December 14, 2023 • 50 mins
Are you feeling the pinch of pandemic aftermath too? Has your favourite restaurant's quality taken a nosedive while prices skyrocketed? Join us as we pull back the curtain on the harsh realities of post-pandemic life in Canada. As we navigate a nation divided between those eager to move on and others stuck in uncertainty, we'll discuss the declining quality and increasing prices in the restaurant industry, labour shortages in various sectors, and the role of temporary foreign workers.
What if we told you that Alberta's healthcare workers are migrating to Saskatchewan for better pay and less demanding work? It’s true. The aftershocks of the pandemic continue to reverberate throughout Canada's labour market, and no industry is immune. We'll discuss the labour shortages plaguing sectors like construction, trucking, hospitality, and agriculture, and the role of the government in these crises. We'll also touch on the healthcare situation in Alberta and the intricate reasons behind this mass migration. As we journey through Canada's political landscape, we'll discuss the government's spending habits and the looming concern of Canada's high debt and deficit.
Do you ever wonder about diversity and multiculturalism in Canada? As we approach the final chapter of our discussion, we're going to dive into the fascinating world of communication, societal standards, and expectations. We'll examine diversity and multiculturalism in Canada, and how it is perceived among the population. We also cast a critical eye on the lack of accountability in various sectors, with a special focus on the government. Wrapping things up, we'll touch on recent government settlements and the role of progressive ideologies. We promise a riveting discussion that will leave you thinking long after the conversation ends. Don't miss out on this insightful episode!
Politically discordant, counter culture clothing for the discerning civil disobedient.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Whether we agree or agree to disagree, everybody's
got an opinion, and I'm about togive you mine.
So sit back, relax, buckle upand try not to get offended.
Welcome to This Canadian Thinks.
Since the close of the pandemic, the world has slowly moved
towards some sort ofpost-pandemic normalcy.
(00:21):
There's still the smattering ofpeople in public sporting a
mask and recently, with theonset of fall, health officials
have begun to encourage the restof us to do the same.
But for the most part it'sfinished.
Most Canadians have reached thepoint where they are simply over
the pandemic.
It's going to be very difficultto get them to socially
distance and mask up or dictatewhen they're allowed to be in
public again after the liftingof restrictions.
(00:43):
Aside from the pandemic havingsimply run its course, becoming
regarded as something akin tothe seasonal influenza that it
most assuredly is, their ownscience has always pointed to a
type of herd immunity, which iswhere we must be by now,
according to the modeling theyoffered us then.
Beyond the loss of human lifesustained during the time and
the disillusion of democraticrights and freedoms, there are
(01:05):
lasting repercussions, thingsthat have not returned to normal
as we knew them pre-pandemic.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
New polling from Ipsos shows while one in five
Canadians feel things are normalnow, the same proportions say
they're not sure they'll ever beready to live without masks or
vaccine mandates.
But regardless of when peoplethink the new normal will arrive
, 64% of Canadians say theybelieve governments are not
doing enough to get us there.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Well, we seem to be pretty ready.
That's what's beingcommunicated out of the research
, but it really is interestingthat almost 20% one in five say
to us that they don't thinkthey'll ever be ready, that
we'll ever be going back tonormal.
So even though we're sayingthat we want to get back to
something that resembles anormal life, we're still pretty
(01:49):
tentative.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
If you've been out to eat in the past year, you may
have noticed a downward trend inoverall quality, portions and
service, married to a steadyincrease in prices.
As exciting as it was to onceagain break free of the confines
of our homes to dine in localeateries, what we got was not
the same once we got there.
Far from it, in fact.
Many excuses have been made forthis, from supply chain issues,
(02:12):
lack of workers, increasedwages, rising cost of raw
materials and transportation, toname just a few.
It seems as though we went fromcalling our orders in to them,
calling in their occupationalperformances.
Even the most high-endestablishments seem to have
lowered the bar considerably interms of overall quality and
presentation.
It's as though no one is eventrying anymore.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
Hey you, you call this food.
My sandwich tastes like a friedboot.
My sandwich is a fried boot.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Some of you may be shocked to find out that the
restaurant industry is stillbeing subsidized financially by
the Canadian government, eventhough regular citizens were no
longer eligible for benefits asof November of 2022.
I know I was.
Not only are we receiving themost lackluster experiences
offered to date, but astaxpayers, we are paying them
for it through the CanadianEmergency Wages subsidy.
(03:04):
Meanwhile, the industry cries.
They aren't able to find staffwithout hiring temporary foreign
workers to fill the availablepositions.
If restaurants are hiringtemporary foreign workers and
are being offered wage subsidiesas well, then aren't we
subsidizing those workers on twodifferent levels?
First, at the temporary foreignworker level, where we
subsidize wages to make themmore affordable, which is a
(03:24):
fancy way to say allowingcompanies to pay a rate below
minimum wage by having thegovernment pay the difference
with your tax money.
Then, secondly, the governmentgives the restaurant a wage
subsidy to offset the overallcost of wages further for
everyone on their payroll.
This gives temporary foreignworkers a very lucrative allure.
No wonder companies would wantto have it appear as though
there's a shortage ofCanadian-born applicants.
(03:45):
It's not financiallyadvantageous to hire Canadians.
The incentive simply isn'tthere.
Curiosity would have one wonderhow many of the employees
benefitting from the CanadianEmergency Wage Subsidy Program
are temporary foreign workers,migrants or refugees.
Speaker 7 (04:03):
Across Canada.
The signs are clear.
The resources are looking forworkers.
The pandemic brought labourissues into focus, some sectors
in desperate need of employeesConstruction, trucking,
hospitality, agriculture.
There's more we could grow thanwe can harvest.
We could grow more food.
(04:23):
It's labour is our mainconstraint a lot of the time.
Speaker 8 (04:26):
We need a skilled, agile and inclusive workforce to
support a growing economy.
Speaker 7 (04:30):
Canada's new employment minister says his
government can help.
Under the temporary foreignworker program.
So-called trusted employerswho've repeatedly brought
temporary workers to Canada,while following program rules,
can keep employees for threeyears instead of the usual 18
months.
Their application process willalso be streamlined.
The pilot will cost just over$29 million.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Without localized representation in the workforce,
the regional identity is lost,as with the gratification of
serving the surroundingcommunity, the pride of a job
well done.
It's easier to do the bareminimum when you don't know
anyone in the area personally,which was the case pre-pandemic,
for sure, but it has becomeincreasingly worse Now because
people spent a few years eatingtheir own itchy ban.
(05:12):
It seems to be okay to presentsomething similar at the
restaurant level, simply becauseyou should be happy to be out
and not having to boil the wateryourself.
Where's the value?
It certainly isn't in theirofferings.
Bridge brand or Sysco packagedprepared meals is really the
only difference.
At the middle class level, mostmenus are identical, otherwise
Original fare all but reservedto the most expensive and
(05:34):
inaccessible of diningestablishments, pardon me, would
you have any grey poupon?
Speaker 9 (05:39):
But of course oh thank you.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
Are you putting grey poupon on a wiener?
No, no, it's not a wiener, it'sa Frank-Futter.
Oh, why Is that a bolognasandwich?
You're applying my grey pouponto that's bologna.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
God forbid you might complain.
Along with the terrible serviceand poor product, there's been
a table turned on customerretention as well.
At one time, the customer wasalways right.
These days, complaints areviewed as a form of abuse, a
type of verbal assault that willabsolutely not be tolerated
under any circumstanceswhatsoever.
Little to no effort is actuallytaken to acknowledge or rectify
(06:19):
problematic service or productofferings, yet we are expected
to continue to subsidize thislack of service.
In fact, the restaurantindustry clamors for more money,
stating that their industry ison the verge of collapse and
most restaurants days away fromclosure without some sort of
financial intervention on behalfof the government.
Speaker 10 (06:39):
Matthew Seneca Junkier owns this restaurant in
downtown Vancouver.
Pre-pandemic, it was abreakfast and lunch hotspot, but
the daytime office crowd neverrematerialized after COVID, so
they turned the back into a winebar in the evenings.
It's now an essential part oftheir business.
Speaker 11 (06:55):
The dynamic and the drivers of the business have
completely changed pre andpost-pandemic.
Speaker 10 (06:59):
One of the biggest challenges right now soaring
inflation.
Menu prices in BC went up anaverage of 6% last year, despite
cost increases of up to 30%.
Speaker 11 (07:10):
So I think there's sticker shock.
When we opened the business, a$9 sandwich sounded really
expensive and today, with thecost of ingredients that we use,
a $14 sandwich is too cheap.
Speaker 12 (07:20):
Labour shortages are another major sore spot 80%
capacity is all restaurants areoperating at because of the
labour shortages.
We've had two-thirds of ourmembers that are cutting
operating hours because theyjust don't have the staff and
the third owe pandemic-relateddebt.
Speaker 10 (07:35):
He says nearly a quarter of restaurants that have
yet to repay COVID loans willnever be able to fully do so.
Speaker 12 (07:41):
So the combination of those factors make it really
difficult for restaurants togenerate the income, to become
profitable, and what we saw inthe latest numbers is an
alarming number at that, 51% ofrestaurants are not making any
money.
They're unprofitable.
Speaker 10 (07:55):
The deadline to pay back federal loans is December
31, which is a one-yearextension from the original date
, but the restaurant industry islobbying the federal government
to extend that deadline another36 months and they want Ottawa
to respond by the end of thismonth.
In BC, the restaurant sectorhas spent the last few weeks
pressuring the provincialgovernment for extra support.
(08:15):
Now help is coming.
Speaker 13 (08:18):
We do know that a number of small businesses are
feeling the impact.
What we might really call aCOVID hangover is.
We've been taking thosemeetings and we'll be announcing
something shortly.
Speaker 10 (08:27):
But for many restaurants right across the
country, they're nearing atipping point and can't afford
to see their margins squeezedany tighter.
Tanya Fletcher, CBC News.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
What about taking on some of the responsibility as
business owners themselves?
What about putting some effortinto events or specials to draw
customers into theirestablishments?
What about updating the menuusing original recipes instead
of ordering prepackaged mealsfrom the large retail chain
providers?
What about hiring and firingstaff based on their customer
service abilities and cumulativecomplaints from customers?
(09:00):
None of these things arementioned, even though they have
far more to do with the successor failure of a restaurant than
how much the government iswilling to pay to subsidize the
staff.
Unfortunately, this is thepost-pandemic mentality that
seems to prevail.
Don't even get me started onthe new trend where it seems
we're expected to tip the personwho sells you a stick and gum.
Here's a tip for you Do morethan the very least that is
(09:22):
expected of you and people willgo out of their way to tip you
and thank you personally.
Stop expecting a top dollarwage for minimum wage
performance.
Speaker 9 (09:32):
Michael, have you finished that evaluation?
Yeah Well, I hope I need topresent to the board on Monday.
Of course you can no Now.
It's just, it's not strictly inpaper format.
Right, so you haven't done it.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
No, I have done it, it's just in my head.
Recently, it was discoveredthat one of the contributing
factors behind Alberta'sshortage of doctors and nurses
is the fact that many healthcareprofessionals are moving to
Saskatchewan, where they're paidmore for doing considerably
less, while most of us wouldlike to work far less for a
higher wage.
It speaks to the overalldisinterest in doing an
(10:14):
exemplary job.
Everyone is looking to do thebare minimum.
There seems to be nosatisfaction in going the extra
mile anymore, although you can'texactly blame them.
After years of being forced tosubmit to mandates and modified
work schedules, in many casesagainst their own personal
wishes.
Healthcare workers areexhausted from being constantly
engaged with theirfight-or-flight response.
We all are, which is why goingback to restrictions is going to
(10:37):
be a hard sell for most.
Even those who went alongwithout question are likely to
oppose it another time peoplelike myself picked in the
hospital but but b from familymembers.
Speaker 18 (10:50):
Albert up for over three years.
T be it a hospital or a lab,change Alberta Health S the
requirement to masking andcontinuing care cente.
The decision is based on casesand wastewater data, says.
(11:14):
Other contributing f includetesting positivity, admission
rates for respi Alberta, as wellas consult, including patients,
their managers.
This news has b and worry toothers.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
I h the NICU and so taking a has been like my
mentality, so masking hasn'tbeen a.
Know, if they feel like th thatI'm probably going t their
decision.
Speaker 18 (11:50):
It's not I don't like to wear, but of the safety
of my patient.
Ahs says masks and PPE wil forpatients and healthca mask up
but as of June 19, infectiousdiseases expert says it has been
(12:10):
hard to through a mask and manyo will probably not mask up
required.
Speaker 17 (12:18):
I think many oth done this, like most recent in
BC in April, and we kn seenmajor issues in those some point
in time you kn forever.
So it's probably this as thesummer season of transmission we
(12:39):
see in.
Speaker 18 (12:41):
Dr Gregson stresses, though compulsory anymore Yet l
if they feel sick or they ofimmunocompromised peop that some
people aren't s mask when theygo out in p may be victims of
stockho.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Hope that they're wearing are sick and not to
protec.
That's the one thing we s thiswhole debacle.
If yo home, if you can't stay hpublic, wear a mask.
That' really far more effective.
Vaccine acceptance or th forcedon the populist ju.
Speaker 19 (13:25):
Let's say you get kidnap right and during the cour
somehow you fall in love.
It's rare but it happens.
Central.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Restaurants and the only ones calling in governments
too, are operat unacceptablefashion at e local municipality
to the Even they seem to think Ifocus on benefit over effort.
They pass an extension to toenshrine it into legis.
Future Politicians don'tparliament anymore.
(14:03):
Instead, virtually via videocall, they're looking to limit
four per week instead of tgiving themselves all a h
recently as well.
More exp depreciated programofferi the ground floor to the g
of parliament are once agairemotely.
Speaker 16 (14:27):
A motion has pa to resume hybrid sittings.
New democrats voted in fav.
Votes against the conservaEpoqua.
The NDP supporti.
Putting an end to two daysgives MPs the option of p in
proceedings.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
While li their best to convince th about the
benefits of ost.
The highest inflation Can?
Articles have surfaced reTrudeau's Easter Vacation?
A quarter of a million do250,000, courtesy of john C.
Hasn't been this much dgoverning class on the cit
(15:09):
Antoinette proclaimed.
Speaker 20 (15:10):
Let how well that worked out I they went to the
queen to had no bread.
Do you know?
Speaker 9 (15:23):
Let them eat cake.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
When a referred to as their burn, never spend more
capital at any rate beyond thatwh.
Replace it Canada's burn charts.
Any competent levi divestedlong ago and in seen our credit
rating re been downgradedalready e would never admit it.
(15:45):
Ac three star credit rating ais proof that the current sound
Meanwhile investi pace as morecompanies av to the fragile
economics it can be hard forpeople it fiscally responsible o
in Ottawa I think the h us.
Speaker 21 (16:08):
There are lots of par flying around and so wha to
you, but even more to us andwatching us.
Um I me to grade my own.
Homewo me say government isfisc.
Want some proof points S quickproof points.
(16:30):
The f debt and Canada's deficitare the lowest in the G 7.
Thing and this speaks to.
We should grade our own.
H you to want us to grade o?
Is someone out there whos of usa grade and that I ratings
(16:57):
agencies and the agencies aregiving?
Canada today is the highestgrade credit rating.
Speaker 22 (17:07):
And that I credit rating from my bank that I
should increase th staff that Ihave at my w out of at a pace
faster t in the public service.
Speaker 21 (17:21):
I that that pays perhaps b the cuts that you're
now over the next five years onthat, the rating that us is
based on where we a based onwhat they think forward.
So they're looking, they'relooking at how st and is it
(17:44):
growing, so the to makeinvestments to be and what they
also think of investments inline with rate of growth, with
the re investments.
That's what I think broadly,that's wha us and that is what
(18:07):
we ar to delivering.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
That's wha total debt to date is over a good year.
Revenues will Federal interestpayments each 20.2 billion or
7.3% revenues in 2020, 2021.
The the public, which meant twas spending seven cents o on
(18:33):
interest payments as de paymentson the national in fiscal year
2022, the Interest costs grew35% l to grow by another 35% by,
in fact, our total national, orroughly half the cost o.
(18:55):
We're paying twice as much costto operate the entie.
Speaker 22 (19:02):
Minister Christofreeland fa affordability
and Canada's adding to theinflation.
Pro economic update peg the dfiscal year at about $40 b
budget projected, but the fewyears after that is n at budget.
The cost to pay rises due tothat, deficit rates reaching
(19:24):
more than 2028.
Speaker 23 (19:27):
This is someone wha debt.
He's added more dea primeminister is combined will spend
more on debt I that we do inhealth care measures for housing
.
Speaker 22 (19:40):
15 b.
Loan funding for rental a won'tbe available for an proposed
tax.
Measures to short term rentalsand a charter a codification of
banks are expected to foborrowers, though it's no
government has announced.
Speaker 12 (20:01):
It's not even a mini budget.
It does not meet the urgengoing through.
It doesn't needs.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
According to the F total interest costs for the
country, the total per amountedto 67.7 billioni.
This is nearly equivalentpension benefits acquired and
Quebec pension plans billion.
It's also just u spent onpublic kindergarten in Canada in
(20:35):
2019 2020, th available data.
These comp to demonstrate thescale o the country.
They also prov to which debtaccumulations away from
important public governmentsburn rate mor uncontrollable
wildfire.
(20:56):
Th fiscally sound it's as th tospend all the money th order to
get rid of it.
Be they can usher in their bdigital currency once and
Imagine a digital loony becominglegal tender.
Speaker 15 (21:15):
Well, that day is getting closer.
A recent survey found mostmajor banks are considering some
form of digital currency withinthe next six years.
Three research teams haveproduced proposals for the Bank
of Canada, as Eric Sorensenreports.
This could fuel the digitaleconomy.
Speaker 24 (21:31):
Every day, more Canadians pay digitally and
fewer businesses need this Acash drawer stuffed with bills.
Canadians are among the mostcash-free spenders in the world,
so is it time for digitalcurrency?
The Bank of Canada isn'tpromoting the idea, but believes
it needs to be ready.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Currency is a core part of the Bank of Canada's
mandate.
For several years, the Bank ofCanada has been analyzing what
circumstances might lead Canadato decide to issue a digital
currency.
Speaker 24 (22:03):
The Bank of Canada is now studying proposals from
three sets of university expertsfor a homegrown digital
currency Formulas for how tospend with the anonymity of cash
without using cash.
It could work like this Throughan app on a cell phone, a user
sets up a secure e-wallet, it'sauthenticated through a
government agency and it's readyto go.
(22:25):
The merchant establishes adigital transaction to accept
the funds.
But a critical new step inbetween what the U of T and York
team calls a white list, wherethe transaction is not only
authenticated but will ensurecustomer information is not
passed on, just the money.
Privacy is paramount.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
We believe that the Canadian government has an
obligation to give people a wayto protect their privacy and
give them, in particular becausepayments are so central for
commercial interactions.
Speaker 24 (22:53):
The currency would require measures against too
much privacy to prevent moneylaundering and tax evasion.
And while cash payments arebecoming a smaller part of the
economy, the central bank saysit wouldn't abandon communities
not connected to high-techcommerce.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
That means, for one thing, ensuring that remote and
marginalized communities are notleft out of any new way of way
to pay for goods and services.
Speaker 24 (23:16):
The so-called CBDC wouldn't be a direct counter to
Bitcoin, which is an investmentcurrency rather than a cash
equivalent consumer currency.
But Canada cannot sit back, sayexperts, as other countries
like China unveil digitalcurrencies and private
enterprise cryptocurrencies suchas Facebook's DM are developed.
Speaker 17 (23:35):
It's a matter of national sovereignty.
So I don't think the Bank ofCanada, or any central bank for
that matter, would like tooutsource this process to a
third party, even if it is adomestic party land alone a
foreign one.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Only a central bank can guarantee complete safety
and universal access, and withpublic interest, not profits, as
a top priority.
Speaker 24 (23:59):
Digital currency won't be issued before Canadians
and Ottawa wanted, but whenthey do, the Bank of Canada
wants to be ready to roll it out.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Can you imagine how awful the rollout of a digital
currency will be?
The government couldn'torganize a butt-kicking contest
if the room was nothing but legsand butts, not to mention that
you can't trust them not to turnoff your money whenever they
feel like it, just like they didto participants of the Freedom
Convoy.
You must maintain some sort oftangible and physical currency
or you risk not only thegovernment being deeply involved
(24:29):
in every aspect of yourfinancial background, but the
eventual disillusion of thedigital credits merit, as the
government balloons the economicenvironment by simply issuing
more credits.
And that's if there's any sortof limitation of the amount of
digital currency that can becreated.
That's why you buy a fractionof a Bitcoin.
The originator of the currencygave it a finite number of coins
(24:49):
.
There can only be so many.
Now that each coin is worthextraordinary amounts of money,
they're split up into pieces,which are then broken down
further yet again.
You buy a piece, but it's stillworth money.
A government-backed digitalcurrency will have no such
limitation.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
Are US Treasury bonds still safe to invest in.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
Very much, so I think there's a.
This is not an issue of creditrating.
The United States can pay anydebt it has, because we can
always print money to do that,so there is zero probability of
the fall what what?
Speaker 1 (25:30):
What An entire future episode will delve into the way
money is created, because it isfar too onerous to articulate
here and now.
We are talking about the stateof the world post-pandemic, but
let's sum it up by saying it'seasy to see how much worse it
(26:09):
might be without the checks andbalances of some sort of
commodity-based currency goingforward.
Speaker 22 (26:15):
And what do you and your family do to cut back on?
Speaker 21 (26:19):
plastics.
Speaker 8 (26:21):
We have recently switched to drinking water
bottles out of water, out ofwhen we have water bottles out
of a plastic sorry, away fromplastic towards paper, like
drinkbox water bottles sort ofthings.
There's a number of choices wecan make as consumers that will
(26:42):
do better, and every consumerneeds to look at ways they can
make smarter choices in theirconsumptions.
We certainly do that on a dailybasis as we've switched from
plastic water bottles to paperwater bottles or cardboard water
bottles, but there are there'salways more things to do and
we're looking forward tocontinue that.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Ineptitude and disorder is the rule of the day.
You can expect the mostridiculous things to come out of
a politician's mouth at thistime as they attempt to weigh
societal and moral dilemmas in amatter which is outside of
their knowledge and theirpurview.
Our elected officials are meantto represent their local
constituents, but have far toomuch fun playing in the sand and
meddling in the concerns ofother jurisdictions.
(27:22):
They're allowing the home firesto burn out while lighting
wildfires in other places.
While we are servicing aninterest rate to international
banks twice the cost of doingbusiness, we are funneling
millions upon millions out ofCanada and to other countries to
solve problems that will oneday be ours, because they are
neglecting to focus theirconcerns on matters of a
Canadian origin, as thoughsomehow saving Ukrainians will
(27:44):
magically erase homelessness inCanada.
Can you imagine the freshdrinking water, foods, lodgings
and opportunities we couldpresent to the Canadian
population if we didn't sendthat money abroad?
Many people arrive in Canada fora new life not to fight the
centuries-long wars they leftbehind in their homelands.
They come to escape war, not towage it.
So how then is it that we canbe pressured so adequately as to
(28:08):
affect our efforts elsewhere?
It's all manufactured angeranyway.
If it weren't, then why wasUkraine obliterated from the
news cycle the minute the swordof iron war kicked off?
Think about it.
When was the last time youheard the name Putin?
Pierre Paulier isn't wrong whenhe says it's time to bring it
back home.
Problem is, pierre is no morelikely to stop sending out
foreign aid or supportinginternational causes than Justin
(28:30):
Trudeau is what can I get you?
I'd like a large coffee.
Okay, so hot coffee.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Hot coffee.
Okay, room for cream.
Totally leave room for cream.
Why are you talking like that?
Speaker 12 (28:43):
Why are you talking like that?
Speaker 25 (28:45):
Because this is my voice, this is my voice.
No, it's not.
I heard you talking a minuteago.
I know you don't talk like that.
Speaker 7 (28:51):
Neither do you, because nobody actually talks
like this.
You choose to talk like this,and today I chose to talk like
this.
Pretty annoying, isn't it?
Why are you so rude man?
Speaker 8 (29:00):
Just stop doing that.
Can't help us, my voice.
No, it's not.
It's an affectation thatannoying teenagers and rich
people use to sound like theydon't give a sh, except you work
in a coffee shop.
So I know you're not rich andyou don't look like a teenager
unless you're a Eunice KennedyShriver knock it off.
Speaker 25 (29:18):
So just because I talk like this means they don't
give a sh.
And what exactly was this aknock of a sh about?
Speaker 8 (29:24):
That's an excellent question to ask yourself in your
actual voice.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
Excuse me, some of us would like to order.
You're total dick man there.
There you go.
Speaker 8 (29:39):
Good, you're talking.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
It's the same at all levels, post pandemic, from the
barista making your coffee toyour elected officials, everyone
is doing a half-baked job.
Maybe it's because they're allon legalized marijuana, who
knows?
There sure isn't the oldcollege try anymore, though
that's for sure.
It used to be that you setregulations and protocols and
held everyone to the same degree, but these days the government
tells us that building codes andadequate training is racist,
(30:05):
and we must alter ourexpectations so that those
unqualified for the task areable to participate.
Paul Yer himself said he wouldfast-track migrants and refugees
who were in Canada already sothat they could more quickly
apply for jobs in which they maybe trained in their home
country, but that might not meetthe requirements of the current
Canadian system, which is afancy way to say they do not
have the expected standard oftraining and that it would be
(30:27):
bigoted to expect that theymight elevate their skill set to
properly meet the requirementsand competencies to successfully
obtain said positions in Canada.
Unless you've been living undera rock for the last decade, you
likely already know thathealthcare in Canada is in
shambles.
Do we really need moreunqualified staff?
Adding to the issue, how aboutgetting them the additional
training required instead oflowering our requirements.
(30:48):
This isn't a third worldcountry and we shouldn't accept
third world standards.
Speaker 24 (30:54):
So I'm happy to report we have succeeded in
rebooting our flagships Wayahead of schedule.
Yet again, this has allowed usto improve our USPs by 90%.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
That's 9 out of every 10.
Excellent, thank you, samuel.
Timothy, what's the status withthe linear solutions?
Could you give us the latest onthe square project?
Speaker 20 (31:18):
The linear solutions department has yet again
functioned at full capacity andwe have fulfilled 114% of this
month's objectives.
You can read the handouts for adetailed account.
But in short, as I reportedlast week, we've decided to use
the right angle for the squareproject.
Now there's still some debateas to how big a right angle is,
(31:38):
so we're testing currently at 90, 97, 100 and 101 degrees.
As agreed.
I've ensured Andersoncross-checks the design, keeping
any left angles, and doesn'tuse them in future.
Overall, we have very goodprogress with the design.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
Are we on track with the schedule?
When are we required to startdelivering?
Speaker 20 (31:59):
I'm happy to report that we are ready to start first
deliveries tomorrow, which isway ahead of the requested
delivery schedule.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
We've only just finished system testing the
prototype, and are only halfwaythrough performance testing.
Speaker 20 (32:12):
We haven't even released an alpha version yet,
as I said earlier, we've hadvery good progress with the
design.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
But I'd say the design of the product is only
75% complete.
Well, exactly.
Speaker 20 (32:24):
That's three out of every four.
So we're ready to startshipping tomorrow.
What it doesn't work like that,we'll produce, say, four units,
but only ship the first three.
Then, when you're finally 100%complete with the design, we can
then ship the fourth.
Speaker 5 (32:45):
Excellent work, timothy.
You can proceed with theproduction.
Anderson, send me please arevised delivery schedule so I
can share it with a client.
Well, thank you everyone.
This was very productive.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
That's part of the problem, though Nobody cares.
People, for the most part, tendto take the path of least
resistance.
If their meal is cold andundercooked, they won't go out
of their way to draw attentionto it.
They take a lackadaisicalapproach and say what can I do?
Still better than having tocook it myself.
Same thing with the government.
Both sides are so sure thatthere's the only way to prevent
the other, and then they do theexact same things once they get
(33:19):
into power and everybody says ohwell, what can I do?
Well, you can start byrealizing you're being played by
both sides.
Even that seems like too muchto ask.
The level of politicaldisregard in Canada is near
unbelievable Almost asunbelievable as that.
Next to no one is willing to doanything to hold them
accountable for it.
Maybe it's because the massmajority are also going through
(33:41):
their day-to-day lives withoutchallenging themselves or
holding themselves to a higherstandard either.
Speaker 19 (33:46):
If there's one maxim the Trudeau government really
likes repeating, it's this oneDiversity is our strength.
But it turns out that when youask the very diverse Canadian
population their thoughts onthis sentiment, they're not so
sure.
According to this Legerpost-media poll, a mere 24%
agree with the idea thatdiversity is unambiguously a
(34:06):
strength.
Most everybody else strikes amore nuanced tone.
It could be a strength, buthaving lots of different people
living together can also causeproblems if you're not careful.
And this isn't some whitebacklash thing.
Non-white respondents wereactually slightly more likely to
say yeah, diversity is greatSometimes.
That same poll also showedpeople weren't so hot on
(34:26):
multiculturalism either.
A majority said immigrantsshould be encouraged to adopt
Canada's mainstream values andtraditions and forget about
anything that doesn't jibe withthose.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
That's the issue with having a non-nation state where
absolutely everything iswelcomed and embraced, including
vastly different viewpointsthat historically have had no
history of peace.
Without an ideal understandingof what Canadian values and
belief sets are, then you areleaving the door open to allow
centuries-old conflicts to landon our doorstep.
Just look at all the pro-Hamasdemonstrations that are being
held all over Canada right now.
(34:56):
They are literally celebratinga terrorist group in the streets
of Canada.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstanianterrorists are known to be
living in enclaves in Surrey,British Columbia, yet nothing is
done to deport them orotherwise.
Some of them even receivetaxpayer money.
It's absurd, Although Canadahas been developing a bit of a
reputation as terroristsympathizers for a while now.
Just look at the 10.5 millionthe Trudeau government handed
(35:19):
over to convicted terrorist OmarCotter.
Speaker 13 (35:22):
Breaking news now on confirmation that the Canadian
government has issued OmarCotter an apology and a monetary
settlement.
For details, I'm joined byCTV's Michel Boye.
He's with me in studio, Michel.
We're just learning that theapology has come down.
Tell us more about that.
Speaker 23 (35:38):
Yeah, the Canadian government apologizing to Omar
Cotter.
I want to share part of it withyou word for word, what the
government is saying in astatement just moments ago.
We're announcing that thegovernment of Canada has reached
a settlement with Mr OmarCotter, bringing this civil case
to a close.
On behalf of the government ofCanada, we wish to apologize to
Mr Cotter for any role Canadianofficials may have played and
(36:02):
any resulting harm.
We hope that this expressionand the negotiated settlement
reached with the government willassist him in his efforts to
begin a new and hopeful chapterin his life with his fellow
Canadians.
So this, of course, Marcia is,you know, has been.
We've been talking about thisall week ever since it was
leaked that he was going to geta reported 10.5 million dollars,
(36:23):
the government not saying thatthe figure that they settled for
.
Those figures were reached inmediation.
Mediation is confidential, sowe may never know officially
from the Canadian government howmuch was settled for.
But again, the apology to OmarCotter for the government's
involvement in his questioningwhen he was held captive by well
(36:48):
, while he was held in custody,I should say by the United
States.
Speaker 13 (36:50):
And that money we've also learned has already been
paid out.
This is not something that'spending.
This has happened.
Speaker 23 (36:56):
It's happened, it's done.
It's in a bank account.
What kind of bank accountremains to be seen.
Could be in a trust as well.
But you know, omar Cotter, ifhe wanted this, had to ask, had
to act very quickly.
We did have obtained documentsfrom the court Superior Court
here in Toronto that in fact thewife, the widow of the US Army
(37:18):
medic that was killed inAfghanistan, had began, had had
filed a motion to try and stopOmar Cotter from getting that
money.
But because the Canadiangovernment moved swiftly on this
, they were able to have themoney wired to him, deposited
into his account, before anysort of litigation went forward
that could have stopped thatfrom happening.
Speaker 13 (37:40):
And that money is tax-free.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
People complain about the police and their general
ineffectiveness as well, and,while granted, they could likely
do more, how did the police dotheir job when the government
supports the criminals they aresupposedly tasked with chasing?
If you have ever had a carstolen or been scammed by some
fraudulent individual, you'velikely heard them say We'll make
a report of it, but don'texpect anything.
This sort of stuff happens allthe time.
It's no different than thewaitress who tells you that
(38:05):
complaining about your stake isa form of unacceptable abuse.
There is something they coulddo about it.
They choose not to.
It might be easy for the copseither, though, having to cherry
pick what political targetsthey might do best to avoid,
while staying motivated to go towork and chase bad guys All the
while the government introduceslaws on a near daily basis
aimed at keeping those pursuedout on the streets.
(38:25):
Given those circumstances, itwould be tough to remain excited
about the job when picking upthe phone after a while, for
even the most seasonedprofessional.
Speaker 19 (38:34):
Police.
What do you want?
I want to report a murder.
What else do you know?
Hey, you're going to let me ina walk.
Yeah, hang on.
Speaker 9 (38:42):
Before you go any further, pal, I got to tell you
it's cash up front, A thousandbucks a day for a full
investigation and another foulof the assailant's card.
You understand.
Speaker 8 (38:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (38:52):
Hey, here's the dollar.
Thanks for nothing.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Everyone is so eager for things to go back to the way
they were pre-pandemic thatthey are willing to accept all
manner of new normal Things manywouldn't have given a nickel
for before.
Has them handing overexorbitant sums now in the
pursuit of anything that evenremotely resembles the past?
Meanwhile, poor governmentplanning prior and unabated
spending during has left us withbut a scarce reminder.
(39:21):
Post-pandemic blaming a litanyof things for the lackluster
offerings, from supply chainissues to worker shortages and
everything in between, ratherthan take any responsibility for
the current situationthemselves.
The liberal government simplycannot fathom they've done
anything wrong or that there wasany other alternate course of
action whatsoever.
That's the problem withprogressives they say they want
(39:42):
to have an open dialogue, butare surprised when anyone has a
differing outlook.
Rather than take other pointsof view into account to make a
fair and unbiased decision thatis in the very best interest of
every Canadian, they insteadfind ways to silence any
oppositional voices or contraryopinions in an attempt to force
their ideological agendas.
Speaker 22 (40:02):
You have, throughout your mandate so far, launched
some really big transformationalspending initiatives that come
with big price tags but have hadbig societal impacts as well.
Do you anticipate launching anymore of those types of programs
in the rest of your mandate?
Speaker 21 (40:16):
I learned during the NAFTA negotiations never answer
a hypothetical.
There is a lot of time betweennow and the next election, but I
am glad that you point to thebig transformational programs
that are already underway.
One of my favorites is earlylearning and childcare.
(40:37):
We announced that in the 21budget and it is rolling out.
I think it is important forCanadians to recognize that our
economic plan is something thatis happening every single day.
It can be announced in a budget, as with childcare, in 2021.
(40:58):
We are investing in it rightnow and it is delivering for
Canadians.
We now have fees down by 50%across the country.
Six provinces and territorieshave $10 a day childcare.
That is really transformingfamilies' lives.
It is making life moreaffordable for families across
the country.
It means a lot of parents,especially mothers, can now go
(41:21):
out and work.
That helps our economy withlabor shortages and it helps
families.
Speaker 22 (41:25):
Certainly, I am not disagreeing with that point.
It is actually with thatprogram in mind that I asked the
question.
That program is something likethe Canada Child Benefit.
They do come, however, not totake away from their
effectiveness or their impactwith very large price tags.
We are talking in theneighborhood in each of those
programs of $10 to $20 billion ayear.
Speaker 21 (41:44):
Childcare is $30 billion over five.
That is a lot.
It is a lot of money.
Speaker 22 (41:50):
I asked it not necessarily as a hypothetical,
but against the backdrop of whatyou did outline in the fall
economic statement, which wastwo promises where a fiscal
anchor is concerned the firstthat you would lower the debt to
GDP ratio in 24-25 and keep itquote on a declining track
thereafter.
The second that you would getthe deficit to GDP ratio below
1% by 26-27 and keep it there.
(42:10):
Does that inherently limit you,though, from launching any kind
of program similar to those?
Speaker 21 (42:17):
I am actually really glad that you put those two
questions together because, frommy perspective, we have a
fiscally responsible economicplan, because we need to have
the capacity to invest inCanadians.
We need to have the capacity toinvest precisely in things like
early learning and childcare.
Fiscal responsibility meansthat those investments are
(42:41):
sustainable over the long term.
That's why our economic plan itis really, at its heart, about
investing in Canadians,investing to ensure that we have
an economy that can delivergood jobs people can count on,
that supports them with thingslike early learning and
childcare.
The way that we can continue todo that is by making sure that
(43:05):
all of those plans and programsare built on this fiscally
responsible foundation.
Speaker 22 (43:10):
You have the capacity, let's say, to sustain
the programs that you have rightnow.
My question is whether you willhave the capacity going forward
now, having outlined thesefiscal anchors.
I'm asking you because what Ihave noticed in public opinion
polling is that a lot ofCanadians are saying what's this
government's vision for thefuture?
If you're going to present bigtransformational projects that
do come with a high price tag, Iam wondering if this fall
(43:33):
economic statement actuallylimits you from doing so, or
maybe you're not so wedded tothose two promises.
Speaker 21 (43:39):
Actually, I really believe our fall economic
statement is about ensuring thatwe can continue to invest in
Canadians, because what I reallybelieve makes things like early
learning and childcare possibleis that they are built on a
sustainable fiscal foundation.
That means we can keep on doingit year after year after year.
(44:01):
I really believe, vashi, thatthe investments that we are
making today and those areinvestments, you're quite right,
that are ongoing, based onthings we launched in previous
budgets those investments aregoing to deliver strong,
sustainable economic growth.
That means we can continue todo more things for Canadians
(44:21):
going forward.
Speaker 1 (44:23):
Where does it end?
If you think somehow thatPierre Paulier is the answer to
your prayers, then you're in fora rude awakening.
The only thing that electingthe progressive conservatives
will accomplish will be to slowdown the rate of progressivism.
By no means will they stop it.
The light at best and redtorries at worst.
The progressive conservativesagree on near everything but
spending.
While they dangle thecancellation of the carbon tax
(44:44):
with one hand, they have no realsolutions to the current
problems faced by Canada.
For example, instead ofspeaking out against migration,
being opposed to the hundreds ofthousands of migrants and
refugees and other undocumentedor irregular border crossers,
the progressive conservativesassert that making the entire
border crossing point will solvethe problem.
After all, it would remove theillegality of it and make their
(45:06):
entry one of lawful nature.
How is that put in?
Canada, and Canadians first.
How is that bringing it home?
The only thing that is beingbrought home is the third world
problems that come withpermitting such things in the
first place.
So don't expect things to beany different should Paulier get
elected.
In fact, expect them tocontinue in the same direction,
just at a slightly slower pace.
Everything will continue torise in cost.
(45:27):
Migrants will continue to crossthe border unchecked and money
will continue to flow out of thecountry to foreign
jurisdictions.
It's the illusion of choice andnothing but.
Speaker 14 (45:37):
The minister was asked by Global News if he was
tracking the whereabouts of33,000 illegal border crossers.
He claimed quote that theoverwhelming majority of illegal
border crossers had left thecountry.
Yet today the Globe and Mailreports that only six illegal
border crossers have actuallybeen removed by.
Canada and by his government.
So a very precise question Ifthe government has moved six
(46:01):
illegal border crossers, howmany illegal border crossers
remain in Canada?
Yeah, terrible.
Minister of Border.
Speaker 12 (46:08):
Security.
Speaker 26 (46:11):
Yeah, mr Speaker, I know that the member opposite,
because of her vast experienceon the immigration file, knows
that individuals who come to ourcountry, cross into Canada and
seek the protection of Canadaand asylum as they flee from
persecution are not illegalborder crossers and are done
with according to law.
They are entitled byinternational convention and
(46:33):
Canadian law to do processhumanitarian support.
The Honourable Member forCalgary and Nose Hill.
Speaker 14 (46:42):
Well, perhaps I created some confusion, Mr
Speaker.
Speaker 16 (46:44):
I asked him very clearly how many illegal border
crossers remain in Canada and hecouldn't answer.
Speaker 14 (46:49):
So I'm going to ask what every Canadians want to
know after that disastrousinterview.
If the Minister can't tell theHouse how many illegal border
crossers remain in Canada, howcan they possibly expect to
believe that he knows where theyare?
Where are they?
Honourable Minister of BorderSecurity.
Speaker 26 (47:10):
Mr Speaker, under Canadian law, all people coming
into this country seeking asylumare entitled to do process.
When all of those processeshave been exhausted and they are
deemed ineligible, they aresubject to removal by CBSA.
The people that the memberopposite is referring to are
still engaged in that processand when those processes are
(47:33):
complete, the law will takeeffect.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Have you actually sat down and thought about the way
life has been different sincethe pandemic?
Is it better or is it worse?
Chances are, like many, youhaven't really given it much
thought.
After all, it's a period oftime that most of us would
rather forget A resemblance tonormal, seemingly enough to
serve the purpose.
Comment with your personalexperience.
Let us know how is your lifedifferent, if at all, since the
(47:57):
pandemic?
I'd like to personally take thismoment to thank you for
listening to this CanadianThinks.
We appreciate your support.
Look forward to creating moreepisodes for your listening
pleasure.
If you're able, pleasesubscribe.
Your support helps us affordthe time to make these episodes,
in addition to helping us reacha wider audience.
(48:18):
Some of you have recentlyreached out to ask why there's
such a delay between episodeslately, While we're working on
getting more episodes finished.
It isn't easy to juggle afull-time occupation and podcast
production.
Most of the production is donein my free time, which is
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This is why your interactions,comments and follows are so
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(48:40):
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(49:01):
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Perhaps you might considerdonating as well, should you be
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(49:23):
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If you have any topics you'dlike this Canadian Thinks to
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(49:44):
We'd be happy to hear from you.
Thanks so much once again forlistening to this Canadian
Thinks.
We hope you'll be back for manymore episodes to come.
Until next time, keep your mindopen and don't forget to think.
Whether we agree or agree to disagree, everybody's
got an opinion, and I'm about togive you mine.
So sit back, relax, buckle upand try not to get offended.
Welcome to This Canadian Thinks.
Since the close of the pandemic, the world has slowly moved
towards some sort ofpost-pandemic normalcy.
(00:21):
There's still the smattering ofpeople in public sporting a
mask and recently, with theonset of fall, health officials
have begun to encourage the restof us to do the same.
But for the most part it'sfinished.
Most Canadians have reached thepoint where they are simply over
the pandemic.
It's going to be very difficultto get them to socially
distance and mask up or dictatewhen they're allowed to be in
public again after the liftingof restrictions.
(00:43):
Aside from the pandemic havingsimply run its course, becoming
regarded as something akin tothe seasonal influenza that it
most assuredly is, their ownscience has always pointed to a
type of herd immunity, which iswhere we must be by now,
according to the modeling theyoffered us then.
Beyond the loss of human lifesustained during the time and
the disillusion of democraticrights and freedoms, there are
(01:05):
lasting repercussions, thingsthat have not returned to normal
as we knew them pre-pandemic.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
New polling from Ipsos shows while one in five
Canadians feel things are normalnow, the same proportions say
they're not sure they'll ever beready to live without masks or
vaccine mandates.
But regardless of when peoplethink the new normal will arrive
, 64% of Canadians say theybelieve governments are not
doing enough to get us there.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Well, we seem to be pretty ready.
That's what's beingcommunicated out of the research
, but it really is interestingthat almost 20% one in five say
to us that they don't thinkthey'll ever be ready, that
we'll ever be going back tonormal.
So even though we're sayingthat we want to get back to
something that resembles anormal life, we're still pretty
(01:49):
tentative.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
If you've been out to eat in the past year, you may
have noticed a downward trend inoverall quality, portions and
service, married to a steadyincrease in prices.
As exciting as it was to onceagain break free of the confines
of our homes to dine in localeateries, what we got was not
the same once we got there.
Far from it, in fact.
Many excuses have been made forthis, from supply chain issues,
(02:12):
lack of workers, increasedwages, rising cost of raw
materials and transportation, toname just a few.
It seems as though we went fromcalling our orders in to them,
calling in their occupationalperformances.
Even the most high-endestablishments seem to have
lowered the bar considerably interms of overall quality and
presentation.
It's as though no one is eventrying anymore.
Speaker 5 (02:35):
Hey you, you call this food.
My sandwich tastes like a friedboot.
My sandwich is a fried boot.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Some of you may be shocked to find out that the
restaurant industry is stillbeing subsidized financially by
the Canadian government, eventhough regular citizens were no
longer eligible for benefits asof November of 2022.
I know I was.
Not only are we receiving themost lackluster experiences
offered to date, but astaxpayers, we are paying them
for it through the CanadianEmergency Wages subsidy.
(03:04):
Meanwhile, the industry cries.
They aren't able to find staffwithout hiring temporary foreign
workers to fill the availablepositions.
If restaurants are hiringtemporary foreign workers and
are being offered wage subsidiesas well, then aren't we
subsidizing those workers on twodifferent levels?
First, at the temporary foreignworker level, where we
subsidize wages to make themmore affordable, which is a
(03:24):
fancy way to say allowingcompanies to pay a rate below
minimum wage by having thegovernment pay the difference
with your tax money.
Then, secondly, the governmentgives the restaurant a wage
subsidy to offset the overallcost of wages further for
everyone on their payroll.
This gives temporary foreignworkers a very lucrative allure.
No wonder companies would wantto have it appear as though
there's a shortage ofCanadian-born applicants.
(03:45):
It's not financiallyadvantageous to hire Canadians.
The incentive simply isn'tthere.
Curiosity would have one wonderhow many of the employees
benefitting from the CanadianEmergency Wage Subsidy Program
are temporary foreign workers,migrants or refugees.
Speaker 7 (04:03):
Across Canada.
The signs are clear.
The resources are looking forworkers.
The pandemic brought labourissues into focus, some sectors
in desperate need of employeesConstruction, trucking,
hospitality, agriculture.
There's more we could grow thanwe can harvest.
We could grow more food.
(04:23):
It's labour is our mainconstraint a lot of the time.
Speaker 8 (04:26):
We need a skilled, agile and inclusive workforce to
support a growing economy.
Speaker 7 (04:30):
Canada's new employment minister says his
government can help.
Under the temporary foreignworker program.
So-called trusted employerswho've repeatedly brought
temporary workers to Canada,while following program rules,
can keep employees for threeyears instead of the usual 18
months.
Their application process willalso be streamlined.
The pilot will cost just over$29 million.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Without localized representation in the workforce,
the regional identity is lost,as with the gratification of
serving the surroundingcommunity, the pride of a job
well done.
It's easier to do the bareminimum when you don't know
anyone in the area personally,which was the case pre-pandemic,
for sure, but it has becomeincreasingly worse Now because
people spent a few years eatingtheir own itchy ban.
(05:12):
It seems to be okay to presentsomething similar at the
restaurant level, simply becauseyou should be happy to be out
and not having to boil the wateryourself.
Where's the value?
It certainly isn't in theirofferings.
Bridge brand or Sysco packagedprepared meals is really the
only difference.
At the middle class level, mostmenus are identical, otherwise
Original fare all but reservedto the most expensive and
(05:34):
inaccessible of diningestablishments, pardon me, would
you have any grey poupon?
Speaker 9 (05:39):
But of course oh thank you.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
Are you putting grey poupon on a wiener?
No, no, it's not a wiener, it'sa Frank-Futter.
Oh, why Is that a bolognasandwich?
You're applying my grey pouponto that's bologna.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
God forbid you might complain.
Along with the terrible serviceand poor product, there's been
a table turned on customerretention as well.
At one time, the customer wasalways right.
These days, complaints areviewed as a form of abuse, a
type of verbal assault that willabsolutely not be tolerated
under any circumstanceswhatsoever.
Little to no effort is actuallytaken to acknowledge or rectify
(06:19):
problematic service or productofferings, yet we are expected
to continue to subsidize thislack of service.
In fact, the restaurantindustry clamors for more money,
stating that their industry ison the verge of collapse and
most restaurants days away fromclosure without some sort of
financial intervention on behalfof the government.
Speaker 10 (06:39):
Matthew Seneca Junkier owns this restaurant in
downtown Vancouver.
Pre-pandemic, it was abreakfast and lunch hotspot, but
the daytime office crowd neverrematerialized after COVID, so
they turned the back into a winebar in the evenings.
It's now an essential part oftheir business.
Speaker 11 (06:55):
The dynamic and the drivers of the business have
completely changed pre andpost-pandemic.
Speaker 10 (06:59):
One of the biggest challenges right now soaring
inflation.
Menu prices in BC went up anaverage of 6% last year, despite
cost increases of up to 30%.
Speaker 11 (07:10):
So I think there's sticker shock.
When we opened the business, a$9 sandwich sounded really
expensive and today, with thecost of ingredients that we use,
a $14 sandwich is too cheap.
Speaker 12 (07:20):
Labour shortages are another major sore spot 80%
capacity is all restaurants areoperating at because of the
labour shortages.
We've had two-thirds of ourmembers that are cutting
operating hours because theyjust don't have the staff and
the third owe pandemic-relateddebt.
Speaker 10 (07:35):
He says nearly a quarter of restaurants that have
yet to repay COVID loans willnever be able to fully do so.
Speaker 12 (07:41):
So the combination of those factors make it really
difficult for restaurants togenerate the income, to become
profitable, and what we saw inthe latest numbers is an
alarming number at that, 51% ofrestaurants are not making any
money.
They're unprofitable.
Speaker 10 (07:55):
The deadline to pay back federal loans is December
31, which is a one-yearextension from the original date
, but the restaurant industry islobbying the federal government
to extend that deadline another36 months and they want Ottawa
to respond by the end of thismonth.
In BC, the restaurant sectorhas spent the last few weeks
pressuring the provincialgovernment for extra support.
(08:15):
Now help is coming.
Speaker 13 (08:18):
We do know that a number of small businesses are
feeling the impact.
What we might really call aCOVID hangover is.
We've been taking thosemeetings and we'll be announcing
something shortly.
Speaker 10 (08:27):
But for many restaurants right across the
country, they're nearing atipping point and can't afford
to see their margins squeezedany tighter.
Tanya Fletcher, CBC News.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
What about taking on some of the responsibility as
business owners themselves?
What about putting some effortinto events or specials to draw
customers into theirestablishments?
What about updating the menuusing original recipes instead
of ordering prepackaged mealsfrom the large retail chain
providers?
What about hiring and firingstaff based on their customer
service abilities and cumulativecomplaints from customers?
(09:00):
None of these things arementioned, even though they have
far more to do with the successor failure of a restaurant than
how much the government iswilling to pay to subsidize the
staff.
Unfortunately, this is thepost-pandemic mentality that
seems to prevail.
Don't even get me started onthe new trend where it seems
we're expected to tip the personwho sells you a stick and gum.
Here's a tip for you Do morethan the very least that is
(09:22):
expected of you and people willgo out of their way to tip you
and thank you personally.
Stop expecting a top dollarwage for minimum wage
performance.
Speaker 9 (09:32):
Michael, have you finished that evaluation?
Yeah Well, I hope I need topresent to the board on Monday.
Of course you can no Now.
It's just, it's not strictly inpaper format.
Right, so you haven't done it.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
No, I have done it, it's just in my head.
Recently, it was discoveredthat one of the contributing
factors behind Alberta'sshortage of doctors and nurses
is the fact that many healthcareprofessionals are moving to
Saskatchewan, where they're paidmore for doing considerably
less, while most of us wouldlike to work far less for a
higher wage.
It speaks to the overalldisinterest in doing an
(10:14):
exemplary job.
Everyone is looking to do thebare minimum.
There seems to be nosatisfaction in going the extra
mile anymore, although you can'texactly blame them.
After years of being forced tosubmit to mandates and modified
work schedules, in many casesagainst their own personal
wishes.
Healthcare workers areexhausted from being constantly
engaged with theirfight-or-flight response.
We all are, which is why goingback to restrictions is going to
(10:37):
be a hard sell for most.
Even those who went alongwithout question are likely to
oppose it another time peoplelike myself picked in the
hospital but but b from familymembers.
Speaker 18 (10:50):
Albert up for over three years.
T be it a hospital or a lab,change Alberta Health S the
requirement to masking andcontinuing care cente.
The decision is based on casesand wastewater data, says.
(11:14):
Other contributing f includetesting positivity, admission
rates for respi Alberta, as wellas consult, including patients,
their managers.
This news has b and worry toothers.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
I h the NICU and so taking a has been like my
mentality, so masking hasn'tbeen a.
Know, if they feel like th thatI'm probably going t their
decision.
Speaker 18 (11:50):
It's not I don't like to wear, but of the safety
of my patient.
Ahs says masks and PPE wil forpatients and healthca mask up
but as of June 19, infectiousdiseases expert says it has been
(12:10):
hard to through a mask and manyo will probably not mask up
required.
Speaker 17 (12:18):
I think many oth done this, like most recent in
BC in April, and we kn seenmajor issues in those some point
in time you kn forever.
So it's probably this as thesummer season of transmission we
(12:39):
see in.
Speaker 18 (12:41):
Dr Gregson stresses, though compulsory anymore Yet l
if they feel sick or they ofimmunocompromised peop that some
people aren't s mask when theygo out in p may be victims of
stockho.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Hope that they're wearing are sick and not to
protec.
That's the one thing we s thiswhole debacle.
If yo home, if you can't stay hpublic, wear a mask.
That' really far more effective.
Vaccine acceptance or th forcedon the populist ju.
Speaker 19 (13:25):
Let's say you get kidnap right and during the cour
somehow you fall in love.
It's rare but it happens.
Central.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Restaurants and the only ones calling in governments
too, are operat unacceptablefashion at e local municipality
to the Even they seem to think Ifocus on benefit over effort.
They pass an extension to toenshrine it into legis.
Future Politicians don'tparliament anymore.
(14:03):
Instead, virtually via videocall, they're looking to limit
four per week instead of tgiving themselves all a h
recently as well.
More exp depreciated programofferi the ground floor to the g
of parliament are once agairemotely.
Speaker 16 (14:27):
A motion has pa to resume hybrid sittings.
New democrats voted in fav.
Votes against the conservaEpoqua.
The NDP supporti.
Putting an end to two daysgives MPs the option of p in
proceedings.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
While li their best to convince th about the
benefits of ost.
The highest inflation Can?
Articles have surfaced reTrudeau's Easter Vacation?
A quarter of a million do250,000, courtesy of john C.
Hasn't been this much dgoverning class on the cit
(15:09):
Antoinette proclaimed.
Speaker 20 (15:10):
Let how well that worked out I they went to the
queen to had no bread.
Do you know?
Speaker 9 (15:23):
Let them eat cake.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
When a referred to as their burn, never spend more
capital at any rate beyond thatwh.
Replace it Canada's burn charts.
Any competent levi divestedlong ago and in seen our credit
rating re been downgradedalready e would never admit it.
(15:45):
Ac three star credit rating ais proof that the current sound
Meanwhile investi pace as morecompanies av to the fragile
economics it can be hard forpeople it fiscally responsible o
in Ottawa I think the h us.
Speaker 21 (16:08):
There are lots of par flying around and so wha to
you, but even more to us andwatching us.
Um I me to grade my own.
Homewo me say government isfisc.
Want some proof points S quickproof points.
(16:30):
The f debt and Canada's deficitare the lowest in the G 7.
Thing and this speaks to.
We should grade our own.
H you to want us to grade o?
Is someone out there whos of usa grade and that I ratings
(16:57):
agencies and the agencies aregiving?
Canada today is the highestgrade credit rating.
Speaker 22 (17:07):
And that I credit rating from my bank that I
should increase th staff that Ihave at my w out of at a pace
faster t in the public service.
Speaker 21 (17:21):
I that that pays perhaps b the cuts that you're
now over the next five years onthat, the rating that us is
based on where we a based onwhat they think forward.
So they're looking, they'relooking at how st and is it
(17:44):
growing, so the to makeinvestments to be and what they
also think of investments inline with rate of growth, with
the re investments.
That's what I think broadly,that's wha us and that is what
(18:07):
we ar to delivering.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
That's wha total debt to date is over a good year.
Revenues will Federal interestpayments each 20.2 billion or
7.3% revenues in 2020, 2021.
The the public, which meant twas spending seven cents o on
(18:33):
interest payments as de paymentson the national in fiscal year
2022, the Interest costs grew35% l to grow by another 35% by,
in fact, our total national, orroughly half the cost o.
(18:55):
We're paying twice as much costto operate the entie.
Speaker 22 (19:02):
Minister Christofreeland fa affordability
and Canada's adding to theinflation.
Pro economic update peg the dfiscal year at about $40 b
budget projected, but the fewyears after that is n at budget.
The cost to pay rises due tothat, deficit rates reaching
(19:24):
more than 2028.
Speaker 23 (19:27):
This is someone wha debt.
He's added more dea primeminister is combined will spend
more on debt I that we do inhealth care measures for housing
.
Speaker 22 (19:40):
15 b.
Loan funding for rental a won'tbe available for an proposed
tax.
Measures to short term rentalsand a charter a codification of
banks are expected to foborrowers, though it's no
government has announced.
Speaker 12 (20:01):
It's not even a mini budget.
It does not meet the urgengoing through.
It doesn't needs.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
According to the F total interest costs for the
country, the total per amountedto 67.7 billioni.
This is nearly equivalentpension benefits acquired and
Quebec pension plans billion.
It's also just u spent onpublic kindergarten in Canada in
(20:35):
2019 2020, th available data.
These comp to demonstrate thescale o the country.
They also prov to which debtaccumulations away from
important public governmentsburn rate mor uncontrollable
wildfire.
(20:56):
Th fiscally sound it's as th tospend all the money th order to
get rid of it.
Be they can usher in their bdigital currency once and
Imagine a digital loony becominglegal tender.
Speaker 15 (21:15):
Well, that day is getting closer.
A recent survey found mostmajor banks are considering some
form of digital currency withinthe next six years.
Three research teams haveproduced proposals for the Bank
of Canada, as Eric Sorensenreports.
This could fuel the digitaleconomy.
Speaker 24 (21:31):
Every day, more Canadians pay digitally and
fewer businesses need this Acash drawer stuffed with bills.
Canadians are among the mostcash-free spenders in the world,
so is it time for digitalcurrency?
The Bank of Canada isn'tpromoting the idea, but believes
it needs to be ready.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Currency is a core part of the Bank of Canada's
mandate.
For several years, the Bank ofCanada has been analyzing what
circumstances might lead Canadato decide to issue a digital
currency.
Speaker 24 (22:03):
The Bank of Canada is now studying proposals from
three sets of university expertsfor a homegrown digital
currency Formulas for how tospend with the anonymity of cash
without using cash.
It could work like this Throughan app on a cell phone, a user
sets up a secure e-wallet, it'sauthenticated through a
government agency and it's readyto go.
(22:25):
The merchant establishes adigital transaction to accept
the funds.
But a critical new step inbetween what the U of T and York
team calls a white list, wherethe transaction is not only
authenticated but will ensurecustomer information is not
passed on, just the money.
Privacy is paramount.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
We believe that the Canadian government has an
obligation to give people a wayto protect their privacy and
give them, in particular becausepayments are so central for
commercial interactions.
Speaker 24 (22:53):
The currency would require measures against too
much privacy to prevent moneylaundering and tax evasion.
And while cash payments arebecoming a smaller part of the
economy, the central bank saysit wouldn't abandon communities
not connected to high-techcommerce.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
That means, for one thing, ensuring that remote and
marginalized communities are notleft out of any new way of way
to pay for goods and services.
Speaker 24 (23:16):
The so-called CBDC wouldn't be a direct counter to
Bitcoin, which is an investmentcurrency rather than a cash
equivalent consumer currency.
But Canada cannot sit back, sayexperts, as other countries
like China unveil digitalcurrencies and private
enterprise cryptocurrencies suchas Facebook's DM are developed.
Speaker 17 (23:35):
It's a matter of national sovereignty.
So I don't think the Bank ofCanada, or any central bank for
that matter, would like tooutsource this process to a
third party, even if it is adomestic party land alone a
foreign one.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
Only a central bank can guarantee complete safety
and universal access, and withpublic interest, not profits, as
a top priority.
Speaker 24 (23:59):
Digital currency won't be issued before Canadians
and Ottawa wanted, but whenthey do, the Bank of Canada
wants to be ready to roll it out.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Can you imagine how awful the rollout of a digital
currency will be?
The government couldn'torganize a butt-kicking contest
if the room was nothing but legsand butts, not to mention that
you can't trust them not to turnoff your money whenever they
feel like it, just like they didto participants of the Freedom
Convoy.
You must maintain some sort oftangible and physical currency
or you risk not only thegovernment being deeply involved
(24:29):
in every aspect of yourfinancial background, but the
eventual disillusion of thedigital credits merit, as the
government balloons the economicenvironment by simply issuing
more credits.
And that's if there's any sortof limitation of the amount of
digital currency that can becreated.
That's why you buy a fractionof a Bitcoin.
The originator of the currencygave it a finite number of coins
(24:49):
.
There can only be so many.
Now that each coin is worthextraordinary amounts of money,
they're split up into pieces,which are then broken down
further yet again.
You buy a piece, but it's stillworth money.
A government-backed digitalcurrency will have no such
limitation.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
Are US Treasury bonds still safe to invest in.
Speaker 9 (25:10):
Very much, so I think there's a.
This is not an issue of creditrating.
The United States can pay anydebt it has, because we can
always print money to do that,so there is zero probability of
the fall what what?
Speaker 1 (25:30):
What An entire future episode will delve into the way
money is created, because it isfar too onerous to articulate
here and now.
We are talking about the stateof the world post-pandemic, but
let's sum it up by saying it'seasy to see how much worse it
(26:09):
might be without the checks andbalances of some sort of
commodity-based currency goingforward.
Speaker 22 (26:15):
And what do you and your family do to cut back on?
Speaker 21 (26:19):
plastics.
Speaker 8 (26:21):
We have recently switched to drinking water
bottles out of water, out ofwhen we have water bottles out
of a plastic sorry, away fromplastic towards paper, like
drinkbox water bottles sort ofthings.
There's a number of choices wecan make as consumers that will
(26:42):
do better, and every consumerneeds to look at ways they can
make smarter choices in theirconsumptions.
We certainly do that on a dailybasis as we've switched from
plastic water bottles to paperwater bottles or cardboard water
bottles, but there are there'salways more things to do and
we're looking forward tocontinue that.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Ineptitude and disorder is the rule of the day.
You can expect the mostridiculous things to come out of
a politician's mouth at thistime as they attempt to weigh
societal and moral dilemmas in amatter which is outside of
their knowledge and theirpurview.
Our elected officials are meantto represent their local
constituents, but have far toomuch fun playing in the sand and
meddling in the concerns ofother jurisdictions.
(27:22):
They're allowing the home firesto burn out while lighting
wildfires in other places.
While we are servicing aninterest rate to international
banks twice the cost of doingbusiness, we are funneling
millions upon millions out ofCanada and to other countries to
solve problems that will oneday be ours, because they are
neglecting to focus theirconcerns on matters of a
Canadian origin, as thoughsomehow saving Ukrainians will
(27:44):
magically erase homelessness inCanada.
Can you imagine the freshdrinking water, foods, lodgings
and opportunities we couldpresent to the Canadian
population if we didn't sendthat money abroad?
Many people arrive in Canada fora new life not to fight the
centuries-long wars they leftbehind in their homelands.
They come to escape war, not towage it.
So how then is it that we canbe pressured so adequately as to
(28:08):
affect our efforts elsewhere?
It's all manufactured angeranyway.
If it weren't, then why wasUkraine obliterated from the
news cycle the minute the swordof iron war kicked off?
Think about it.
When was the last time youheard the name Putin?
Pierre Paulier isn't wrong whenhe says it's time to bring it
back home.
Problem is, pierre is no morelikely to stop sending out
foreign aid or supportinginternational causes than Justin
(28:30):
Trudeau is what can I get you?
I'd like a large coffee.
Okay, so hot coffee.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
Hot coffee.
Okay, room for cream.
Totally leave room for cream.
Why are you talking like that?
Speaker 12 (28:43):
Why are you talking like that?
Speaker 25 (28:45):
Because this is my voice, this is my voice.
No, it's not.
I heard you talking a minuteago.
I know you don't talk like that.
Speaker 7 (28:51):
Neither do you, because nobody actually talks
like this.
You choose to talk like this,and today I chose to talk like
this.
Pretty annoying, isn't it?
Why are you so rude man?
Speaker 8 (29:00):
Just stop doing that.
Can't help us, my voice.
No, it's not.
It's an affectation thatannoying teenagers and rich
people use to sound like theydon't give a sh, except you work
in a coffee shop.
So I know you're not rich andyou don't look like a teenager
unless you're a Eunice KennedyShriver knock it off.
Speaker 25 (29:18):
So just because I talk like this means they don't
give a sh.
And what exactly was this aknock of a sh about?
Speaker 8 (29:24):
That's an excellent question to ask yourself in your
actual voice.
Speaker 5 (29:29):
Excuse me, some of us would like to order.
You're total dick man there.
There you go.
Speaker 8 (29:39):
Good, you're talking.
Speaker 1 (29:42):
It's the same at all levels, post pandemic, from the
barista making your coffee toyour elected officials, everyone
is doing a half-baked job.
Maybe it's because they're allon legalized marijuana, who
knows?
There sure isn't the oldcollege try anymore, though
that's for sure.
It used to be that you setregulations and protocols and
held everyone to the same degree, but these days the government
tells us that building codes andadequate training is racist,
(30:05):
and we must alter ourexpectations so that those
unqualified for the task areable to participate.
Paul Yer himself said he wouldfast-track migrants and refugees
who were in Canada already sothat they could more quickly
apply for jobs in which they maybe trained in their home
country, but that might not meetthe requirements of the current
Canadian system, which is afancy way to say they do not
have the expected standard oftraining and that it would be
(30:27):
bigoted to expect that theymight elevate their skill set to
properly meet the requirementsand competencies to successfully
obtain said positions in Canada.
Unless you've been living undera rock for the last decade, you
likely already know thathealthcare in Canada is in
shambles.
Do we really need moreunqualified staff?
Adding to the issue, how aboutgetting them the additional
training required instead oflowering our requirements.
(30:48):
This isn't a third worldcountry and we shouldn't accept
third world standards.
Speaker 24 (30:54):
So I'm happy to report we have succeeded in
rebooting our flagships Wayahead of schedule.
Yet again, this has allowed usto improve our USPs by 90%.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
That's 9 out of every 10.
Excellent, thank you, samuel.
Timothy, what's the status withthe linear solutions?
Could you give us the latest onthe square project?
Speaker 20 (31:18):
The linear solutions department has yet again
functioned at full capacity andwe have fulfilled 114% of this
month's objectives.
You can read the handouts for adetailed account.
But in short, as I reportedlast week, we've decided to use
the right angle for the squareproject.
Now there's still some debateas to how big a right angle is,
(31:38):
so we're testing currently at 90, 97, 100 and 101 degrees.
As agreed.
I've ensured Andersoncross-checks the design, keeping
any left angles, and doesn'tuse them in future.
Overall, we have very goodprogress with the design.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
Are we on track with the schedule?
When are we required to startdelivering?
Speaker 20 (31:59):
I'm happy to report that we are ready to start first
deliveries tomorrow, which isway ahead of the requested
delivery schedule.
Speaker 5 (32:06):
We've only just finished system testing the
prototype, and are only halfwaythrough performance testing.
Speaker 20 (32:12):
We haven't even released an alpha version yet,
as I said earlier, we've hadvery good progress with the
design.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
But I'd say the design of the product is only
75% complete.
Well, exactly.
Speaker 20 (32:24):
That's three out of every four.
So we're ready to startshipping tomorrow.
What it doesn't work like that,we'll produce, say, four units,
but only ship the first three.
Then, when you're finally 100%complete with the design, we can
then ship the fourth.
Speaker 5 (32:45):
Excellent work, timothy.
You can proceed with theproduction.
Anderson, send me please arevised delivery schedule so I
can share it with a client.
Well, thank you everyone.
This was very productive.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
That's part of the problem, though Nobody cares.
People, for the most part, tendto take the path of least
resistance.
If their meal is cold andundercooked, they won't go out
of their way to draw attentionto it.
They take a lackadaisicalapproach and say what can I do?
Still better than having tocook it myself.
Same thing with the government.
Both sides are so sure thatthere's the only way to prevent
the other, and then they do theexact same things once they get
(33:19):
into power and everybody says ohwell, what can I do?
Well, you can start byrealizing you're being played by
both sides.
Even that seems like too muchto ask.
The level of politicaldisregard in Canada is near
unbelievable Almost asunbelievable as that.
Next to no one is willing to doanything to hold them
accountable for it.
Maybe it's because the massmajority are also going through
(33:41):
their day-to-day lives withoutchallenging themselves or
holding themselves to a higherstandard either.
Speaker 19 (33:46):
If there's one maxim the Trudeau government really
likes repeating, it's this oneDiversity is our strength.
But it turns out that when youask the very diverse Canadian
population their thoughts onthis sentiment, they're not so
sure.
According to this Legerpost-media poll, a mere 24%
agree with the idea thatdiversity is unambiguously a
(34:06):
strength.
Most everybody else strikes amore nuanced tone.
It could be a strength, buthaving lots of different people
living together can also causeproblems if you're not careful.
And this isn't some whitebacklash thing.
Non-white respondents wereactually slightly more likely to
say yeah, diversity is greatSometimes.
That same poll also showedpeople weren't so hot on
(34:26):
multiculturalism either.
A majority said immigrantsshould be encouraged to adopt
Canada's mainstream values andtraditions and forget about
anything that doesn't jibe withthose.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
That's the issue with having a non-nation state where
absolutely everything iswelcomed and embraced, including
vastly different viewpointsthat historically have had no
history of peace.
Without an ideal understandingof what Canadian values and
belief sets are, then you areleaving the door open to allow
centuries-old conflicts to landon our doorstep.
Just look at all the pro-Hamasdemonstrations that are being
held all over Canada right now.
(34:56):
They are literally celebratinga terrorist group in the streets
of Canada.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstanianterrorists are known to be
living in enclaves in Surrey,British Columbia, yet nothing is
done to deport them orotherwise.
Some of them even receivetaxpayer money.
It's absurd, Although Canadahas been developing a bit of a
reputation as terroristsympathizers for a while now.
Just look at the 10.5 millionthe Trudeau government handed
(35:19):
over to convicted terrorist OmarCotter.
Speaker 13 (35:22):
Breaking news now on confirmation that the Canadian
government has issued OmarCotter an apology and a monetary
settlement.
For details, I'm joined byCTV's Michel Boye.
He's with me in studio, Michel.
We're just learning that theapology has come down.
Tell us more about that.
Speaker 23 (35:38):
Yeah, the Canadian government apologizing to Omar
Cotter.
I want to share part of it withyou word for word, what the
government is saying in astatement just moments ago.
We're announcing that thegovernment of Canada has reached
a settlement with Mr OmarCotter, bringing this civil case
to a close.
On behalf of the government ofCanada, we wish to apologize to
Mr Cotter for any role Canadianofficials may have played and
(36:02):
any resulting harm.
We hope that this expressionand the negotiated settlement
reached with the government willassist him in his efforts to
begin a new and hopeful chapterin his life with his fellow
Canadians.
So this, of course, Marcia is,you know, has been.
We've been talking about thisall week ever since it was
leaked that he was going to geta reported 10.5 million dollars,
(36:23):
the government not saying thatthe figure that they settled for
.
Those figures were reached inmediation.
Mediation is confidential, sowe may never know officially
from the Canadian government howmuch was settled for.
But again, the apology to OmarCotter for the government's
involvement in his questioningwhen he was held captive by well
(36:48):
, while he was held in custody,I should say by the United
States.
Speaker 13 (36:50):
And that money we've also learned has already been
paid out.
This is not something that'spending.
This has happened.
Speaker 23 (36:56):
It's happened, it's done.
It's in a bank account.
What kind of bank accountremains to be seen.
Could be in a trust as well.
But you know, omar Cotter, ifhe wanted this, had to ask, had
to act very quickly.
We did have obtained documentsfrom the court Superior Court
here in Toronto that in fact thewife, the widow of the US Army
(37:18):
medic that was killed inAfghanistan, had began, had had
filed a motion to try and stopOmar Cotter from getting that
money.
But because the Canadiangovernment moved swiftly on this
, they were able to have themoney wired to him, deposited
into his account, before anysort of litigation went forward
that could have stopped thatfrom happening.
Speaker 13 (37:40):
And that money is tax-free.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
People complain about the police and their general
ineffectiveness as well, and,while granted, they could likely
do more, how did the police dotheir job when the government
supports the criminals they aresupposedly tasked with chasing?
If you have ever had a carstolen or been scammed by some
fraudulent individual, you'velikely heard them say We'll make
a report of it, but don'texpect anything.
This sort of stuff happens allthe time.
It's no different than thewaitress who tells you that
(38:05):
complaining about your stake isa form of unacceptable abuse.
There is something they coulddo about it.
They choose not to.
It might be easy for the copseither, though, having to cherry
pick what political targetsthey might do best to avoid,
while staying motivated to go towork and chase bad guys All the
while the government introduceslaws on a near daily basis
aimed at keeping those pursuedout on the streets.
(38:25):
Given those circumstances, itwould be tough to remain excited
about the job when picking upthe phone after a while, for
even the most seasonedprofessional.
Speaker 19 (38:34):
Police.
What do you want?
I want to report a murder.
What else do you know?
Hey, you're going to let me ina walk.
Yeah, hang on.
Speaker 9 (38:42):
Before you go any further, pal, I got to tell you
it's cash up front, A thousandbucks a day for a full
investigation and another foulof the assailant's card.
You understand.
Speaker 8 (38:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (38:52):
Hey, here's the dollar.
Thanks for nothing.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Everyone is so eager for things to go back to the way
they were pre-pandemic thatthey are willing to accept all
manner of new normal Things manywouldn't have given a nickel
for before.
Has them handing overexorbitant sums now in the
pursuit of anything that evenremotely resembles the past?
Meanwhile, poor governmentplanning prior and unabated
spending during has left us withbut a scarce reminder.
(39:21):
Post-pandemic blaming a litanyof things for the lackluster
offerings, from supply chainissues to worker shortages and
everything in between, ratherthan take any responsibility for
the current situationthemselves.
The liberal government simplycannot fathom they've done
anything wrong or that there wasany other alternate course of
action whatsoever.
That's the problem withprogressives they say they want
(39:42):
to have an open dialogue, butare surprised when anyone has a
differing outlook.
Rather than take other pointsof view into account to make a
fair and unbiased decision thatis in the very best interest of
every Canadian, they insteadfind ways to silence any
oppositional voices or contraryopinions in an attempt to force
their ideological agendas.
Speaker 22 (40:02):
You have, throughout your mandate so far, launched
some really big transformationalspending initiatives that come
with big price tags but have hadbig societal impacts as well.
Do you anticipate launching anymore of those types of programs
in the rest of your mandate?
Speaker 21 (40:16):
I learned during the NAFTA negotiations never answer
a hypothetical.
There is a lot of time betweennow and the next election, but I
am glad that you point to thebig transformational programs
that are already underway.
One of my favorites is earlylearning and childcare.
(40:37):
We announced that in the 21budget and it is rolling out.
I think it is important forCanadians to recognize that our
economic plan is something thatis happening every single day.
It can be announced in a budget, as with childcare, in 2021.
(40:58):
We are investing in it rightnow and it is delivering for
Canadians.
We now have fees down by 50%across the country.
Six provinces and territorieshave $10 a day childcare.
That is really transformingfamilies' lives.
It is making life moreaffordable for families across
the country.
It means a lot of parents,especially mothers, can now go
(41:21):
out and work.
That helps our economy withlabor shortages and it helps
families.
Speaker 22 (41:25):
Certainly, I am not disagreeing with that point.
It is actually with thatprogram in mind that I asked the
question.
That program is something likethe Canada Child Benefit.
They do come, however, not totake away from their
effectiveness or their impactwith very large price tags.
We are talking in theneighborhood in each of those
programs of $10 to $20 billion ayear.
Speaker 21 (41:44):
Childcare is $30 billion over five.
That is a lot.
It is a lot of money.
Speaker 22 (41:50):
I asked it not necessarily as a hypothetical,
but against the backdrop of whatyou did outline in the fall
economic statement, which wastwo promises where a fiscal
anchor is concerned the firstthat you would lower the debt to
GDP ratio in 24-25 and keep itquote on a declining track
thereafter.
The second that you would getthe deficit to GDP ratio below
1% by 26-27 and keep it there.
(42:10):
Does that inherently limit you,though, from launching any kind
of program similar to those?
Speaker 21 (42:17):
I am actually really glad that you put those two
questions together because, frommy perspective, we have a
fiscally responsible economicplan, because we need to have
the capacity to invest inCanadians.
We need to have the capacity toinvest precisely in things like
early learning and childcare.
Fiscal responsibility meansthat those investments are
(42:41):
sustainable over the long term.
That's why our economic plan itis really, at its heart, about
investing in Canadians,investing to ensure that we have
an economy that can delivergood jobs people can count on,
that supports them with thingslike early learning and
childcare.
The way that we can continue todo that is by making sure that
(43:05):
all of those plans and programsare built on this fiscally
responsible foundation.
Speaker 22 (43:10):
You have the capacity, let's say, to sustain
the programs that you have rightnow.
My question is whether you willhave the capacity going forward
now, having outlined thesefiscal anchors.
I'm asking you because what Ihave noticed in public opinion
polling is that a lot ofCanadians are saying what's this
government's vision for thefuture?
If you're going to present bigtransformational projects that
do come with a high price tag, Iam wondering if this fall
(43:33):
economic statement actuallylimits you from doing so, or
maybe you're not so wedded tothose two promises.
Speaker 21 (43:39):
Actually, I really believe our fall economic
statement is about ensuring thatwe can continue to invest in
Canadians, because what I reallybelieve makes things like early
learning and childcare possibleis that they are built on a
sustainable fiscal foundation.
That means we can keep on doingit year after year after year.
(44:01):
I really believe, vashi, thatthe investments that we are
making today and those areinvestments, you're quite right,
that are ongoing, based onthings we launched in previous
budgets those investments aregoing to deliver strong,
sustainable economic growth.
That means we can continue todo more things for Canadians
(44:21):
going forward.
Speaker 1 (44:23):
Where does it end?
If you think somehow thatPierre Paulier is the answer to
your prayers, then you're in fora rude awakening.
The only thing that electingthe progressive conservatives
will accomplish will be to slowdown the rate of progressivism.
By no means will they stop it.
The light at best and redtorries at worst.
The progressive conservativesagree on near everything but
spending.
While they dangle thecancellation of the carbon tax
(44:44):
with one hand, they have no realsolutions to the current
problems faced by Canada.
For example, instead ofspeaking out against migration,
being opposed to the hundreds ofthousands of migrants and
refugees and other undocumentedor irregular border crossers,
the progressive conservativesassert that making the entire
border crossing point will solvethe problem.
After all, it would remove theillegality of it and make their
(45:06):
entry one of lawful nature.
How is that put in?
Canada, and Canadians first.
How is that bringing it home?
The only thing that is beingbrought home is the third world
problems that come withpermitting such things in the
first place.
So don't expect things to beany different should Paulier get
elected.
In fact, expect them tocontinue in the same direction,
just at a slightly slower pace.
Everything will continue torise in cost.
(45:27):
Migrants will continue to crossthe border unchecked and money
will continue to flow out of thecountry to foreign
jurisdictions.
It's the illusion of choice andnothing but.
Speaker 14 (45:37):
The minister was asked by Global News if he was
tracking the whereabouts of33,000 illegal border crossers.
He claimed quote that theoverwhelming majority of illegal
border crossers had left thecountry.
Yet today the Globe and Mailreports that only six illegal
border crossers have actuallybeen removed by.
Canada and by his government.
So a very precise question Ifthe government has moved six
(46:01):
illegal border crossers, howmany illegal border crossers
remain in Canada?
Yeah, terrible.
Minister of Border.
Speaker 12 (46:08):
Security.
Speaker 26 (46:11):
Yeah, mr Speaker, I know that the member opposite,
because of her vast experienceon the immigration file, knows
that individuals who come to ourcountry, cross into Canada and
seek the protection of Canadaand asylum as they flee from
persecution are not illegalborder crossers and are done
with according to law.
They are entitled byinternational convention and
(46:33):
Canadian law to do processhumanitarian support.
The Honourable Member forCalgary and Nose Hill.
Speaker 14 (46:42):
Well, perhaps I created some confusion, Mr
Speaker.
Speaker 16 (46:44):
I asked him very clearly how many illegal border
crossers remain in Canada and hecouldn't answer.
Speaker 14 (46:49):
So I'm going to ask what every Canadians want to
know after that disastrousinterview.
If the Minister can't tell theHouse how many illegal border
crossers remain in Canada, howcan they possibly expect to
believe that he knows where theyare?
Where are they?
Honourable Minister of BorderSecurity.
Speaker 26 (47:10):
Mr Speaker, under Canadian law, all people coming
into this country seeking asylumare entitled to do process.
When all of those processeshave been exhausted and they are
deemed ineligible, they aresubject to removal by CBSA.
The people that the memberopposite is referring to are
still engaged in that processand when those processes are
(47:33):
complete, the law will takeeffect.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Have you actually sat down and thought about the way
life has been different sincethe pandemic?
Is it better or is it worse?
Chances are, like many, youhaven't really given it much
thought.
After all, it's a period oftime that most of us would
rather forget A resemblance tonormal, seemingly enough to
serve the purpose.
Comment with your personalexperience.
Let us know how is your lifedifferent, if at all, since the
(47:57):
pandemic?
I'd like to personally take thismoment to thank you for
listening to this CanadianThinks.
We appreciate your support.
Look forward to creating moreepisodes for your listening
pleasure.
If you're able, pleasesubscribe.
Your support helps us affordthe time to make these episodes,
in addition to helping us reacha wider audience.
(48:18):
Some of you have recentlyreached out to ask why there's
such a delay between episodeslately, While we're working on
getting more episodes finished.
It isn't easy to juggle afull-time occupation and podcast
production.
Most of the production is donein my free time, which is
typically at a premium.
This is why your interactions,comments and follows are so
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If you're listening on aplatform, please hit the follow
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(48:40):
bell.
If you're watching on YouTubeor Rumble, Remember to tell your
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Follow this Canadian Thinks onFacebook and X and invite your
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The more exposure we get, themore episodes we'll be able to
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Every little bit helps.
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(49:01):
and some Facebook ads and thatsort of thing.
Donations are already beingpledged and we can't thank the
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Perhaps you might considerdonating as well, should you be
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Understandably, giving thecurrent inflationary liberal era
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This Canadian Thinks remainsfree for all to enjoy, and we
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(49:23):
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However, if you are able andfeel our program is worthwhile,
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If you have any topics you'dlike this Canadian Thinks to
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If you'd like to partner withus.
(49:44):
We'd be happy to hear from you.
Thanks so much once again forlistening to this Canadian
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We hope you'll be back for manymore episodes to come.
Until next time, keep your mindopen and don't forget to think.
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