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

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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…

Avid Amoeba

I bet there will be carveouts.

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I don’t get why more people don’t understand this. He’s just setting the tone for negotiations. He’s playing hardball, even with his closest allies…

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He’s a nut job. He won’t last a year before his pack of insane clowns implode.

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Buy next to nothing. Fuck this god damned country. No holiday gift giving…just cook a meal and invite people over for music and conversation. Maybe play cards together.

Edit: Just realized I was in a Canada sublemmy. My humblest apologies. You fine people do as you wish, but us curs in your filthy subbasement need to resist the shit out of this festering jejunal carbuncle’s self-imposed monarchy.

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Do we manufacture the gold toilets, or just supply the gold?

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Isn’t that the whole point of a “Team Canada approach”? All the provinces have their own needs and abilities, but we need some sort of coordination to make sure we’re all aiming for the same goal. And while housing may not directly be their responsibility the feds should be there for the assist with whatever the provinces need but can’t do themselves.

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And while housing may not directly be their responsibility the feds should be there for the assist with whatever the provinces need but can’t do themselves.

What I’ve observed is that the feds can give provinces all the money they like, but if the provinces are misspending or not spending those funds, you see no results.

This happened in Ontario during the pandemic. The Ford government underspent in healthcare while doctors and nurses begged for relief. It cost their lives, and the quality of our healthcare to drop significantly.

At the same time, this government has $48 million to remove bike lanes from Toronto, and apparently billions to build an underground tunnel for cars under the 401.

The feds can only do so much when provinces are incapable of producing effective leadership.

Jerkface (any/all)

It doesn’t come across that way.

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He’s doing what his Russian oligarch owners are paying him to do.

He’s literally getting money from Russian oligarchs who are controlled by Putin.

I don’t get why more people don’t understand this.

He’s not negotiating, he’s helping to destroy the country from within for his own personal gain.

youtu.be/bX3EZCVj2XA?si=YhWk-9UOjNyU04uV

This has been the plan since Russia started losing the Cold War. Trump was the first time a Russian asset reached the presidency.

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For his biggest donors

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The rich already crash everything else to buy up the world on then cheap.

Trump’s policies break parts of society, he’s breaking apart society and selling off the pieces.

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Anyone who has been paying attention understands that trumps idea of negotiation is to get everything and give nothing.

He doesn’t operate on the idea of mutually beneficial outcomes. The only way he understands him winning is to make everyone else lose.

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The biggest impediment to increasing trade with countries that aren’t 50km away is the cost and logistics of shipping.

Given their proximity, the US is always going to be looked at as the easiest place to trade with.

Of course, having a chaotic baboon running the place does change that calculation somewhat, but the fact that they’re just “across the stereet” still tilts that balance.