A slight bit of Liberal slant to this post. LOL And it was probably before the election as well.
However a few points are brought up that do deserve some reflection, maybe from the blue spectrum. None of the parties are godsends.
Read and make up your own opinion.
Laura Smith ·
2d ·
A great review making the rounds, reposted by a friend
"If anyone’s wondering — I’ve voted Conservative, Liberal, and even NDP when the local representative was the best person running. I’ve always tried to vote for the person and the plan, not just the party.
Some of my old friends might be surprised by the tone of this post. Maybe even uncomfortable. That’s okay. I’m not here to convert anyone — I’m just offering some perspective from someone who’s seen governments come and go.
I’m not frustrated by disagreement — that’s healthy. I’m frustrated by the mindless reposting of memes, by empty slogans instead of actual solutions, and by the constant blame game that replaces responsibility with outrage.
Polls show that older Canadians are more likely to support the Liberals and there’s a reason for that: we’ve seen governments come and go. We remember the Petro-Canada era, the National Energy Programam backlash, the Mulroney cuts, the Chrétien surpluses, the Harper austerity, and the COVID-era interventions. We’ve lived through it — not just read about it online. What that history teaches you is that governance isn’t about slogans. It’s about outcomes.
So if we’re going to talk about the last 9 years, then let’s be honest and look at the last 30. You can’t understand where we are without knowing who brought us here.
Here’s how I see things. You can agree or disagree — that’s democracy. But let’s stop shouting and start thinking.
1) Taxes
The GST? That was Mulroney’s Conservatives. The HST? Brought in and expanded under Harper. Meanwhile, Trudeau’s government lowered the middle-income tax rate from 22% to 20.5%. So no — taxes haven’t gone through the roof for most Canadians. Let’s keep the facts in the room.
2) Scandals
Every government has them. The difference is how they’re handled. Under Trudeau, ministers who violated ethics rules resigned. The Ethics Commissioner’s office was expanded. By contrast, Harper’s government was found in contempt of Parliament — an unprecedented event in Canadian history.
3) Crime
Despite the headlines, serious crime is lower now than it was in the 1990s. Yes, there have been spikes in specific areas and categories, but the long-term trend is clear. Let’s stop pretending we’re living in some lawless dystopia.
4) Immigration
Yes, the international student surge put pressure on housing and services but reforms are already in place — caps, tighter oversight, and new criteria.
At the same time, many of the people complaining about immigration were also the ones yelling about labour shortages. Immigration isn’t the problem. Mismanagement was — and it’s being corrected.
5) National Debt
Yes, the debt grew during the pandemic. But that spending kept businesses open, families afloat, and supply chains functioning. Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio is still the lowest in the G7. So while we need fiscal discipline, we’re not teetering on the edge like some would have you believe and who might you want in a leadership position to manage that?
6) Housing Crisis
Housing is a provincial and municipal responsibility. The feds can help with funding and incentives — and they have — but zoning, permitting, and approvals are in the hands of cities and provinces.
If you’re sitting in a home that’s tripled in value and complaining about housing affordability, maybe take a second look at the system that helped you and is now hurting others.
7) “Run Government Like a Business”
Government isn’t a business. You can’t cut the sick, the poor, or the unprofitable. You don’t get to fire your “bad customers.” Government is supposed to serve all of us, not turn a profit.
Fortunately, we’ve got someone with the right mindset: Mark Carney — Harvard and Oxford educated, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, and the guy who helped steer the global economy through the 2008 financial crisis. He understands spending, restraint, and sustainability — and he does it without screwing over the people at the bottom.
8. Military
The Harper government slashed defense spending to its lowest levels since WWII. Bases closed. Veterans were ignored.
The current government has increased spending, committed to modernization, and started rebuilding our global reputation. It’s slow — but it’s real.
9) Freedom of Speech
The last real gag order in this country was under Harper, when government scientists were forbidden from sharing research that the government didn’t agree with.
Now, Conservatives are openly discussing using the Notwithstanding Clause to override Supreme Court rulings. That’s not freedom — that’s control.
10) Conservatives and Republicans
Are Canadian Conservatives the same as U.S. Republicans? No. Are they increasingly aligned? Yes.
They belong to the same international party alliance, use the same culture war tactics, and have increasingly adopted U.S.-style talking points on immigration, media, and identity.
11) Homelessness
Homelessness didn’t just pop up overnight. Mental health issues have been exacerbated by decades of cuts — especially by Conservative provincial governments that closed psychiatric hospitals and reduced access to services.
Many people end up self-medicating just to survive. And for those saying “just get a job” — if you’re fighting for survival every single day, it’s tough to think about anything else. A job interview isn’t step one — stabilization and treatment are.
We need systems that treat the root, not punish the symptom.
12) Health Care
The feds have increased transfers — $198.6 billion over 10 years, with a $3.1 billion deal signed with Ontario alone. But the Financial Accountability Office says Ontario is underfunding health care by $21.3 billion.
So ask yourself: where’s that money going?
13) National Infrastructure
The Trans Mountain pipeline? Purchased and completed by this government. The Coastal GasLink LNG pipeline to Kitimat? Operational.
Pipelines got built. Quietly. Without press conferences and bumper stickers.
14) Quebec / Jurisdictional Realities
Housing, health care, education — these are provincial responsibilities. The Bloc leader was absolutely right to call it out. I love Quebec’s culture, the way they approach business internationally. Canada is stronger with Quebec at the table WITH us.
If we want real progress, we need federal leadership that brings all levels of government together, not just one that tweets demands from Ottawa.
15) Alberta
Oil and gas make up 21% of Alberta’s economy, but only 3.2% of Canada’s GDP. Alberta matters — but it’s not the whole show.
Its Heritage Fund sits at $22.9 billion. Norway’s oil fund? $1.7 trillion.
Had we stuck with a national energy strategy — like the NEP — Alberta alone could be getting $8 billion a year in transfers, covering its infrastructure budget.
Who killed the NEP? Mulroney’s Conservatives, under pressure from Alberta and U.S. oil interests. I’ve always enjoyed my time in Alberta and Canada is stronger WITH Alberta at the table.
16) Experience & Leadership
Mark Carney isn’t a career politician. He’s a globally respected economist with Harvard and Oxford degrees, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, Governor of the Bank of England, and chair of the Financial Stability Board during the 2008 crash.
He’s guided entire economies through disaster. He doesn’t need applause — he needs a mandate.
So where does that leave us?
We need to stop electing people who appeal to anger and nostalgia, and start supporting those who understand the complexity of the world we actually live in. It’s time to vote for intelligence, collaboration, and leaders who put people over slogans, substance over showmanship, and public service over self-interest.
We change and evolve over our lifetime — and so does the world around us
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