (2023), offers a home buyer’s plan, and some provinces offer their own rebates.

And as a reminder, even when the feds offer tax breaks to help people, Provinces bitch and complain, like with the recent announcement of a tax-break on certain consumer goods.

higher restrictions on foreign and corporate ownership of single family homes. Etc.

The feds announced an extension on bans on foreign ownership of Canadian housing.

Lower tax rates on earnings for people near and below a living wage, which itself is indexed to inflation.

There are a LOT of tax credits, rebates, and support for low-income individuals and families. Sure, we can always do more, but the feds have not stopped announcing new programs and extending existing ones.

Not while the Liberals held a majority from 2015-2019

Was affordability and housing prices a major problem back then? I don’t seem to recall any of the same ongoing reports of people struggling back then.

Things like minimum wage are set by Provinces and territories. Only federal employees are impacted by the federal government’s minimum wages.

We should demand more from our federal government. The Liberals have been bad, and I don’t understand the view that they’ve done well under the circumstances. They haven’t. I read your comment as apologism for the Liberals, and I genuinely don’t understand that position.

Yes, we should always demand more. No doubt.

But it seems like the things you’re asking for are already in place, and/or are the responsibility of the Provincial government.

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Yes, this is what I’m saying. The federal government can do things to address these issues. I’m not a policymaker, I’m just some jackass sitting at a computer. A government with vision could make strides.

And to my initial point, a government that could build political bridges with the provinces would be even more effective.

Rentlar

I don’t disagree that a lot of the Liberal actions have been milquetoast… but they have at some point implemented the things you asked for, for what parts of housing that is in their purview:

Banned foreign homebuyers in 2022 and extended it to 2027

Doubled the tax credit in 2021 and added a ‘flipping’ tax

Added the ability to get into 30 year mortgages (good and bad, but it is something that would make payments easier)

They’ve done the things you were looking for (I don’t think perfectly at all, mind you), yet within the provinces, only the BCNDP govt. has taken any independent leadership on their part of addressing the housing crisis. Ford has only gotten in the way, and a handful of municipalities have taken action, such as in Edmonton. Yet, people at large and especially Premiers are all pointing the finger at Trudeau for problems instead of thinking how to help.

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Alright. international.gc.ca/…/nafta-cusma_aceum-alena.asp…