this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2024
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I'm not sure I understand your point. I'm talking about things like housing and affordability, which affect people across the country. These things could be handled more proactively on the federal level, and with coordination between GoC and the provinces. A $250 cheque and a gst holiday in advance of an election is bread and circuses. There are real issues that the nation is far behind on. The current government has done a bad job with these. They've lacked the ability or will to even identify housing and affordability as matters for intervention.
Sorry, I just can't agree with anyone who thinks the current federal government has done all they could do to address these issues. The whole notion of "that's not the job of the federal government", it's mealymouthed, and I don't think it's an acceptable position.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The feds announced an extension on bans on foreign ownership of Canadian housing.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bang on. They're all culpable and doing nothing to address the underlying problem because they all know the solution bites the hand that feeds them (those with money).
As a good example we all witnessed over the last year + constant initiatives by all governments to free up capital to ease the building of housing. Outside of the government what private company is going to not want to maximize their profit when building housing? Rental units and low income housing will never be prioritized. Hell starter homes will never be prioritized there's no money in them.
Every opportunity for any level of government that is flush with land to say "we will build housing" like they did decades ago. Of course that would require real leadership and we all know that's not what is on the menu in politics anymore.