[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Those people's jobs and livelihood were at stake before the NDP even got into office, having our entire economy supported by an industry that lives and dies by a commodities world market price which is set by people we have zero influence over was always playing with fire.

People were leaving before the minimum wage or carbon tax were even on the table. This is a fact.

We are currently suffering from the backlash of having a ridiculously unregulated economic structure for decades. The unemployed aren't the ones who are going to get the economy going again, the employed are by growing business with their consumer dollars.

What has gotten cheaper in the last few years? Rent, eating out, tradeswork, hotels, even the stampede was letting people in for free. Not sure why you needed me to cite examples on that unless you don't live here.

As for how these changes can possibly produce positive net results:
My view is that many here may likely be right in the short term, smaller businesses that rely on a cheap labour cost will probably struggle, some jobs could be lost, if that did happen hypothetically it would be logical to assume things like rent would go down in price since the demand would be down. Unless people decide to stop wanting to try and make money, new businesses would come in to replace those that folded, and if those businesses are better able to thrive in this new environment their employees will have more spending money to contribute to growing the economy. There appears to be an irrational fear among many that if one business can't survive in a $15 minimum wage and carbon tax economy no other business will figure out a way to do it.

Bonus thing that could help:
Maybe those who are better off than most right now try to reduce the impact of the carbon tax by making energy efficient changes to their home or car, which would also help the economy in the short term, while saving them money in the long term. Any of the carbon tax's other possible benefit will be defined by what they actually do with the money from it.

Put some real numbers into your suggestions and statements, it makes it even more laughable.