Canada is lost

[Herman]

When I returned to Canada in late 2023, I was shocked by what I saw and heard. It felt as if almost everyone I encountered now, of all ethnicities, backgrounds and ages, were angry. Friends complained about the impossibility of buying a home − homes that had been affordable when their parents came to Canada. Family members worried about car thefts and other crimes. People were making plans to leave − even those who had recently arrived.

What is the Canadian dream? It was a promise − less individualistic and gun-friendly than the American version, but no less ambitious. To me, the dream promised that every person here could have a decent shot at life, one that was better than that of their parents. There was emphasis on community and a strong focus on order and good government. The compact included the payment of higher taxes, and in exchange, the existence of world-class social institutions delivering for ordinary people. The immigration system worked because the same contract existed with immigrants − that they would work hard, play by the rules, become part of Canadian society through legal means, and in return, would become citizens of a highly functioning democracy where a good life was, if not guaranteed, then within reach.

The dream was based on fairness, on merit, on policies that worked. It promised breathable air and the bountiful resources of the second-largest country on Earth. It promised the principle of equality of opportunity, promised safety and peace and responsibility. It promised leaders who put the national and long-term interests of the country above their own partisan needs. The dream now feels like it's on life support.

Canadians are not fools; their discontents have good reason. "Canada's per capita GDP has been shrinking 0.4 per cent a year since 2020 − the worst rate for any developed country in the top 50," noted the esteemed investor, Ruchir Sharma, in May. Investment and job growth is driven mostly by the government, while "private sector action is confined to the property market." So the government spends, is unable to restrain itself or get results, while speculation and real estate investments drive the economy. Along with the systemic political failure, this may be an economic crisis in the making.

For many Canadians, the cost of living has become unaffordable. The average price of a house in the GTA is $1.1-million, and Metro Vancouver is around the same. There are certainly cheaper places to live, but the average cost of a rental in Canada has reached record highs − more than $2,100 a month. According to one major study, Canada needs to build an additional 3.5 million homes by the end of the decade and is currently only building around 200,000 a year.

To make matters worse, immigration − an exclusively federal jurisdiction − has gone unchecked, which is a disservice to both the country and the legal immigrants who have been here for years. Canada's immigration system used to be the envy of the world − focusing on merit, on the needs of the labour force, and on a generosity of spirit that was practically unrivalled. Canada will always be pro-immigration, but there needs to be a responsible conversation on the subject, not using it to divide people or sing one's own moral praises.


In Canada, the social contract for years allowed more immigration to grow the economy, but this came with stringent criteria for who should be admitted. Today, there are more than 900,000 international students in Canada, a 170-per-cent increase over the past decade. Some of these students have been scammed by for-profit colleges. Others have been affiliated with fake schools, using their student visas as loopholes in the immigration system. The social system was unprepared for such an influx, though certain institutions benefited: colleges and universities got more fees; politicians touted rising immigration numbers; the landlord class got an endless supply of perpetual renters. Without any housing available, this has left the country unprepared to deal with multiple, overlapping economic and social crises.

Whether for immigrants or those born in Canada, the same reality unfolds. We have created an entire generation of permanent renters, people who will work and struggle and maybe build some limited wealth, but will never be able to own property. Keep in mind that more than half of Canadians are living paycheque-to-paycheque. Many in my generation have been entirely shut out of prosperity − betraying the promise of progress for millions.

One sees neighbourhoods plagued by drug abuse and crime. Statistics Canada has reported that we are witnessing a 16-year spike in violent crime. The homicide rate in Canada today is the highest it's been since 1992. And Canada maintains one of the laxest criminal justice systems in the Western world, one where someone can cause the death of another and leave prison after six months. If America went too far in the direction of mass incarceration, Canada overcorrected in the opposite direction with mass leniency. One thing, though, is still a constant: The disproportionately largest victims of violent crimes, and specifically homicide, are Indigenous people and racial minorities.

At some point, one would think that the deaths of so many innocent and vulnerable people would elicit outrage − yet life goes on as normal. Each life is precious, and when violent criminals get off easy, or without punishment at all, they learn the terrible lesson that this country does not take its own laws seriously, so why should they? When the law loses its power to deter crime, either because of prosecutors not moving forward with cases, or because of a general laissez-faire attitude toward violent crime happening in other neighbourhoods, it is the marginalized who are harmed most.

Yet, Canadians cannot even read or share news on social-media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. It is an Orwellian experience − in the literal sense − to see one's own articles censored and silenced in a country calling itself a democracy. This is the result of an ineffectual attempt by the Canadian government to force the biggest social-media company on the planet to pay for articles. Either Canada should not have taken on such a fight, or if it did, should have dealt more tactfully and strategically with a company known to leverage its strength.

Open this photo in gallery:
An old passport photo of Omer Aziz from his late grandmother's purse. His birthplace is listed as Scarborough.
Courtesy of Omer Aziz

Normally, in a democracy, social ills can be addressed by public officials. But Canada's own political institutions have been riven by corruption and personal ambition. And now also potentially by foreign influence. Each controversy and scandal leads people away from crucial time and policy attention that could have been spent on fixing the country's major issues. At the parliamentary level, most members of Parliament are so frightened of speaking for themselves that they are rendered powerless. This defies the very essence of the British parliamentary system, upon which Canada's system is based, which empowers MPs to speak on behalf of their constituents and represent their true voice in the people's chamber.

Parliamentary committees no longer perform their functions, serving rather as poorly rehearsed theatre. Question Period involves many questions and few substantive answers. We are witnessing this systemic political failure in real time, with institutions and leaders no longer responding, or able to respond to the citizenry. This is not a failure of marketing or communication; it's a failure of leadership and vision. The excesses of superficial progressivism have been laid bare. Cultural virtue-signalling at the expense of substantive economic progress has corroded the values of progressive politics. It was easy to blame Donald Trump when he was president; it's much harder to deflect criticism now.

The social situation deteriorates. The housing shortage is chronic. Economic stagnation is severe. The political crisis may be even worse. At this moment, there is a backlash building. Evidence for this is everywhere − most recently in the riding of Toronto-St. Paul's, which just elected a Conservative MP for the first time since 1988 − and it would be wise for leaders in office to take notice. They should admit something went wrong, re-examine old assumptions and pivot. There must be a positive vision for Canadians, bringing in new voices and faces, and grounded in a common purpose that unites all people around the shared values of hard work and equal opportunity. Most importantly, politicians should dispense with their scripts and level with Canadians about the challenges ahead.

Canada is not broken; it is wounded. But the potential inherent in this country is enormous. Its future must be reclaimed and won soon, or lost for good.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-canadian-dream-is-on-life-support/?utm_source=PaidSocial&utm_medium=FacebookAd&utm_campaign=traffic_mkt&utm_term=SCL&utm_content=keywee-loyaltyscore&utm_id=1&kwp_0=2392679&kwp_4=6689495&kwp_1=2853378&fbclid=IwY2xjawE74PJleHRuA2FlbQEwAAEd__pk4h2jbcq_B46RZ23COHwxsQThp9zSB4FIVkgE8UscsdZlQMClLVLk_aem_c5PFHWkqIc0laCD_x7xgRg

The death of the Canadian dream.

No mention of mass immigration. It is the main reason behind our housing crisis, and a contributing factor to our crumbling infrastructure and health care.

[Brent]

Like most people in this country I am getting tired of being called a xenophobe for pointing out the incompetance of the Trudeau government.

It's hard to know what the Trudeau government was thinking two years ago when it dramatically increased its immigration targets given the added pressure this has put on three issues it says are priorities — housing affordability, improving healthcare and reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

Asked about a recent Leger poll that found 60% of Canadians surveyed believe too many immigrants are coming to Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller responded: "I'm not naive enough to think Canada is immune to the waves of anti-immigrant sentiment," although he acknowledged Canadians want a system that is not out of control.

The Trudeau government often blames anti-immigration sentiment when questioned about its immigration policies, despite the fact years of polling have shown Canadians are generally supportive of immigration.

https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/goldstein-high-immigration-policy-undermining-housing-healthcare-and-climate-goals

[Shen Li]

More than 250,000 people were added to Canada's population between April 1 and July 1 of this year. It's another massive increase at a time when the country simply can't handle this kind of rapid growth.

The latest Statistics Canada report on population showed that between July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, we recorded a 3% increase in population – more than 1.2 million.

[Shen Li]

Parliament is doing everything they can to censor Canadians and make them poor.

Winnipeg NDP MP Leah Gazan has introduced legislation that, if passed, would amend the Criminal Code to allow for charges to be laid against those who question the truth of residential school abuse.

The bill would allow for people to be charged with promoting hatred against Indigenous people by condoning, justifying or downplaying the historical and lasting impact of residential schools.

Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of any democracy. That includes the right to be offensive and say things that may be repugnant. A view may be unpopular or even be hurtful. It doesn't mean we have to gag those who express such views. If you disagree, you have an equal right to refute that opinion as you see fit.

Existing hate laws allow for those who incite "wilful hatred against an identifiable group" to be charged criminally. People or publications that disseminate falsehoods can be sued for libel.

We are still in the early stages of discovering what happened in residential schools. The way to silence those who deny residential school abuse is to provide unassailable evidence, through archeology, documentation and through careful study of the facts. That way we'll know what's being denied.

A disturbing trend has emerged lately to outlaw unorthodox views and punish those who express them. Who decides what's hatred and what's not? Criminalizing commentary is not the democratic way.

In a healthy, free society, vigorous debate and views that challenge mainstream orthodoxy should not be criminalized.
https://edmontonsun.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-lets-not-criminalize-unpopular-opinions

[Lokmar]

When white pee poe took over north america, we shoulda exterminated them dirty fukin pagan injuns like hitler tried to do to the jews!

[JOE]

When white pee poe took over north america, we shoulda exterminated them dirty fukin pagan injuns like hitler tried to do to the jews!

I think they already did....Lokmeer!

Yer American ancestors musta murdered 40 million of em.

The whole continent was covered in Injuns & by the time yer Grandfathers were finished weren't no mo than a few hundred thousand eh?

[DKG]

This is a more nationalistic view of what is causing the malaise in Canada.

How not to run a country: Government ineptitude and Canada's economic malaise

In 2024 Canada has good news to share!

We now have a rapidly growing export industry, already considered to be one of the global top 10.

It is an industrial dream come true, consisting of selling advanced manufacturing goods to the Global South. Statistics are somewhat unreliable, but the annual revenues were above $1.5-billion in 2023 with 2024 promising to break that record.

There is only one problem with this new export – it consists of stolen cars.

Yes, we are now officially an international powerhouse in car theft, according to Interpol. The situation is so bad that in March, 2024, Toronto police advised citizens to leave their keys in the front door to avoid confrontation with the thieves as they enter private homes looking for them, and our Federal Minister of Justice had his government-issued car stolen twice in 2022.

Even more disturbing is what this industry entails: taking a very large object – an SUV – driving it without any apparent problems into a major port; putting said SUVs in a container; loading those containers on ships; and sending them to prearranged foreign destinations. In short, our government has limited ability to control our very own borders, a basic tenet of national sovereignty.

Accordingly, a real concern is what else has organized crime freely been exporting from Canada?

The answer is: God knows, because the Canadian government certainly doesn't.

This story embodies the bizarre paradox of our federal government. We are adding people to the ranks of the federal service at an unprecedented pace, moving to a high of 367,772 in 2024 from a low of 257,034 in 2015. At the same time, the capacity of our public service to get things done, and done well, seems to be rapidly deteriorating.

The result is a government that fails in basic operation capabilities, lacks the ability to think, and is devoid of strategic leadership. We now address systematic long-term problems with short-term solutions that are either based on writing checks (our innovation and industrial policies), ad-hoc and bizarre (our Hail Mary pass attempt to fix the housing crisis by banning foreign students), or by bold announcements that are never followed up with action (from giving the public service independent expert advice to more or less anything green-related). This has a direct negative impact on the Canadian economy.

You might think I am just picking at extremes here, as it is well known that historically the Canadian government has been filled with the best and most educated people. This is still true: Our public servants are some of the most highly educated and most decent people on earth. Sadly, our country is being ran in such way that our government as a whole is far less effective than the sum of its parts.

We used to congratulate ourselves about our health system and tell ourselves the horror stories of how poor Americans with diabetes barely survive. It is time we face reality: six million Canadians are without a family practitioner, wait lists for surgery can span years, emergency departments are overrun, and private pay for access to anything health-related is on the rise.

Worse, we used to console ourselves by claiming that in the case of life-threatening conditions, Canadians get access to the best global care. However, in Ontario, for example, people diagnosed with cancer sometimes wait several months for treatment, and those diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's get no specialized physiotherapy. As anyone who has been to an ER lately would know, many of our hospitals look like, and have the equipment of, a poor developing country.

So, what about that basic function of government that allows it to pay for all those services – taxes? Turns out that the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) not only cannot answer the phone when citizens call but also has been systematically lying about its ability to do so.

According to the Auditor-General report that looked at the CRA's call centres, the CRA has been blocking more than half the calls it received (over 29 million calls annually). Blocking means that the CRA did not even give the caller access to an automated answering system. Worse, the CRA did so in order to be able to claim that it has a brilliant record of addressing citizens' requests, by counting only the calls actually answered.

There is nothing that says "Trust in Your Government" like having your tax agency caught red-handed systematically lying and trying to cheat the system.

In case you're curious, in typical fashion, the CRA tried to solve its productivity issues not through innovating by using AI-powered chatbots to help it screen more calls, for example, but by hiring even more employees. It has more than 55,000 employees and is still not capable of answering calls.

Yes, it's not just our private sector that leads the world in non-innovating. Our public sector innovates even less. When it comes to innovation, our public sector avoids engaging with new technologies at all costs, and when it tries it has zero capacity to do so – the Phoenix pay system anyone? Instead of increasing productivity by innovating, Canadian organizations seem addicted to hiring ever more highly skilled people to do the same low-skill jobs equipped with outdated equipment. No wonder that outcomes do not improve.

So how did we get here? How, from having one of the best forward-looking governments on earth, led by truly impressive public servants, to this: a country so timid and reactive and so incapable of innovation and engaging with new technologies that it cannot even answer the phone or pay its workers properly?

The answer is that first we dismantled the ability of our state to think and act, then we retrained our public service and transformed it into a meeker version. We then countered the unintended consequences of those two moves by vastly expanding the use of political advisers. This move further eroded our public service belief in, and ability to fulfill, its important public role. To counter that we became addicted to hiring management consultancies, such as McKinsey, to undertake what are supposed to be the core strategic functions of a properly functioning state. The federal government now hires management consultants in such numbers that the amounts we pay them and the ways they get hired became highlights of our auditor-general reports.

We have done all of that just to avoid doing the right things: i) innovate and engage with new technology and knowledge, and ii) believe in Canada and Canadians by re-empowering our highly educated and committed public servants to do their job as servants of the public.

This process started in the late 1990s when the Western world was filled with optimism. Globalization was seen as the means to unending wealth and prosperity. Naively believing in the promises that we can establishing global free trade and fully competitive markets on this earth, we systematically dismantled all our operational capacities to know, imagine, develop, and implement strategic policy at the federal level.

Canada's resources, ideas, and people are now owned and controlled by foreign corporations, some of which officially or unofficially are owned by foreign governments, further limiting our ability to act and define our own future.

This approach was paralleled in government itself. If strategic action is not only unnecessary but might be damaging, and the main role of government is solely to get out of the way and let "the markets" do their work, then there is no need for a forward-looking public service.

Instead, a vision of a more passive public service, whose job is merely to realize the decisions of the political leaders, came to the fore. Instead of seeing the ideal as public servants thinking about multiple opinions and ideas, hashing them out as part of a process of finding the best road forward for Canada, both the political and the public service leaders started to push the ideal of the meek bureaucrat – one whose main quality is collegiality. There are only very few true public servants left in Ottawa, the rest have become simply servants.

While on one hand this was viewed as a blessing by politicians who now felt they have more power, it was not seen as enough. A move to rapidly expand the numbers and the power of political advisers started about two decades ago and never stopped. Indeed, managed directly from the prime minister's office, the political advisers have become their own little party, fiercely loyal mostly to themselves and to their masters in the PMO, not to Canada.

As of 2024 we have such an extremely centralized government that Donald Savoie's warning in his 1999 book Governing from the Centre looks optimistic. This centralized government is run through two parallel organizational structures, neither of which is focused or empowered to think long-term about the future of Canada.

This arrangement resembles the dream of perfect control over the organization. This might work when your CEO is a genius with obsessive-compulsive attention to details, armed with a vision of future global dominance, and an amazing capability to micromanage – think Bill Gates and Steve Jobs in their prime. When we have mere humans at the top, this organizational set-up leads to an extremely reactive enterprise, drifting with no direction, while exhibiting a rapidly declining operational capacity.

Not all is lost, as there are still many pockets of excellence, especially in areas that necessitate deep technical skills, and Canadians as a whole are one of the most entrepreneurial, capable, and resilient people in the world.

But Canadians need to work with the best equipment and cutting-edge knowledge, be in control of their own future, and be empowered to do their best.

What is needed is a mindset change, the lazy fantasies of the 1990s are long gone, and the world definitely does not need Canada, it is Canada that needs the world. To win in this world we need a leadership that is committed to growing productivity in both the public and private sector and is willing to fix the government itself to do so.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-how-not-to-run-a-country-government-ineptitude-and-canadas-economic/?utm_source=PaidSocial&utm_medium=FacebookAd&utm_campaign=traffic_mkt&utm_term=SCL_ROB&utm_content=keywee-loyaltyscore&utm_id=1&kwp_0=2410477&kwp_4=6729460&kwp_1=2868217&fbclid=IwY2xjawFwpIlleHRuA2FlbQEwAAEdHZAUWgvag0ELtlG6m9TvDH_C2dHJWbnE-fP4dkVXCiU8vwdWzcbmv0_Q_aem_yyCL1s5DfhtoIGU84RDbSg

[Lokmar]

This is a more nationalistic view of what is causing the malaise in Canada.

How not to run a country: Government ineptitude and Canada's economic malaise

McKinsey Group is guilty of destroying many once great companies. You should look them up.

Cucknadia has disarmed its populace for the most part and its people were coming to America for diagnostic tests and  treatments more than 20 years ago.

Looks like its gotten even worse.

[DKG]

McKinsey Group is guilty of destroying many once great companies. You should look them up.

Cucknadia has disarmed its populace for the most part and its people were coming to America for diagnostic tests and  treatments more than 20 years ago.

Looks like its gotten even worse.

I am aware of who they are.

[Herman]

The Vancouver think tank, the Fraser Institute, put out a study of North American incomes and what has happened to them between 2010 and 2022. The study found that for the most recent year, all 10 provinces now have lower median incomes than even the lowest of the 50 states.

Even Alberta, which was 13th out of 60 at one point during the reporting period, is now 51st in North America. It still has the highest incomes in Canada, but it sits below the lowest American states, such as Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.

And here's the kicker. Of all 60 jurisdictions in North America, Alberta is the only one — the only one — to see incomes fall during the study.

Why would that be? Gee, I can't imagine it has anything to do with the Liberals' anti-oil, anti-Alberta, anti-investment policies, can you?