[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Truer words have never been spoken. But happy to convert one.


The gap hasn't closed because macroeconomic activity in a global world continues to take hold:

Oh great, you did my job for me and outlined Trudeau's failures in helping and supporting the industry to grow. Great job!

- Canada's population has continued to grow during Trudeau's time. Per capita, if population growth outstrips production, then yes, the gap will widen, such as what was already happening prior to Trudeau's arrival.

Why has the population grown so much during Trudeau's time? Could it possibly be the astronomically higher rates of immigration that are a function of his administration's policies? You actually don't think this one is not directly attributable to Trudeau's policies?

- Global energy market has shifted due to increased competition from U.S. shale production, pipeline capacity issues, and regulatory challenges. All have hindered Canada's ability to fully capitalize on higher prices.

Again, how are pipeline capacity issues and regulatory challenges not a function of Trudeau policies? He's killed pipelines, had a significant impact on pipelines getting delayed (Trans Mountain), and Bill C-69 is a specific example of how his administration has made it more difficult to build pipeline projects and address the pipeline capacity issues. So yup, chalk up another failing of Trudeau!

- Ever heard of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted economies worldwide? The GDP per capita of many nations, including Canada, took a hit due to economic shutdowns, healthcare expenditures, and supply chain disruptions. It is disingenuous to attribute Canada's slower recovery solely to Trudeau's policies without considering this economy stunter. For everyone. Across the globe.

As you state, COVID-19 was a worldwide pandemic - I'm not sure why it gives the government a free pass for a slower recovery when everyone else experienced the same issues.

- Provincial policies and industry-specific trends play a large role in economic performance. For instance, Alberta's struggles with oil and gas production constraints stem in part from a lack of pipeline infrastructure and an inability to reach international markets. And yet, Alberta continues to produce at record levels, particularly compared to 2018.

Again, straight from the horse's mouth, pipeline infrastructure leading to an inability to reach international markets are directly in the federal government's jurisdiction. Who has been Prime Minister for 10 years again?

- There are a number of external factors playing into this, such as geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and global economic trends, things that influence GDP growth far more than domestic policies alone.

Not sure how any of this impacts Canada's ability to produce oil. Spoiler alert: it doesn't. But happy to hear your explanation for how it does.

Fair game to critique Trudeau's economic policies, but the argument presented fails to consider the multifaceted nature of GDP per capita trends. It oversimplifies the influence of oil prices, ignores global and provincial dynamics, and assumes a level of federal control over the economy that does not align with Canada’s federalist system.

I think I can find the quote from you on how the widening GDP gap since 2015 is attributable to the oil price crash in 2014. That's what you said. So who's the one moving goalposts when you're now saying that's oversimplifying things?

Now back to you, what specific policies has Trudeau (and by that, I am sure you're adult enough to say the governing party/coalition of parties) enacted that has hampered GDP growth and parity with the US? Especially relative to other G20 countries who are also a considerable gap behind them? What do you have to say about private economic performance beyond government regulations? What has changed for Canada's economic engine in the last 50 years to lose ground?

I have given you multiple examples in my previous posts and what you note above: carbon tax, over-regulation, Bill C-69, overdoing immigration. These are all things that have damaged the economy. Are you now willing to admit these have contributed to the widening the GDP gap?