Canadian Federal Politics Thread v5

[Roughneck]

Somebody is going to have to break down for me how increased funding for medication related to healthcare isn’t considered an increase to healthcare funding.

[timun]

Originally Posted by Locke

I have a solution.

We make Hospital admission kind of like Toll Roads.

If you want the doors to open you gotta toss a couple bucks into the bin.

Surely that'll add up after a while...

"Welcome to our home. Please place your imprint on the legal waivers and deposit your admission fee in the box by the door. Remember: my house is my house."

"... as are its contents."

[Locke]

Originally Posted by timun

"Welcome to our home. Please place your imprint on the legal waivers and deposit your admission fee in the box by the door. Remember: my house is my house."

"... as are its contents."

Hey...I'm game to get as Dystopian as we want to go.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

A little rich considering the same person commented on the Liberal’s “ideological bent” and told someone living with MS what the “real world” is like. What a joke lol.

In fairness, I don't have MS. It's a family member, which is why I'm pretty passionate about my stance.

Again, he has coverage, but only because his fiancée's plan, shockly, included him as a dependent.

If that wasn't the case, there is no doubt in my mind, my parents would burn their retirement savings, sell their house, and go back to work to subsidize his medication, if that was needed.

Honestly, I can't say that my kids college funds would be smaller, and my own retirement plans would be sacrificed. That's not to mention what his own children's education funds, and futures would look like.

But yeah, those diagnosed with MS, ALS, Alzheimer's, etc need to understand how the real world works.

I mean it's not like it's the government's job to change how the real world works and try and make it equitable for everyone!

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Yes, evil stuff where Canadian oil production rose 20% while the Liberals were in power, and they bought an export pipeline to ensure continued income.


And if our healthcare funding is dependent on a dying asset, perhaps maybe we should look to other options, no?

Have you looked at the latest figures for the Trans Mountain Pipeline? Are you not shocked?

Do you think the Northern Gateway Pipeline (NGP), would have been a better bet. It probably would have encountered much less resistance, thereby costing less, and would have entered the ocean at a much less populated area?

Of course, we should look at all options when it comes to making our healthcare better and more sustainable.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by timun

"Welcome to our home. Please place your imprint on the legal waivers and deposit your admission fee in the box by the door. Remember: my house is my house."

"... as are its contents."

"Your dialysis machine requires more Quarters for you to continue playing."

Ready Player 1.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's almost like decades of tax cuts have left us unable to afford basic needs.

Even with minor tax cuts, government revenues have continued to grow strongly; 5% CAGR in recent years.



Inability to control spending and now the increasing cost of interest are why deficits continue to grow.

The Canadian general government surplus decreased by $3.4 billion year over year and stood at $3.6 billion in the third quarter. The decrease was attributable to lower growth in revenues (+$15.4 billion; +5.4%) than in expenses (+$18.8 billion; +6.7%). Higher compensation of employees and interest charges were the main contributors to the increase in expenses.

In the third quarter, the Canadian general government spent $24.7 billion on interest, up 20.7% compared with the same quarter in 2022. Interest expenses incurred by federal government in the third quarter increased by 36.7%, while provincial-territorial government interest expense grew at a slower pace (+10.7%).

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dail...40109d-eng.htm

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

Have you looked at the latest figures for the Trans Mountain Pipeline? Are you not shocked?

Do you think the Northern Gateway Pipeline (NGP), would have been a better bet. It probably would have encountered much less resistance, thereby costing less, and would have entered the ocean at a much less populated area?

Of course, we should look at all options when it comes to making our healthcare better and more sustainable.

If you think a greenfield pipeline would have had fewer cost surprises than one paralleling an existing line, I've got news for you. There is no possible way it would have encountered less resistance from environmentalists. On what do you base that? You can compare it to Coastal Gaslink and the resistance they faced, and the amplify it by a million billion, because you are moving oil, not gas, and tankers up the coast. This was also Harper's failure, if you want to point fingers. Because they didn't take consultation seriously enough, and it was really defeated in the courts.


If it makes you feel any better, I 100% supported KXL and thought it was entirely bone headed for all the opposition it got. It was by far the best pipeline option on the table. But I also wasn't so naive as to the political realities, and that Trump didn't manage to give enough ####s to get it built in his first 4 years, why would we possibly bet so much money on round 2, with a Biden guaranteed cancellation and Trump's American protectionism? So dumb.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

It wouldn't take much for another Federal Government to be significantly more efficient than our present bunch in Ottawa. Less regulation and a more efficient system for the approval of major projects would help considerably.

This is just as much as a false wishful thinking thought as “budget will balance itself”. Efficiencies didn’t happen under Harper, hasn’t under Ford, and I’m sure hasn’t under Smith.

Less regulation is just code for “let companies do whatever they want with no consequences or oversight”, and we all know from the US what will happen when that occurs (ie: people, environment, and health all suffer).

Sound bites with no substance

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Or put the GST back to 7%

Or cut back on giving profitable companies subsidies

Or maybe, just maybe, we value human lives and put them first and not use money as a bull**** excuse so we can get some kicks watching them suffer

I'm in favour of a national pharmacare program, but I have serious doubts about the Liberals ability to facilitate and execute on delivering it in a way that benefits Canadians.

You know, like a lot of the programs they run these days.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm in favour of a national pharmacare program, but I have serious doubts about the Liberals ability to facilitate and execute on delivering it in a way that benefits Canadians.

You know, like a lot of the programs they run these days.

Ya, best to wait until the Conservatives are in charge and let them do it, right(that'll happen never)? Then it'll go as smoothly as the Phoenix payroll system or Shared Services Canada.


Point being, don't let the chances of complications be the reason to not do the right thing.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Azure

I'm in favour of a national pharmacare program, but I have serious doubts about the Liberals ability to facilitate and execute on delivering it in a way that benefits Canadians.

You know, like a lot of the programs they run these days.

Yeah it's not the actual program that worries me and more the government's ability to roll it out without bleeding money. Given the current government's penchant for gaslighting taxpayer money it's frightening to think about what may happen.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Point being, don't let the chances of complications be the reason to not do the right thing.

It depends on what you consider the right thing. National pharmacare is only a good idea only if implemented in a way that it's actually sustainable.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by calculoso

This is just as much as a false wishful thinking thought as “budget will balance itself”. Efficiencies didn’t happen under Harper, hasn’t under Ford, and I’m sure hasn’t under Smith.

Less regulation is just code for “let companies do whatever they want with no consequences or oversight”, and we all know from the US what will happen when that occurs (ie: people, environment, and health all suffer).

Sound bites with no substance

What we need is economic growth and increasing the taxbase without increasing the strain on the welfare system.

In other words, not more immigration and worker programs.

Oh wait....

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ya, best to wait until the Conservatives are in charge and let them do it, right(that'll happen never)? Then it'll go as smoothly as the Phoenix payroll system or Shared Services Canada.


Point being, don't let the chances of complications be the reason to not do the right thing.

I would much rather support a provincial program, similar to what the Liberals are actually doing with some of the funding they are providing for provincial health care.

Provinces need to abide by specific requirements to get the funding.

Some won't (Alberta), but some will (Manitoba recently).

It brings decision making closer to the ground, and allows for more local intervention and oversight to make sure the program is properly run.

To be fair I haven't actually looked at this program, but I'm guessing because it is called 'national' pharmacare it won't be like that.

[Slava]

I'll just say that it's about time for the Pharamacare plan. I have never understood why it's "free" to go to the doctor and find out what's wrong, only to have to pay for the "solution". I think that creates a lot of barriers for people. I realise that is a pretty socialist viewpoint, but on this topic I'm just guilty as charged.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Azure

I would much rather support a provincial program, similar to what the Liberals are actually doing with some of the funding they are providing for provincial health care.

Provinces need to abide by specific requirements to get the funding.

Some won't (Alberta), but some will (Manitoba recently).

It brings decision making closer to the ground, and allows for more local intervention and oversight to make sure the program is properly run.

To be fair I haven't actually looked at this program, but I'm guessing because it is called 'national' pharmacare it won't be like that.

The whole point of a national plan is savings at scale. One purchaser, not 13. Add layers, you add inefficiencies. And you point out exactly why it shouldn't be left to provinces, as it then won't be "universal" it'll be whatever each fiefdom decides. And if you are ruled by a Premier who believes naturopaths provide adequate care, maybe they won't be interested in it at all. Oh! Shocking surprise already!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

The whole point of a national plan is savings at scale. One purchaser, not 13. Add layers, you add inefficiencies. And you point out exactly why it shouldn't be left to provinces, as it then won't be "universal" it'll be whatever each fiefdom decides. And if you are ruled by a Premier who believes naturopaths provide adequate care, maybe they won't be interested in it at all. Oh! Shocking surprise already!

Essentially this.

Also, I dont think we really want Premiers dealing with this. These are people that have little to no medical training or expertise.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Two dumbest things federal governments have done in the last 15 years.

1) Conservatives reducing the GST to 5 per cent

2) Liberals drawing OAS eligibility back to 65 after the Conservatives raised it to 67.

Though ultimately this on Canadian voters. We’re not serious people. Nobody is willing to foot the bill for an aging population. That’s future politician’s problem. We’ll just keep kicking the can down the road until we hit a budget crisis in 10 or 15 years.

1. That's was Harper's dumbest thing. Nobody was clamoring for a GST decrease. Not even an election issue.

2. Not only lowered it back to 65, there's now a 75 year old tier!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Slava

I'll just say that it's about time for the Pharamacare plan. I have never understood why it's "free" to go to the doctor and find out what's wrong, only to have to pay for the "solution". I think that creates a lot of barriers for people. I realise that is a pretty socialist viewpoint, but on this topic I'm just guilty as charged.

Because there's only so money to go around. You'd have to tax a lot more like in Scandanavia. Even in the current system, there are quotas, a doctor can only charge to see this many patients, a surgeon can only do this many surgeries. Some specialists fill their annual quota then go do research for the rest of the year.