Jesse Kline: Liberals prove they're the 'natural governing party' after all
Like it or not, by winning a fourth-straight election following a disastrous and scandal-plagued 10 years in office, the Liberal party has proven, once again, that it is indeed Canada's 'natural governing party.'
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Only a party that is the default choice of the Canadian electorate could trail in the polls by 26 percentage points in January and go on to win an election in April.
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Only a party that engenders blind trust among voters could convince people that the team responsible for Canada's failing economic health are actually those best suited to fix the problems they created; that a government that's tried the same things over and over again for the past 10 years is actually the party of change; and that a leader who made a career out of trying to keep fossil fuels in the ground is the guy who's going to develop Canada's natural resources.
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Over the next four years, no one should act surprised when they find makeup on their pork chops. Prime Minister Mark Carney was slathered over the Grits like lipstick on a pig, and judging by the party's election platform, they're going to be rolling in the same pile of manure they've been in for years.
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After literally doubling the national debt to deal with the COVID pandemic, the Liberals are now basking in the joy of another crisis — this one caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's upending of the postwar liberal economic order and odd infatuation with his northern neighbours — that was sent to them like manna from heaven.
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Vancouver Sun
an hour ago
- Vancouver Sun
Opinion: Most Canadians don't support taxpayer subsidies for LNG
Proponents often claim that Canada's LNG will reduce global warming by displacing coal in other countries. However, we have run out of time for a 'transition fuel' if we're to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. In this context, new LNG infrastructure isn't a climate solution, but rather a substitute for investment in clean energy. Luckily, the price of renewables has dropped dramatically, making this transition both feasible and affordable. LNG is also a bad economic bet. The International Energy Agency has projected that LNG capacity will exceed demand by the next decade, making new capital investments especially risky. This is presumably why private investors are wavering and looking to Canadian governments to subsidize their projects with public dollars. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A recent poll found that 56 per cent of respondents, both in B.C. and nationally, oppose multibillion-dollar public subsidies for foreign-owned LNG projects. Only 18 per cent of Canadians, and 22 per cent of British Columbians, are supportive while the rest are unsure. In B.C., where most LNG projects are proposed and LNG Canada will soon come online, people have other priorities for their tax dollars. In fact, supporting oil-and-gas is at the bottom of a list led by health care, housing, education, renewable energy and transit. The lack of public support for subsidizing fossil fuels has been consistent for years. In 2018, two-thirds of Canadians opposed subsidizing oil-and-gas, 41 per cent strongly. More than half remained unsupportive, even after being told oil-and-gas subsidies would create jobs and economic growth. In 2021, 62 per cent of Canadians wanted the federal government to stop fossil fuel subsidies and there was mounting frustration that the government hadn't acted on a 2015 campaign promise to do so. In 2023, the majority of Canadians felt that oil companies, not taxpayers, should foot the bill for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Only 30 per cent of British Columbians supported subsidies for LNG. A 2023 poll found 96 per cent of Canadians felt the federal government should disclose subsidies for fossil fuels. That year, the government of Canada signed a joint ministerial statement at the UN climate talks that committed them to do just that by the end of 2024. There is still no inventory of fossil fuel subsidies in mid-2025, undermining Canadians' ability to understand where their tax dollars are going. Canada claims to be a global leader on climate change, yet we continuously fail to meet our climate targets. The main reason is that emissions growth from oil-and-gas production has offset progress in other areas. According to the UN Environment Programme , governments around the world, including Canada, are planning for continued fossil fuel production that will result in more than double the global emissions scientists advise are consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 C. Canada, unfortunately, is one the biggest funders of the fossil fuel industry globally. That includes billions of taxpayer dollars that the federal and B.C. governments have already committed to LNG in the form of direct subsidies, lower tax and electricity rates, and public loans. Canadian taxpayers have been footing the bill for fossil fuel developments that threaten our own climate, health and economy. In this critical moment, Canada's leaders should instead use public funds to support projects that advance Canada's economy and safety, not only today but for decades to come. Kathryn Harrison is professor of political science at the University of B.C. Cara Pike is co-founder and senior adviser to at Carleton University in Ottawa.
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
D.C. prepares for military parade with miles of fencing, dozens of magnetometers
Published Jun 09, 2025 • 2 minute read Workers put up temporary fencing ahead of the U.S. army's 250th birthday parade and celebration around the White House on Monday, June 9, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. army will mark its 250th anniversary with a parade along the National Mall that will include 6,500 troops, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft. Photo by Kayla Bartkowski / Getty Images WASHINGTON — As the nation's capital cleans up from the culmination of World Pride this past weekend, focus now shifts to a very different massive event — Saturday's military parade to honour the 250th birthday of the army and the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'We're preparing for an enormous turnout,' said Matt McCool of the Secret Service's Washington Field office, who said more than 28 km of 'anti-scale fencing' would be erected and 'multiple drones' would be in the air. The entire District of Columbia is normally a no-fly zone for drones. Army officials have estimated about 200,000 attendees for the evening military parade, and McCool said he was prepared for 'hundreds of thousands' of people. 'We have a ton of magnetometers,' he said. 'If a million people show up, then we're going to have some lines.' A total of 175 magnetometers would be used at security checkpoints controlling access to the daytime birthday festival and the nighttime parade. Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith predicted 'major impacts to traffic' and advised attendees to arrive early and consider forgoing cars for the Metro. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This is a significant event with a large footprint,' she said. 'We're relying on the public to be an extra set of ears and eyes for us.' The military parade has been designated a National Special Security Event — similar to a presidential inauguration or state funeral. That status is reserved for events that draw large crowds and potential mass protests. It calls for an enhanced degree of high-level co-ordination among D.C. officials, the FBI, Capitol Police and Washington's National Guard contingent — with the Secret Service taking the lead. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The army birthday celebration had already been planned for months. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to transform the event — which coincides with his 79th birthday — into a massive military parade complete with 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Multiple counter-protests of varying sizes are planned for Saturday, with the largest being a mass march to the White House dubbed the No Kings rally. Officials say they are also on alert for signs that the immigration-related clashes between law enforcement and protesters currently roiling Los Angeles would spread. 'We're paying attention, obviously, to what is happening there. We'll be ready,' McCool said. 'We have a robust plan for civil disobedience.' Agent Phillip Bates of the FBI's Washington Field office, which is tasked with counterterrorism and crisis management, said there were 'no credible threats' to the event at the moment. Lindsey Appiah, the deputy mayor for public safety, told The Associated Press last week that the city had longstanding plans for the army birthday celebration. But those plans 'got a lot bigger on short notice' when Trump got involved. Still, Appiah said the city has grown 'very flexible, very nimble' at rolling with these sort of changes. Read More Toronto Blue Jays Olympics Columnists Ontario Canada
Canada Standard
2 hours ago
- Canada Standard
Canada to meet NATO's defence spending target this fiscal year
Xinhua 10 Jun 2025, 00:15 GMT+10 OTTAWA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday his government would increase spending on the country's defence and security and achieve NATO's defence spending target this fiscal year. Carney said in a news release that the defence spending for 2025-26 will be over nine billion Canadian dollars (6.6 billion U.S. dollars), or two percent of GDP, meeting the NATO defence commitment half a decade ahead of schedule. According to the news release, measures in the defence spending increase plan include better pay for Canadian Armed Forces; new aircraft, armed vehicles, and ammunition; bolstering Canada's defence industrial capacity, as well as expanding the reach of the Canadian Coast Guard and integrating it into the NATO defence capabilities. "Canada requires these capabilities to uphold and assert its sovereignty and ensure our defence never becomes dependent on others again. As we strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces, we will also build up Canadian industry, driving innovation and creating good careers," said Carney. Carney promised to further accelerate the investments in years to follow. According to NATO's annual report, Canada's defence spending was around 1.45 percent of GDP last year.
