Quote from: Shen Li on January 03, 2026, 07:50:17 PMVenezuelan oil is heavy oil. The US refineries along the Gulf Coast are built to upgrade and refine heavy oil. The extra supply from Venezuela means Western Canadian Select will face bigger price discounts reducing revenue for the governments of Alberta and Canada.

Shame on the federal Liberals for blocking Canada's top money earning export from reaching international markets and prices.

Maduro out of power might not be in our interests.

Venezuelan oil is heavy oil. The US refineries along the Gulf Coast are built to upgrade and refine heavy oil. The extra supply from Venezuela means Western Canadian Select will face bigger price discounts reducing revenue for the governments of Alberta and Canada.

Shame on the federal Liberals for blocking Canada's top money earning export from reaching international markets and prices.

For Christ sake. Things are bad enough in this country already.

By former Liberal MP Dan McTeague

The holidays are here again, a time of joy and festivity, of peace on earth and good will towards men.

ecause our economy is in particularly rough shape this year, and that is hitting regular people hard. In fact, a recent survey by Abacus Data found that "Fully 67% of Canadians say the cost of living where they live is the worst they can ever remember it being."

That's a worrisome number, made all the more frustrating by the fact that much of the rise can be attributed to the choices of our elected officials over the past decade.

Now, it is easy to see how that's the case in talking about our elevated heating and electricity rates. The Industrial Carbon Tax, which Mark Carney likes to pretend isn't paid by consumers, obviously increases the cost of extracting oil and natural gas, which ultimately gets passed on to ordinary Canadians in the form of higher prices.

Much the same can be said about a lot of the red tape which we wrap around our hydrocarbons, especially those regulations which our peer nations refuse to impose on their energy industry.

Our so-called Clean Fuel Regulations — which I've previously described as our Second Carbon Tax — mandate that fuel suppliers reduce the carbon intensity of products like gas and diesel by blending higher amounts of ethanol into fuels, making them less carbon-intensive but also less efficient. That sets you back several cents per litre whenever you fill up. It's also terrible for your engine.

Meanwhile, taxpayer funded subsidies to the wind and solar industries; our Clean Electricity Regulations; and Ottawa's utterly insane commitment — put into law in 2021 — to achieve national net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, all conspire to elevate your heating and electricity bills.

And the Green Ideologues in Ottawa are to blame.

First, because their keep-it-in-the-ground policies have functioned as a drag on our economy, weakening our dollar and diminished our purchasing power. Oil and gas is the backbone of our economy, and doing everything they can to keep it from growing has left us with sluggish growth, and a stagnant economy.

And, second, because it turns out that farmers have to pay the same costs that the rest of us, just at a much larger scale. Their heating and electricity bills are skyrocketing. The cost of fuel for their tractors, trucks, and other heavy machinery have also gone through the roof, making it more expensive to raise livestock and grow crops, and to get them to market.

And that's on top of the fact that they have issues that are unique to their business, like the effect of the Industrial Carbon Tax on fertilizer production plants.

Now, lately Mark Carney has been trying to signal moderation on this file. I'm inclined to think that his moves don't amount to much, with more steps backwards than forwards.

But perhaps those signals constitute a tacit admission that his party's policies haven't worked, and an openness to trying something different. If so, my advice to Mr. Carney would be to avoid half measures – scrap the Clean Fuel Regulations; and repeal the Industrial Carbon Tax; Bill C-69, the "no new pipelines act;" Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium; and Canada's commitment to Net-Zero.

But whether or not he follows my advice — and I'm not holding my breath — we still have reason to celebrate at this time of year.

The decline of merit is the story of modern Canada. It began as a slow corrosion under Justin Trudeau, whose rise was fuelled by name recognition and emotional politics rather than achievement. It deepened under Chrystia Freeland, who turned fiscal management into performance art. And it has continued under Mark Carney, whose credentials might suggest competence but whose actions have proven the opposite. These are not isolated examples; they are milestones on a national journey away from merit and toward mediocrity.

After 10 years of Liberal failure, too many Canadians feel that the Canadian promise is slipping away.

People have already sacrificed too much under this Liberal government.

They've sacrificed our jobs to employment-killing taxes, red tape and Temporary Foreign Worker programs.

Young Canadians have sacrificed home ownership, with the cost of homes doubling.

Families have sacrificed safe communities with crime skyrocketing.

Many are starting to wonder if things will ever get better.

Christmas should not feel like this. We shouldn't be thinking of what we are going to have to sacrifice next.

Venezuela, Lebanon and Afghanistan. The Liberals are sure keeping us in good company.

Quote from: Herman on December 16, 2025, 09:46:25 PMThe cost of living crisis so much worse here than in the United States.

That is caused by massive government spending and the Liberals focus on reducing Canada's CO2 emissions.

Jo Jo and I are disgusted with Mr. Carney's poverty causing policies.

Quote from: JOE on December 17, 2025, 10:04:18 AMPoor @Herman must be an extremely miserable despondent man, eh Shen?

All these posts about Canada sinking actually reference his own life. I worry about that Guy, Shen.

Things must be goin bad these days fer Ole Herm, eh Shen?

Yer his friend, so counsel him. Be a Pal. As a good forum friend only people like you can help Herm.

Sweetie, jealousy is not a good look on you. Just because Herman enjoyed a successful career has people that love him and has  financial security, you have me and your chocolate gold coin collection.

Besides, Herman is jealous of your adorable little bald spot.

Quote from: Shen Li on December 16, 2025, 11:11:11 PMNo advanced nation is cratering as rapidly as Canada is. As I said before, Canada's number one export is becoming talent.

Poor @Herman must be an extremely miserable despondent man, eh Shen?

All these posts about Canada sinking actually reference his own life. I worry about that Guy, Shen.

Things must be goin bad these days fer Ole Herm, eh Shen?

Yer his friend, so counsel him. Be a Pal. As a good forum friend only people like you can help Herm.

No advanced nation is cratering as rapidly as Canada is. As I said before, Canada's number one export is becoming talent.

The cost of living crisis so much worse here than in the United States.

Quote from: DKG on December 16, 2025, 07:43:03 AMYoung Canadians face a bleak future courtesy of those two.

Jo Jo and I are appalled at how the Liberals have stolen the future of Canadian youth.

Quote from: Herman on December 15, 2025, 09:54:21 PM

Young Canadians face a bleak future courtesy of those two.