No plan, no progress
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said it right: there is no plan.
For months during the Justin Trudeau days, CBC used the quote as a teaser for one of their political programs. The enunciation and phrase were pitch perfect.
We have added that quote to our arsenal of awesome talking points. It ranks right up there with David Dingwall’s “I am entitled to my entitlements” expression.
In the past week, the prime minister and leader of the official opposition have released informercials about the economy and the road that lies ahead.
Unvetted by journalists, unchallenged by fellow politicians, the digital versions will become part of an algorithmic churn. Liberals or sympathizers at least will get a dose of Mark Carney, and the Conservatives will devour Pierre Poilievre’s commentary.
Canadians will be no further ahead, although their polarized positions will be validated and the chasm that lies between progress and success will be as wide as ever.
In order to move forward, problems need to be identified and understood. Drawing conclusions without sufficiently understanding the background to issues only compounds problems. That might explain the current happenstance of public opinion.
Aiding this “flying by the seat of my pants” mentality is the debt juggernaut that continues to mystify us with regularity.
In the past 20 years, governments of all description have continued to borrow with no significant plan to repay it. Tough choices have been delayed or put off through many years of deficit financing. This isn’t just a Canadian problem, it is everywhere.
Speaking of flying, it was interesting to note over the weekend how Ontario Premier Doug Ford switched gears on the purchase of a government jet. Hanging in the balance is a $29-million commitment. It will be interesting to see if that price is realized when the plane is resold. If one considers the time wasted on this foolish plan, Ontario residents will never recoup the cost. It will be just another footnote in history of governing without a plan.
Housing, education, immigration, medical care, inflation, transportation, national defense, employment – all of these items and scads more require a measured approach.
We remain convinced that if the public were fully apprised with significant detail, the decisions made could be embraced with a view to a better future for all.
All Canadians have had for two decades is talking points from politicians chosen as best capable of winging it.
No plan, no progress.
We need a plan.