it seems to me that both things can be true: the popular economic indicators can be looking good and everyday people can be experiencing greater levels of financial hardship than they or their parents have ever known.

Absolutely - data-based decision making is good, but the data has to be robust enough to fully capture the reality.

Regularly including cost of living measures alongside GDP would be a good start.

There’s no formal coalition agreement, and I don’t see Trudeau scrambling to offer cabinet posts to NDP MPs.

The less formal arrangement they had lasted a pretty long time, all things considered.

But Singh doesn’t owe him anything.

Well, no.

I want a system that’s actually designed to support multiple parties. Westminster ain’t it.

I’m torn on this.

On the one hand, I agree that a PP government is a terrible thing.

On the other hand, it’s hardly the NDP’s job to prop up another political party.

WTF is he thinking?

For better or worse, he’s probably reached the point where he thinks they need to cut all remaining ties to the Liberals, and not be seen as propping them up, formally or otherwise.

Get ready for one of the ugliest campaigns in living memory.

It looks like Trudeau wasn’t asking her to resign - he was looking to shuffle her out of the role and into a different cabinet post. Which isn’t exactly a vote of confidence.

I swear, this story said something about Canada Post agreeing to a 5% intirim raise last night, but that doesn’t seem to be in there any more.

Well, that’s a bombshell.

Yeah, unfortunately basic geography means there’s likely a hard limit on how much diversification is realistic.

We absolutely should do everything we can to reduce our reliance on the US, but options become limited once you remove rail and road from the equation.

Pfft you’re gonna believe some ivory tower elites in…

checks notes

…Alberta?

“I left Mr. Brown’s campaign completely of my own volition,” she said in that statement.

“In no instance was I coerced in any manner, by anyone, at any time. I am an experienced parliamentarian, seasoned communicator, and former cabinet minister who has proven more than capable of developing senior grade positions entirely based on my own read of a situation … to suggest that I’m not is ridiculous.”

This is specifically not a denial that interference was attempted.

And this…well…

“Preventing that division is why I’ve always taken into account the perspectives of many different Canadian interest groups and stakeholders before addressing issues that pertain to diaspora communities,” she said.

I’ve never been on opiods, so I guess that’s not worth discussing, right?

Fair enough - I do think the article makes it clear who the “everyone” is in this case - provincial and federal leadership - but I totally get why you’d bristle at it.

Yeah, the article breezes by it, but Canada’s ridiculous procurement efforts have been well-documented elsewhere.

Yeah, I don’t think we actually disagree with much - I certainly agree with the priorities you listed.

However, I also think that defense is also a priority - one that is becoming increasingly urgent with the general state of the world and the unreliability of our closest ally, and that has been neglected for decades.

And I’m not sure I buy in to the idea that we have to choose amongst those priorities. That kind of rhetoric is used to justify all kinds of cuts.

Shh, the grownups are talking.

Sure, and I agree. Your point?

Unfortunately, I think the need for defense spending is increasingly clear these days, no?

Yeah, it’s nice to hear they can still get things done, if they’re (a) motivated and (b) not being whipped by their leadership.