During the leaders’ debates, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wasn’t forced to explain his support of crushing basic freedoms, superseding parental rights, and protecting the safety of immigrants who commit serious crimes over that of Canadians. .He explained – when pressed – who’d pay for stuff he promises to lavish on Canadians if he’s PM..The “billionaires,” silly!.One problematic reality in the way of Singh’s fantasy is the shortage of taxpaying billionaires to pick up the tab of the breathtaking billions his extreme plans would cost..Maybe Singh could import billionaires along with the tankers of oil from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere that’ll arrive with greater frequency to keep Canada running if he succeeds in his quest to shut down its energy industry..Clever. Dangle shiny objects of free everything in front of voters – universal pharmacare plan, dental and mental health coverage while ending private, for-profit care. Simultaneously, get them too resentful of those selfish rich folk to notice your plan has more holes in it than a sieve..There’s nothing original in Singh’s ploy to seduce voters with promises of cradle-to-grave handouts. He echoes the empty vows hard-core socialists always make before they destroy quality of life and country. History proves they all fail..Think dictator Fidel Castro who made similar promises. When he died in November 2106, hungry, sickly, bitter, oppressed Cubans rejoiced..Not Singh. He tweeted: “He saw a country wracked by poverty, illiteracy and disease. So he led a revolution that uplifted the lives of millions. RIP #FidelCastro.”. Screen-Shot-2021-09-13-at-10.06.36-AMSingh tweet .Is it plausible Singh, a slick former criminal defense lawyer, didn’t know about Castro’s death squads, imprisonment of homosexuals, or promises of education and healthcare that never materialized?.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his “deep sorrow” over Castro’s death. .These toxic twins Singh and Trudeau agree on a lot, especially the destruction of Canada’s energy industry, and tend to prop up one another’s unpopular policies. .Different parties, same ideals..Trudeau made unkept promises to deliver Utopia but still ratcheted the national debt to an astounding $1.1-1.3 trillion. Singh’s making impossible promises of Utopia on steroids that’ll drive it higher. He makes U.S. President Joe Biden’s spending policies look like Reaganomics in comparison. .Singh put a price tag on his grandiose election promises – after Canadians already started early voting – claiming $166 billion in projected revenues of the $214 billion over five years needed for his programs would come from tax hikes for Canada’s wealthiest residents and businesses..“There was a time when the super-wealthy paid more of their fair share. That’s what we want to return to, that the burden should not be shouldered by the middle class, by working people. It should be those at the very, very top,” said Singh..Inevitably, the middle class will pay. They always do. Programs always cost buckets much more than what they’re pitched at. .They include: health care – $68 billion; reconciliation with indigenous peoples – $30 billion; initiatives to fight climate change and support energy workers in the transition – $26 billion..Revenue would also come from plans to implement a 20% foreign home buyers’ tax and eliminate oil and gas sector subsidies..Last month, Singh promised to eliminate a whopping $18 billion in fossil fuel subsidies for oil and gas companies and redirect the savings to the renewable energy sector. .The problem with that is the oil and gas industry doesn’t get $18 billion in subsidies. It does pay high taxes, and particularly in Alberta’s case, props up the welfare programs Singh loves with equalization payments..Singh declared war on the fossil fuels industry. He’d finish the job Trudeau started in destroying Alberta. Shockingly, races are hairline tight in some ridings, including Edmonton Centre and Edmonton Griesbach, between Conservative and NDP candidates..After how former NDP premier Rachael Notley decimated the province, why are Albertans, other resource-rich provinces, and First Nations who want to get their energy projects going, even toying with voting NDP? Imagine if Singh declared his intent to destroy Ontario’s auto industry or Quebec’s aviation industry? .Singh’s cradle-to-grave socialism that will harm middle-class Canadians and small businesses is hardly all that should worry Canadians. .Singh promotes division by accusing Canada of being a “place of racism” saying “Muslims are not safe in this country” without offering proof because there is none..What else does he support?.• Vaccine passports,.• A government-enforced stay-at-home order to combat COVID-19,.• Pouring more money into the wasteful United Nations and World Health Organization,.• Citizenship tests for immigrants covering “very basic and simple topics” to demonstrate their understanding of Canada,.• Canadians struggling to get programs funding for their children in school should pay for free English courses for immigrants,.• Immigrants that commit serious crimes in Canada should only be deported back to where they came from “if it is safe for them to return,”.• Even if the federal government doesn’t improve its ability to screen out potential terrorists, Muslim immigrants shouldn’t be banned from entering Canada,.• Government should regulate online hate speech,.• Children under 18 should be legally able to receive gender-transition treatments, banning parental authority,.• Transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in events even though males have an advantage over females,.• Foreigners residing in Canada should have the right to vote,.• Decriminalizing drug use..Meanwhile, Canada could lose an important trading partner and ally with Singh as PM. Singh’s support for Sikh separatist groups and his criticism of New Delhi’s human rights record resulted in him being the first western politician to be denied entry into India..Singh denounced terrorism. But after winning the leadership in 2017, he stirred controversy by appearing on CBC and refusing to denounce Talwinder Singh Parmer, believed to be the mastermind behind the 1985 Air India bombing..Oh, and Singh, that personable, seemingly harmless guy appearing on the TV ads, says it shouldn’t be illegal to burn the Canadian flag..Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard.lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com
