Canadian Federal Politics Thread v5

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I'm not sure what's funny about that?

There's nothing funnier to a "conservative" than a balanced budget.

[wish I was being sarcastic but it's more true than not]

[monkeyman]

Justin's brother reminds me of Fredo.

[Izzle]

Psac strike over looks like.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

If I can think of, and put it, another way:

The choice to some people boils down to the vague notion of potential corruption in some arcane way (let's face it, most people won't intuitively understand how the bribes are potentially working here) vs the almost certainty that we'll be debating things like banning transgendered people from sporting events for 4 years. And people in canada are going to choose corruption.

I think of myself as pretty smart, and I'm still trying to figure out how the bribes work here. I've asked twice and got one answer saying he'll become a board member and get a big salary (board members are volunteers and cannot be paid) and another with a vague reference to WE. Again, I'm not defending anyone here. I'm asking this question because I literally don't understand how a bribe to the Pierre Trudeau foundation gets into Justin Trudeau's pockets.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think of myself as pretty smart, and I'm still trying to figure out how the bribes work here. I've asked twice and got one answer saying he'll become a board member and get a big salary (board members are volunteers and cannot be paid) and another with a vague reference to WE. Again, I'm not defending anyone here. I'm asking this question because I literally don't understand how a bribe to the Pierre Trudeau foundation gets into Justin Trudeau's pockets.

Well, his family members are employed by the foundation. I think there are numerous potential ways that foundation money could find itself back in family hands, here are some examples:
- speaking event fees. Foundation throws an event and invites a famed family member to speak. Family member is paid a speaking fee. I seem to recall the PMs mother charging upwards of several hundred thousand for this. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mar...rity-1.5643586
There's the article. It was actually from another charity fiasco (I had already completely forgotten about WE, wow...)

- The retirement scheme you mention is valid, but with executives instead of board members. Charities can pay executives, and can pay them quite well.

- Money flow through; i.e. flow through bribes. Say Trudeau needed to bribe someone or buy influence. Well, he could have the foundation employ someone who he needs to buy influence from. The foundation having money to bribe people on his behalf would thus be similar to him just having that money himself.

- Potentially the foundation could be buying them trips or small gifts. It would be interesting to know if the foundation has a yearly retreat or board meeting somewhere nice.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Did you actually read the article you posted?





I'm not sure what's funny about that?

Are you new here?
This is Yoho you're asking.
You seriously don't know the answer to that question?

[calculoso]

Canada summons Chinese ambassador after threats against MP

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/cana...t-mp-1.6383908

OTTAWA -- The Trudeau government is summoning Chinese ambassador Cong Peiwu, after Conservative MP Michael Chong said Canada's spy agency identified a diplomat in Toronto as being part of the plot to intimidate him and his relatives in Hong Kong.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Ottawa might also expel diplomats from Canada.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Canada summons Chinese ambassador after threats against MP

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/cana...t-mp-1.6383908

Is the Federal government asking for a donation?

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Well, his family members are employed by the foundation. I think there are numerous potential ways that foundation money could find itself back in family hands, here are some examples:
- speaking event fees. Foundation throws an event and invites a famed family member to speak. Family member is paid a speaking fee. I seem to recall the PMs mother charging upwards of several hundred thousand for this. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mar...rity-1.5643586


There's the article. It was actually from another charity fiasco (I had already completely forgotten about WE, wow...)

- The retirement scheme you mention is valid, but with executives instead of board members. Charities can pay executives, and can pay them quite well.

- Money flow through; i.e. flow through bribes. Say Trudeau needed to bribe someone or buy influence. Well, he could have the foundation employ someone who he needs to buy influence from. The foundation having money to bribe people on his behalf would thus be similar to him just having that money himself.

- Potentially the foundation could be buying them trips or small gifts. It would be interesting to know if the foundation has a yearly retreat or board meeting somewhere nice.

I don't think any of those are all that plausible in terms of motivations. The Foundation's financials are publicly available and they really don't spend a whole lot on things that would or could benefit Trudeau or his family directly. And frankly, a $200K donation is pocket change for a foundation that has $140M in Net Assets.

I think it comes down more to soft power rather than being a bribe or a quid pro quo. China (via an intermediary) donates money and offers to build a statue of Pierre Trudeau in the hopes that it'll curry favor with the new Prime Minister, make them look like credible partners, and ultimately advance their goals. China is doing whatever it can to create a multi-polar world where they're seen as a credible alternative to US hegemony, and this (in a very tiny way) sort of ties into that.

It's the same reason rich people donate money to improve their image; it doesn't mean they expect or will get anything directly in return. But when you burnish your image through donations, it can help down the road and cause people to overlook the negative things you do. I mean, look at Bill Gates. Outside the crazies, he generally has a good reputation because of his philanthropy. But he's still a cutthroat businessman who has done and is doing a lot of pretty negative things like hoarding farmland, spending billions to undermine public education, etc.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Yoho

In case anyone wanted a good laugh this evening.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1653912825474031618

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ot...131200154.html

Canada’s federal government in Ottawa has posted a budget surplus of $3.1 billion for the first 11 months of its 2022-23 fiscal year.

Liberals are already balancing the budget.

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ot...131200154.html



Liberals are already balancing the budget.

They just had to increase revenues and the budget will balance itself.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ot...131200154.html



Liberals are already balancing the budget.

watch out for that 12th month.....?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

watch out for that 12th month.....?

Damned Smarch weather!

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Did you actually read the article you posted?





I'm not sure what's funny about that?

LOL, he never does, why would he start now?

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Yoho

In case anyone wanted a good laugh this evening.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1653912825474031618

^ above Yoho literally didn't even say anything and posters felt it was important and absolutely necessary to come to the Liberal party's rescue and comment on their behalf touting balanced budget surplus just recently announced and to put Yoho in his place.

All of which clearly avoiding the electoral reform mention as a potential platform point elephant which seems to to be the humorous part of the tweet. Not haha funny clearly, but perhaps worth a a small chuckle. I just roll my eyes personally.

Of course, it is completely natural to come to a party's defense as a non-partisan with partisan talking points (I'd use the term Liberal apologist to describe this behavior, but it seems to ruffle a few feathers around here)

Meanwhile, bombshells coming out today about CSIS warnings and confirmed that Trudeau lied...when Trudeau is confronted he states no comment and walks off. I'm sure those so politically devoted folks just a few hours ago will talk about it?

*Crickets?

Priorities I guess. But man, that 3.1 billion surplus? Kudos to the Liberals on a government job well done. High five guys

[Firebot]

Just days ago

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/poli...inese-foreign/


A day ago

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cana...-informing-mp/

Today

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cana...-pms-national/

Yeah not looking good on this Justin.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Firebot

^ above Yoho literally didn't even say anything and posters felt it was important and absolutely necessary to come to the Liberal party's rescue and comment on their behalf touting balanced budget surplus just recently announced and to put Yoho in his place.

All of which clearly avoiding the electoral reform mention as a potential platform point elephant which seems to to be the humorous part of the tweet. Not haha funny clearly, but perhaps worth a a small chuckle. I just roll my eyes personally.

Of course, it is completely natural to come to a party's defense as a non-partisan with partisan talking points (I'd use the term Liberal apologist to describe this behavior, but it seems to ruffle a few feathers around here)

Meanwhile, bombshells coming out today about CSIS warnings and confirmed that Trudeau lied...when Trudeau is confronted he states no comment and walks off. I'm sure those so politically devoted folks just a few hours ago will talk about it?

*Crickets?

Priorities I guess. But man, that 3.1 billion surplus? Kudos to the Liberals on a government job well done. High five guys

So you are happy about the fiscal restraint of the Liberals I assume?

[Sr. Mints]

I'm not entirely certain MP Michael Cooper isn't a toon in disguise - like Judge Doom

[timun]

Remember me, Eddie? When I KILLED YOUR BROTHER, I TALKED JUST. LIKE. THIIIIIIIS!!

— Michael Cooper, MP

[Yoho]

Sad state of affairs in this country.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1654232349800800261

https://twitter.com/user/status/1654228693018120193