Lethbridge Herald: A better tomorrow starting today

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

In his Inaugural Address on January 20, 1981, President Ronald Reagan charted a path forward that realigned the balance of power in the United States.

With this speech, President Reagan drew a line in the sand declaring that action would be taken today, to preserve tomorrow. Where some may have expected a detailed articulation of government taxation schemes and a bloated bureaucracy, he instead shifted the spotlight to its rightful place: the people.

He made a commitment with words, which was followed by actions, to reduce the tax burden on Americans and allow them to reap the benefits of their success, without penalization. He isolated the economic hardships triggered by dramatic inflation that resulted from previous governments choosing to pile deficit upon deficit and live beyond the nation’s means.

President Reagan understood the best way forward was not to increase the size of government or amass more control at the top, but rather to empower the nation’s solution-makers, problem-solvers, and wealth-generators. The solution was in the people.

He knew that positive change should not be left up to an elite few to make decisions and impose them on the general population, as so many on the political left would advocate for. Government for, by, and of the people was the miracle of the United States of America, and he was going to bring that back.

Although his speech was delivered over four decades ago, it rings just as true today in Canada as it did in the United States then.

It is the Canadian men and women—the farmers, the retailers, the healthcare workers, the miners, the restaurant owners, the electricians, the plumbers, the engineers, the emergency responders, the social workers, the teachers, the truck drivers, the house cleaners, and the servers—who make this country what it is, and no politician or political party can ever take that away. It is Canadians who bear the promise of this nations’ future, not the government.

In our liberal democracy, the government is not meant to hold the power. It is the people. Sadly, we have seen a distortion of this foundational principle in recent years as governments have taken more and more opportunity and responsibility away from the people while placating them with niceties, such as government cheques. The end result of this socialist-leaning path is known, and it is not the outcome any of us should be happy to accept.

The pandemic has illuminated the lengths to which governments are willing to go to avoid accountability and accrue control. From the outset, the Trudeau Liberals attempted to get away with unlimited taxing and spending powers for close to three years. They shut down Parliament and replaced it with a special committee, where opposition parties were stripped of their powers to hold the government accountable, all the while billions of dollars were flying out the door.

It is undeniable that the larger government becomes and the more present it is in our daily lives, the more problems arise. We are worse off.

Along with the government’s attempt to monitor, mediate, and regulate more and more of our lives, it is simultaneously speaking down to Canadians telling them they are helpless, in need of saving, and almost valueless without the hand of government.

This is a lie. It is self-serving politics masquerading as charity, and it is fostering weakness.

It is when the government restrains itself that competition is allowed to thrive and excellence, innovation, and prosperity result. We know that when the economy does well, charitable giving rises, poverty declines, and people report being happier and healthier. It is individual liberty and free markets that permit wages to go up and unemployment to go down, not big governments who tend to tip the scales in favour of elite insiders and special interest groups.

It is when we, as individual Canadians, seize the opportunities in front of us; steward the gifts, talents, and abilities within; and work toward a vibrant tomorrow, that the country we call home will really flourish.

So, my question to you is this: what do you want tomorrow to look like?

What will you dream of? What blueprint will you draft? Who will you partner with to the build future? Is there someone you can mentor to ensure your wisdom is passed on?

One day, I believe we will have a federal government that will truly empower the people of this nation, rather than impose its own will and desires on those who live here. There will be a reordering of power to its proper alignment. In the meantime, we must remember we are not victims, we are victors, and the world is ours to positively impact.

Lethbridge Herald: When the government spends, you pay

Breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day. My go-to menu item is eggs and bacon, or an omelette with a side salad. I love a classic breakfast! I used to be able to eat at a local pub or breakfast spot for as little as $6.00.

That’s not true anymore — and for good reason. The cost of groceries has skyrocketed!

The price of bacon has increased by 20 per cent; the price of eggs by 7.4 per cent; and the price of butter by 5.5 per cent.

This isn’t just bad news for me. It’s bad news for everyone.

But you didn’t need me to tell you that. If you’ve shopped at a local grocery store, eaten at a restaurant, paid a home heating bill, or filled your tank with gas, you already know that life is getting more and more expensive.

So, why is that?

The name of the bad news is inflation and it’s driven by awful government policy.

Due to inflation, the cost of living is rising and it’s causing the chasm between the rich and the poor to widen. Prime Minister Trudeau promised to grow “the middle class,” but in reality, his policies are making it more and more difficult for Canadians to make ends meet, let alone make financial gains.

A recent poll found the number one concern for 78 per cent of Canadians is the rising cost of living.

Those who are hurt the most by the government’s decision to spend money it doesn’t have, are Canadians who live paycheque to paycheque.

Food banks are finding it difficult to keep up with the level of need they’re seeing. One of the biggest changes over the last year has been the rise in use by those who are employed and normally able to get by.

The prime minister says he doesn’t think much about monetary policy. It shows.

He handed himself a blank check in spring 2020 and has been printing and spending money ever since.

The level of debt amassed by Mr. Trudeau not only surpasses that of any one prime minister in our nation’s history, but actually exceeds all previous prime ministers combined!

Instead of reining in spending and living within their means, the Liberals have been printing money non-stop to pay their bills.

Mr. Trudeau has handed out exorbitant amounts of money in the name of “emergency income,” but the books show the personal disposable income of Canadians has actually increased during the pandemic. Earned income has dropped significantly, but enormous government handouts have more than covered the loss.

As a result, there is tons of extra money flooding the economy, but the same or fewer number of goods.

The outcome is higher prices because an endless supply of printed money combined with limited goods drives up their price tag. The sad thing is, it’s the wealthy that benefit when prices increase, because it adds to their profit line.

Meanwhile, low-income wage earners must make their dollars stretch further to pay for the increased cost of groceries, clothes, and gas.

All the while the government is bloating in size not only by spending all this extra money, but by raking it back through taxes.

Once government supports are factored in, Canadians are bringing home more money than before the pandemic.

However, because the cost of living is growing astronomically, your money doesn’t stretch as far as your smaller paycheque once did.

One dollar used to be worth one dollar. Now, due to Mr. Trudeau’s decision to print money, your dollar is only worth 95 cents.

If the government were to increase taxes by five percent, there would be massive outrage.

But the government isn’t imposing a five per cent tax. It simply comes with a new name: inflation. Hence, the term “inflation tax” is often used to describe what’s happening.

A single mom on a $45,000 salary is finding it more difficult to fill up her pantry and buy clothes for her kids.

Seniors on a fixed income have the burden of making their dollars cover the increasing cost of necessities. Those who live with a disability are having to spend more of their small stipend on groceries and shelter.

It didn’t have to be this way.

As Conservative Finance Critic, Pierre Poilievre, has pointed out, “countries that are not printing money to pay their bills have maintained a low cost of living and an affordable life for their citizens, and those countries that are flooding their economies with cheap cash are driving up the cost of living for their people.”

Reining in fiscal spending would necessitate limited government. This, of course, is a horrible restraint for any political party that only attains or maintains power when people are reliant on government programs and handouts.

The government is choosing to be fiscally irresponsible for the sake of political advantage and it’s putting our economic future in jeopardy.

In this cunning sleight of hand, Mr. Trudeau presents himself as Canadians’ caretaker.

In doing so, he is stealing money from the next generation to stuff the pockets of Canadians today. Meanwhile, our savings are depreciating in value.

So, what’s the solution?

To start, the government needs to stop printing money — now!

Lethbridge Herald: The Throne Speech that should be

At the opening of every new session of Parliament, the Prime Minister is given the unique opportunity to share his vision for Canada and what he and his government aim to accomplish over the coming years.

This roadmap comes in the form of a Speech from the Throne delivered by the Queen’s representative, the Governor General.

As ministers, policy writers, and advisors are undoubtedly working on this speech right now, I would like to offer some thoughts as to what I believe should be prioritized and communicated in this anticipated plan for Canada.

Though the Speech from the Throne signals a fresh start, it is imperative that it stays anchored in the core principles of our parliamentary democracy and stays true to the fundamental role of the federal government.

Namely, the federal government should focus on four primary things: keeping the country united; ensuring Canadians are kept safe and secure; facilitating an environment of economic prosperity; and advancing Canada’s place on the world stage.

Firstly, in his throne speech, the Prime Minister should outline his plan for creating a united Canada. As Publilius Syrus famously said, “where there is unity there is always victory.”

If we wish to step into our full potential as a country, we must stand united. Mr. Trudeau must stop pitting one region against another; one religion against another; and one people group against another. We must unite around our common identity as Canadians and our inherent worth as people, while simultaneously honouring and celebrating the uniquenesses that exist among us.

Secondly, safety and security should be top of mind for the Prime Minister.

The government must ensure our borders are secured and Canadians are kept safe from security threats at home and abroad.

Cybersecurity threats are real and severe. Canada must bolster its online security systems and take a realistic approach when dealing with foreign actors that have proven to be untrustworthy in the past.

The Chinese government poses a grave threat, especially through its reach into Beijing-based telecommunications company, Huawei.

Canada should join with its Five Eyes intelligence alliance partners and place significant limitations on Huawei’s access to Canada or ban the telecommunications giant altogether.

Increased investment in the Canadian Armed Forces is a must. We need to ensure that adequate and appropriate military equipment is procured.

These men and women stand on the front lines of defense and they must have equipment that is safe and effective.

For example, used fighter jets won’t cut it!

Misogyny and sexual misconduct within the Canadian Military must be addressed.

It’s time for Mr. Trudeau and his cabinet to stop making excuses, take responsibility for the role they’ve played in the current cover-up and clean things up. The brave women who have come forward with their stories deserve this much at least.

While we must be on guard against foreign threats, we also need to be aware of the many dangers within our own country.

Human trafficking is tragically rampant in Canada and any Prime Minister who claims to care about the most vulnerable must not overlook this grave situation. A plan must be put in place to keep young women and girls safe from predators.

Thirdly, Mr. Trudeau must return to a balanced budget and demonstrate fiscal responsibility. It is undeniable that our economy is currently standing on fragile footing as the country is shouldering unprecedented debt levels.

As a consequence of the Canadian government spending more than any other G20 country in its pandemic response, our deficit has reached epic proportions, and inflation rates are getting dangerously high.

As a result, the cost of living is rising and the number of people living in poverty is growing because of it.

We need to get government spending under control and stop borrowing what we don’t have.

We need to invest in the revenue-generating sectors of our economy and get Canadians back to work.

Unleashing the power of our workforce is the only shot we have at rebooting our economic engine.

Canadians are incredibly creative, inventive, and entrepreneurial. We need to reward innovation and stop penalizing those who are successful and bring jobs and growth into our economy.

This government needs to let Canadians thrive by reducing red tape and regulation and getting out of the way.

It should go without saying, but unfortunately it must be stated explicitly: the government needs to commit to the development of Canada’s energy sector.

Canada has been blessed with the third largest oil reserve in the world, plus we adhere to the highest environmental regulations on the planet, and we respect human rights.

Even while we transition to alternative energy sources, the need for oil and gas still exists.

When we refuse to develop Canada’s industry, it simply means we must bring oil and gas in from places like Saudi Arabia, where there are zero environmental standards and human rights are abysmal.

In other words, by neglecting our industry, Prime Minister Trudeau has an opportunity to support Canada’s ethically sourced oil, or he can use taxpayer’s money to support a foreign dictator and purchase unethical blood oil that was produced with zero regard for the environment.

The fact that Mr. Trudeau has appointed a former environmental activist who has been arrested for his anti-oil and gas antics is certainly alarming.

Fourthly, after giving careful attention to the local affairs of our country, we can once again look to have a respectable presence on the world stage. It is undeniable that Canada has taken a backseat when it comes to forming alliances in security, trade, and intelligence. This is largely a result of our failure to take a stand within our own country. If we are not defenders of freedom and democracy within our own borders, then how can we export these values globally?

The only way this country can propel forward with strength is by standing united. This is the preeminent role of any national leader — that the people he serves stay united under a national banner. If Prime Minister Trudeau genuinely wants this country to succeed, he must adjust course and stop stoking the fire of animosity between Canadians.

In light of Remembrance Day on November 11th, when we will pause to remember and pay tribute to the men and women who have served this country, I cannot help but feel an incredible responsibility to preserve the very principles on which Canada is founded in order to honour the sacrifices made by Canada’s veterans.

We must continue to stand united as Canadians in defense of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

The speech from the Throne should align itself accordingly.