The answer to this question depends on what you think the platform is for. If the goal is to increase economic growth and improve standards of living, then their platform falls short. In fact, it’s clear that the real purpose of the Liberal platform is to give Liberals more power.
Why Are We in an Election?
Did Justin Trudeau call the election primarily because he wanted to improve economic outcomes and raise the standard of living for ordinary Canadians? Or did he call it because he wanted more power? Nobody thinks his motivation was the public good. Ask Trudeau himself why he called the election, and he is likely to launch into a soliloquy about some unrelated topic in hopes that by the time he has finished the question is forgotten.
The Liberal Platform: A Case Study on Understanding the Left
The Liberals’ climate policies are another instructive case study on understanding the left. They say that a carbon tax is the most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but at the same time boast of having spent more than $100 billion since coming to power in 2015 on "clean growth" initiatives. If, as they say, the most economical way to fight climate change is with a carbon tax, why would they then spend over $100 billion — about eight months’ worth of federal personal income tax revenues — on uneconomical programs? The answer is: not to make life better for Canadians, but to give more power to Liberals. They like having the power to spend other people’s money and hope that the recipients of the spending will become committed Liberal voters and donors.
The Incentives of a Liberal Government
Imagine you’re Justin Trudeau. An election platform that increases economic growth, expands opportunity, allows for more freedom, and raises standards of living would entail renouncing and reversing the policies you’ve implemented over the past six years. What incentive do you have to deliver such a platform? None at all.
The Liberal Platform: A Recipe for Control
It’s clear that the real purpose of the Liberal platform is to give Liberals more power — first by getting people to vote for a Liberal government and then by giving the government more control over everything:
- How people spend their money
- What industries they work in
- What social doctrines they uphold (see for example, the Liberals’ proposal that pregnancy care centres be stripped of their charity status for their insufficient enthusiasm in promoting abortion)
- What cars they drive
- What they watch on television
- And so on.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, the Liberal platform is not about improving economic outcomes or raising standards of living. It’s about giving Liberals more power and control over Canadians’ lives. This should be a concerning thought for anyone who values freedom and autonomy.
References
Allan Lanthier: The Liberals want to impose a minimum tax? We already have a minimum tax
Philip Cross: Ottawa can’t cap oilsands output so Trudeau should stop saying he can
Matthew Lau: The state has no place in the boardrooms of the nation
William Watson: On the road to Havana — The Liberals’ pig-headed net-zero carpolitik
