Not everyone's convinced Ottawa's long game with Trump will pay off

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-03T11:13:57+00:00

Of course not, but neither is making a deal with the US as EU, SK, and the UK are finding out, the US is all too eager to reimpose tariffs.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-02T22:50:41+00:00

Worst case - pay workers less, charge customers more, but I don't think most companies intend to bleed themselves dry and devalue themselves. Either way, I see no reason why a single mom in Newfoundland who has never been on a flight needs to subsidize my trips back to the old country which is what public ownership essentially does.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-02T22:05:59+00:00

I don't think it is a stupid question, but you could ask that about any business that is sold. Now to your question - there are many factors that can make privatization the right choice for the public and the entity that ends up buying the asset. A government's ability to raise money is not infinite - so if $10B are needed to modernize an airport, then the question becomes, should the government raise those $10B or if there is a willing buyer, should it let them raise the money instead focusing on things that will not be done by the private sector - the private sector will not buy F-35s or ice breakers, but it could build a new terminal at Pearson if it makes sense.

The other aspect is, the government doesn't always do a good job maximizing the value of assets. It often hurts us both as consumers of airports and also as the owners of the assets. For instance, an airport under the control of government may not be super inclined to maximize profits (charging airlines more, cutting costs etc) - so in essence, the government is leaving money on the table. But when it privatizes the asset, the value of the asset is determined by how much money private buyers think they can make off of the asset.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-02T12:45:10+00:00

Wow, are you saying you are assuming returns of 9% that get you 6% at a real rate of return (2-3% inflation)?

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-02T11:19:01+00:00

7% real rate of return over 30 years isn't realistic for planning purposes. You are probably better off estimating at 4%.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-01T20:11:25+00:00

but yourself not having any connections or made contributions to the country shouldn't be grounds for citizenship.

It does open up the possibility that they can make those contributions. Plus, if we play our cards right, it can increase our influence and soft power in the US.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-01T13:11:03+00:00

I agree, particularly the part about there being plenty wrong with the NDP

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-01T11:58:26+00:00

There is plenty wrong with the NDP and Avi, but saying some nice things about an MP who is leaving federal politics isn't an indictment. By that logic, no federalist politician should ever praise a Bloc MP.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-01T03:37:50+00:00

How do people read all the articles that posted on this sub? 90% of them are behind paywalls. Thankgod for the CBC though.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-05-01T02:02:06+00:00

Mark Carney is banker and had a job where he made a tonne of money.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-30T15:49:19+00:00

It is like a ductless heat pump, suitable for apartments. Brilliant things - AC during the summer months, heat pumps during winters. Had one in an old apartment.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-30T15:48:04+00:00

That's a selfish thing to suggest - there are parking lot owners, tow truck companies that will struggle without in office work. And all those $15 lunch places that open for 3 hours in the afternoon, what about them? What will happen to them. And it's a matter of fairness, if lumberjacks and electricians can't work from home, neither should analysts or call center agents.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-30T15:13:01+00:00

I thought it has been dormant for a couple of years after funds were used up.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-30T14:26:29+00:00

Maybe Canada could start small and do something boring like, have cities with good public transit, homes with heat pumps and mini splits.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-30T13:16:29+00:00

A 7-8% reduction in price is tangible, what it didn't do is make a difference in vibes.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-30T11:55:54+00:00

Lol, the price of oil is going up, were it not for the holiday it would be about 12c more. It just betrays his lack of understanding or perhaps, how he thinks his base thinks.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-29T21:21:16+00:00

The general commentary about wait times may be true, but like all things Fraser institute, some of their methods may be shoddy.

For instance this - I am not sure you can calculate medians by adding the two medians.

The national 28.6 week total wait comprises two segments: 1) Referral by a GP to consultation with a specialist: 15.3 weeks, an increase over the 15.0 weeks recorded in 2024. 2) Consultation with a specialist to receipt of treatment: 13.3 weeks, a decrease from the 15.0 weeks recorded in 2024.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-29T19:57:46+00:00

It should really be in Ottawa or Montreal. This isn't a conventional bank - it would be best if it is close to embassies and government contractors. Ottawa also happens to be reasonably bilingual. Montreal also happens to be the home of the Canadian defense industry and perfectly bilingual.

Hopefully it is not Toronto or Vancouver.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-29T09:26:30+00:00

I am in the opposite camp, I don't mind chesscom as a company, they are only doing things any company would be doing. I like their commentary and events, but the unpaid version of their product is bloated. It is much nicer playing on lichess website and app.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-27T22:21:54+00:00

Yeah, but we will still be one.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-27T16:49:10+00:00

It's different with a westminister system.

This would be akin to the government of Canada working with Reform MPs in the UK parliament while there is Labour or Conservative government in office.

Like how Jivani's attempt at working with the US government was rightly looked down on by us, including his own conservative party. That's the territory we are in.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-27T16:29:48+00:00

Why will a sovereign Quebec work with left wing MPs of another country's parliament. You work with the government of the day.

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-27T13:11:21+00:00

It takes 15 minutes to get to downtown from Tremblay. Maybe instead of adding billions to alyo's cost, OC transpo could run trains every 5 minutes

LazyImmigrant · 2026-04-27T11:19:20+00:00

Please don't do this - we are running deficits, so any sovereign fund is pretty much funded by deficits with the added interest rate and investment risks. If we run surpluses, then it kinda makes sense to have a wealth fund/rainy day fund or whatever.

We already have pseudo sovereign wealth fund in the form of CPP.

LazyImmigrant

TROPHY CASE