When Canadians go to the polls September 20 to elect a new Parliament, they must decide if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals deserve a third term in office and if that term should be a majority or minority mandate..If another minority mandate is in the offing, he will most likely have to rely on the NDP to prop him up again. For the sake of the country’s economy, social fabric, unity, and basic accounting principles, Canadians should pray this is not the case. As undeserving and destructive as a restored Trudeau majority would be, a Trudeau minority relying upon the NDP for support would somehow be worse..NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh released his party’s platform on August 12, several days before the campaign even officially began. At 115 pages it’s long, but it’s hardly detailed, and entirely un-costed. The platform is less a list of policy pledges and more of a long-winded manifesto of leftist grievances peppered with the odd specific – or vague – promise..The Western Standard analyzed the NDP plan – if it can be called that – in detail, as we did earlier with O’Toole’s Conservative platform. If it can be summed up in four words, it is “free stuff for everyone.” While overwhelmingly unrealistic and naive, it does contain the odd interesting proposal that we will give a fair hearing..Taxes(F).Unsurprisingly, the NDP proposes new taxes; lots of them..This includes a “temporary COVID-19 excess profit tax that puts an additional 15% tax on large corporate windfall profits during the pandemic.”.Certainly, some companies were successful during the pandemic, but how could the NDP possibly know which companies generated “windfall profits” because of the pandemic? Is it just possible that some new businesses were just coming online as the pandemic started, or had made major investments that began to pay off at this time? Of course, they don’t. It is the simple politics of envy preying on low information voters..Right on cue, the NDP have also trotted out their make “the wealthiest individuals [pay] their fair share” trope; as if people paying half their incomes toward the government were not paying their “fair share” already. To this, the NDP would increase the capital gains tax rate to an incredible 75%. This would have devastating effects on investment in general, and small business owners in particular..The NDP also pledge to increase the top marginal tax rate by another two points, further discouraging people from obtaining a high-quality education or start a business that will pay them and their families instead of the government..While it would net next to no revenue, they continue with their jealousy-based politics by calling for a “luxury goods tax” and impose a further “wealth tax.” A wealth tax isn’t even a tax on income. It’s a tax on money that people have already paid tax on and put into the bank. If the NDP is hoping to drive savings offshore into jurisdictions that would like their money, this is how they would do it..They will raise corporate (that is, business) taxes by 3%, and join the Liberals and Conservatives in taxing online services, like Netflix..Carbon Taxes(F).When it comes to carbon taxes, the NDP stands alongside the Liberals and Conservatives. On such a divisive issue, there is remarkably little difference between the three big parties. The only party currently represented in Parliament that breaks with them is the Greens, which predictably want an ever-larger tax-take on driving one’s car or heating one’s home..Global Warming& Industry(F).With the Green Party in a state of civil war-induced collapse, the NDP sharpened its environmentalist credentials even further in hopes of poaching their voters..Its platform includes alarmist trinkets like the appointment of a “Climate Emergency Committee of Cabinet,” where presumably Singh and his ministers can heroically forestall the end of the world..They will also fund “fare-free transit,” a set a target of “net-zero electricity by 2030 and move to 100% non-emitting electricity by 2040.”.For good measure, they will “immediately ban single-use plastics,” while promising to transition workers in this huge Western industry to more appropriate lines of work which will no doubt be subsidized by the taxpayers..In a nod to the most extreme wing of the radical eco-movement, they will “create an Office of Environmental Justice to address the disproportionate impacts of pollution and loss of biodiversity on low-income, racialized and other marginalized communities.”.Because we all know that global warming is racist..The party commits to having Canada at 50% of its 2005 carbon emissions levels by 2030, just nine years from now. Even if Jagmeet Singh were to form a majority government and have all of the money in the world, he would be unable to reach this target without a Chinese Cultural Revolution-style upheaval of society. Smart New Democrats know they could never reach this target on this timeline, but they know that they will not be the government and therefore will not have to fulfill any of their promises..In the great green upheaval, however, the NDP promise they will “create good jobs in all regions, with green infrastructure investments that will ensure that working people are not left behind as the world moves to a zero-carbon economy.”.This will be cold comfort to oil patch workers in Alberta and Saskatchewan that will be thrown out of their jobs and reassigned to assembling government-subsidized windmills..The NDP says “the workers most impacted by the changes in our economy cannot pay the price of action on climate change.” But just in case there aren’t enough solar-panel technician jobs to go around, the NDP promises it would expand EI benefits to those that they put out of work. Westerners by-and-large have avoided the “pogey-culture” that plagues many areas in Atlantic Canada, but this seems a sure-fire way to make the West fit right in..The West (F).While the NDP manifesto devotes page-after-page to the importance of Ontario’s auto sector and Quebec’s aluminum industry, it doesn’t mention the West’s energy industry. Not once. In fact, a search of the document doesn’t find the word ‘Alberta’ at all. A search for ‘Saskatchewan’ turns up only one result, in reference to that province’s first socialist premier, Tommy Douglas..The Singh plan says it continues to oppose the Kinder-Morgan pipeline, but stops short of saying that it will tear it out of the ground. We suppose that this is progress for the NDP..Senate Reform (C+).The NDP promise to abolish the Senate. This would require the unanimous agreement of the federal government and all 10 provinces, so even if a Prime Minister Singh had a majority government, he would almost certainly be unable to effect this promise..A functioning upper house of the legislature (Senate) is a key element of every functioning democratic federation in the world; including the United States, Germany, and Australia. Canada is the lone democratic federation on the planet without an upper house that has democratic legitimacy or seat-balance to protect the smaller members. Remedying this – however unlikely – is key to any hope of fairness for the West within Canada..The NDP proposal would do away with it entirely. While far worse an option than a radically reformed Senate, it would in fact be much better than the status quo that sees provinces like Alberta (with more than twice the population of all four Atlantic provinces combined) have roughly half the seats of just Nova Scotia..Electoral Reform (B).Justin Trudeau promised 2015 would be the last election held under the “first-past-the-post” system. But once that system won him a majority government without a majority of the votes, he decided that it was just fine after all..It is increasingly obvious that Canadians – and Westerners in particular – are not well served by this ancient form of elections, with constituencies drawn up arbitrarily on a political whim. Some form of proportional representation would be positive, and allow voters to cast their ballots for the party of their choice, and not have to worry about the “splitting the vote” boogeyman..Conservatives, for instance, could stop worrying about the incessant problem of holding together an over-broad coalition of voters that often have contrary interests. In place of the Conservative Party of Canada, a group of smaller parties could focus on their own voter groups, with parties dedicated to: social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, libertarians, Red Tories, Westerners, and Quebec nationalists. In the end, that coalition of parties would likely prove more successful than a catch-all Conservative Party that leaves most less than happy..The NDP’s platform commits to moving to a mixed-member proportional representation system that would continue to have locally elected MPs, but also “at-large” MPs representing parties that received a sufficient level of the vote, but didn’t win any local races in gerrymandered constituencies. This is a tried-and-tested form of proportional representation used in many successful democracies including: Germany, New Zealand, South Korea, and Scotland..But such extensive changes to the fundamental nature of our democracy requires broad buy-in before they can be enacted. Unfortunately, the NDP’s plan would simply impose it without a referendum first. Even if their intentions are good, this is a dangerously authoritarian move..Student Debt and Post-Secondary Education(F).The NDP platform doesn’t see a problem that can’t be fixed without throwing more money at it. A favourite in the plan is post-secondary education. The party promises to make “post-secondary education part of our public education system.” What few bright spots of learning can still be found on these campuses would be brought down to the same level of uninspiring mediocrity as Canada’s public K-12 schools. Luckily, this would be wildly unconstitutional for the NDP to impose, since universities are under provincial jurisdiction. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has proven unwilling to protect provincial jurisdiction under the constitution in areas like healthcare, social services, and now even in control of natural resources..The NDP promises to make student debt programs interest-free and extend debt forgiveness, up to $20,000. But that’s just the start. They will “move away from loans and permanently double non-repayable Canada student grants.”.For those of us who took on student debt and managed to pay it back by working and saving, this is a hard pill to swallow..It’s also wildly “classist” to use an NDP socialist term. Post-secondary education is a path to high incomes – something the NDP instinctively loath – yet it’s asking working-class taxpayers to pay for the education of people who will earn much more than they do..Canada Post (F).Speaking of making the poor pay for the wealthy, the NDP commit to restoring door-to-door mail delivery for neighbourhoods delisted under the Harper government. Many of those areas are older, upper-income neighbourhoods, who now have to walk to a community mailbox like the rest of us. We all hate walking down the block to get our mail, but snail mail is the way of the past, and Canada Post needs to adapt. If the government must continue to own and control the delivery of our mail, it should be the same for every taxpayer..Gas Prices(D).Incredibly, the NDP is concerned about gas prices..“New Democrats [will] make sure that prices at the pumps are fair by creating a Fair Gasoline Prices Watchdog to investigate complaints about gouging, and boost the power of the Competition Bureau to proactively investigate allegations of anti-competitive activity in the gasoline market.”.As much as we all hate to see the price rise at the pump, there simply hasn’t been any proven cases of price-fixing. In fact, the fuel sales industry is hyper-competitive..This is a sop to low information voters who hate high gas prices, while deflecting attention away from the over-obvious fact the most persistent and non-competitive aspect of gas prices is, in fact, taxes. If the NDP want to address the high cost of gasoline (although probably not diesel) at the pump, they should revisit their enthusiastic support of carbon taxes. In fact, all three big parties should do so..EI(D).Margaret Thatcher once said: “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples’ money.” That doesn’t stop the NDP’s platform from promising even more money for people to not work, many of which would be driven into the unemployment line by their very policies..The platform is promising a massive enrichment of the program, including extra benefits for “seasonal workers” (that is: Atlantic fishermen). Of course, these extra benefits will do little to help the tens of thousands of energy industry workers their platform would throw out of a job..One saving grace to the NDP’s EI proposals is to “make EI available to people who quit their jobs to go back to school.” Many Canadians who have never collected EI in their lives are unable to leave their jobs to upgrade their skills so that they can re-enter the labour market with a higher income. Allowing these people to collect EI that they have paid to draw from it while they go back to school is a positive measure that deserves a tip of the hat..Guaranteed Income (F).Speaking of free money, the NDP is promising the introduction of a “Guaranteed Livable Income” for all Canadians. This is not the Milton Friedman-style plan of abolishing the bureaucratic welfare state and its social programs for replacement with a single subsidy. Instead, it would see existing social programs and handouts expanded across the board, with a massive new handout program added onto it all. A program of this magnitude would bankrupt Canada all on its own, and add to the already serious unemployment problem..Daycare(F).One thing can be said for the New Democrats: they are consistent. As they have for every election for decades on end, they are promising the imposition of a federal $10/day government daycare program on the provinces. While the NDP has never formed government, the pressure they exert on the left-flank of the Liberals seems at long last to have paid off for them, as Trudeau is signing deals with provinces right now..Daycare is a necessity for many families that choose to have both parents work, but it is not the answer for every family. A government-run daycare program will hurt the quality of daycare provided and deprive many families of the choice they deserve in how to care for their children..Labour and Unions (F).Before the NDP went down the road of eco-radicalism, they were at their core a socialist labour party. They haven’t lost this sense of mission in their platform, although it consumes much less ink than their environmental promises and bromides..The party would ban replacement workers during strikes (which they call “scabs”), and impose an unconstitutional federal minimum wage of $20 an hour. Those with even an elementary understanding of economics will know this will drive inflation and put huge numbers of lower-skilled labourers and young workers out of work..The party would also ban unpaid internships. Post-secondary students often take these unpaid positions as a way of building their resumes so that they have something to show potential employers when they graduate. It may pay less than a job at McDonald’s, but it holds much more weight on a CV. The NDP plan to ban these positions will just mean fewer graduates able to earn the trust of an employer to hire them when they are finished school..Supply Management(F).Like carbon taxes, the NDP are joined in unanimity by the Liberals and Conservatives in supporting Canada’s Soviet-style “supply management” system in several sectors of agriculture. While the NDP has never seen a sector of the economy it didn’t think the government should run or own, the evidence is abundantly clear “supply management” subsidizes certain farmers who own quota at the expense of working families that must pay above-market prices for their dairy, eggs and poultry. This is a regressive policy that disproportionately hurts poor and working-class families, groups for which the NDP claim to be champions..Pacific Coast Fishing(B).Salmon fishing on the West coast is a critical industry for many British Columbians, but it has come under increasing stress from offshore salmon farms. These farms severely pollute the waters around them, disrupting the environment and causing the artificial spread of diseases in the wild salmon population..The NDP’s platform says that it will “implement the recommendations of the Cohen Commission and work with the province of British Columbia and First Nations to support the transition to land-based closed-containment systems.”.This is a positive move, so long as it is done carefully to transition the offshore salmon farmers to land-based operations in a way that is fair and respectful of their current investments..Seniors(D).The NDP has never met an institution it didn’t believe should be directly owned and run by the government, including seniors’ homes..The NDP platform says it “will end private, for-profit long-term care and bring long-term care homes under the public umbrella.” Grandma and grandpa who saved during their working careers so they can enjoy a relatively comfortable, private seniors-care home, would ostensibly be uprooted and placed into government-run institutions. This is poor economics, expensive, and most importantly, disrespectful to our seniors who didn’t spend all of their money, but instead saved for a more comfortable retirement..Pharma, Dental and Mental Care(D).Under the NDP platform, pharmaceuticals, dental care, and mental care would all be free. Further intruding into provincial jurisdiction, they would impose these as government programs. All of these things are critical for a healthy, productive, and happy population, but there is scant evidence government could do any better than the private sector..Drug Reform and Addictions (A).Less a matter of libertarian choice than a matter of harm reduction for the New Democrats, they have put forward a bold plan to decriminalize drug use while redoubling efforts to crack down on the real criminals: traffickers..While this proposal may make some voters nervous, it is worthy of serious consideration. Hear us out..Canadians addicted to narcotics are not going to stop just because they aren’t allowed to do them. Putting drug users in prison for their personal choices (however poor) without hurting anyone else is not going to make them stop. The answer for addicts is not jail time; it is treatment and compassion. The NDP has shown bravery here and the other parties should follow suit..The NDP also hit the nail on the head with their commitment to “expunge criminal records for Canadians convicted of minor cannabis possession.”.This is a common-sense move that should be getting more attention from the other big parties. Cannabis possession is now legal in Canada, and it is unfair people who have a criminal record for smoking a joint in university have to carry that burden for the rest of their lives..CBC and Media Bailout (F).The NDP (predictably) promises to “increase funding for CBC and Radio-Canada,” which does so much to broadcast NDP-Liberal friendly news and opinion..While they don’t address the issue directly, the platform strongly implies it supports the Trudeau government’s media bailout, and might even go further..“We will also extend support to Canadian media to assist them in making the digital transition.”.The media have had nearly 30 years to make the transition. Those that haven’t are dinosaurs and deserve to share their fate..Sex Changes and Race (F).According to the platform, “Access to gender confirming procedures and medication can be life-saving for some transgender people. New Democrats will work with the provinces to make sure that there is equal access to gender confirming surgery across the country, and these procedures and medications are covered by public health plans.”.While most Canadians are comfortable letting individuals decide for themselves how they wish to identify, the NDP believes that the government needs to step in, as well as taxpayers. This is disappointing, but hardly surprising for a party infected by the most virulent strains of wokism..The party will also “prioritize the collection of race-based data on health, employment, policing and more with the goal of improving outcomes for racialized communities.”.French and Quebec (F).Despite losing their Orange Wave in Quebec, the NDP are intent on seducing back La Belle Provence. The party says that it will strengthen the Official Languages Act, and even promise an extra special status for French beyond that given to minority English communities..“We will also adopt the principle of asymmetry, which recognizes that as a minority official language, French requires particular protection and promotion.”.The English-speaking minority about to be effectively outlawed in Quebec might have something to say about it, but all the big parties ignore them as an inconvenient reality..Overall Platform (F).Admittedly, it’s difficult for an eco-socialist party to score well with the Western Standard Editorial Board, but we did our best to be as open as possible to good ideas, regardless of the party or its ideology. And we did in fact find a few nuggets. But even grading the NDP on a curve and searching for these tickets of sanity, there is little of value for most Westerners to find in the party’s platform..The best Westerns can hope for if Trudeau wins re-election, is that he will not have to rely on a party this captured by extremism for support in Parliament..This Editorial was jointly written by the Editorial Board of the Western Standard
