Money for nothing…
The recent Trudeau announcement was probably the most blatant use of taxpayer’s money geared solely at changing optics and opinions on his leadership. This vote buying and photo op staging included an estimated 1.6 billion in temporary GST reductions and 4.675 billion in $250 cash payouts to 18.7 million Canadians. But what of the not include administrative price of the cash payout or GST changes. Minimally, it amounts to 6.275 billion in wild “look at me” spending.
Reductions in GST will be mostly off junk foods, beer, puzzles, newspapers, video game consoles, and kids clothing which used to be exempt before he changed that too. These changes are scheduled to run from December 14 through Feb 15, or for two months. No mention of chaos created for retailers who have to make these adjustments was mentioned, but you can bet those costs will be passed on to the consumer.
This is nothing short of a huge publicity stunt at the expense of Canadians. One of the most boldly absurd and obvious methods for gaining popularity before an election after years of dismal policies and insane spending. They even suggested this was possible because inflation numbers are supposedly lower. Good grief. One the largest contributors to inflation is government overspending and this will certainly add to it.
The bizarre twist is that many Canadians will likely fall for this stunt at the polls next go around giving approval to the almost criminal way this government has been operating for the last 8 years. If it works as planned, it will go down as a brilliant fake show of concern that purchased the minds of voters and will be taken as approval securing the inevitable use of such tactics in far greater and grander ways.