Justin Trudeau is stripping away his budget as if he were literally on the campaign trail.
Surprising approach against Canadian institutions
On the one hand, his government reveals elements of the budget before it is tabled in Parliament. This likely violates parliamentary rules. By acting in this way, the Trudeau government is contemptuous of the institution that is the House of Commons. We will certainly talk about it again because the Bloc Québécois filed a question of privilege with the presidency on this issue this Tuesday.
In addition, announcements encroach on areas of provincial jurisdiction, disregarding the Canadian Constitution.
Which Canada do you want to live in?
Beyond the odious method, on the merits of things, we must make the liberal vision known.
The challenge of the liberal troops is to clearly differentiate themselves from their conservative adversary. Which Canada do you want to live in? At this point, that will be the liberal mantra.
For Justin Trudeau, this is embodied in two aspects.
First, without saying it by name, for liberals, Mr. Poilievre is a little Northern Trump. We will subtly want to get it into the minds of Canadians that a Conservative government will be on the same axis as a Trump administration.
Secondly, with such announcements of social programs, despite public finances in the red, we wish to attract clienteles who, we hope, will be loyal to the Liberals for fear of seeing these social programs go through the mill if Poilièvre is elected. In fact, Trudeau will ask you in the next election: Do you want a generous Canada with dental care, daycare, drug insurance, pro-tenant programs, which offers lunches to schoolchildren, etc., or a fiscally austere government which will necessarily cut the newly announced social programs?
Citizens are increasingly aware of the issues related to debt; announcing rains of billions certainly distinguishes him from Poilievre but it is an excessively risky bet. At this point, it’s double or nothing.