Jesse Kline: Liberals prove they're the 'natural governing party' after all
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Only a party that is the default choice of the Canadian electorate could trail in the polls by 26 percentage points in January and go on to win an election in April.
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Only a party that engenders blind trust among voters could convince people that the team responsible for Canada's failing economic health are actually those best suited to fix the problems they created; that a government that's tried the same things over and over again for the past 10 years is actually the party of change; and that a leader who made a career out of trying to keep fossil fuels in the ground is the guy who's going to develop Canada's natural resources.
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Over the next four years, no one should act surprised when they find makeup on their pork chops. Prime Minister Mark Carney was slathered over the Grits like lipstick on a pig, and judging by the party's election platform, they're going to be rolling in the same pile of manure they've been in for years.
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After literally doubling the national debt to deal with the COVID pandemic, the Liberals are now basking in the joy of another crisis — this one caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's upending of the postwar liberal economic order and odd infatuation with his northern neighbours — that was sent to them like manna from heaven.
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National Observer
19 minutes ago
- National Observer
The Conservative war on EVs is bound to fail
You might think the 2025 federal election would have taught the Conservative Party of Canada a few lessons. Chief among them would be the need to break with Trumpism and avoid investing their political capital in an issue — like the carbon tax — that can be eliminated with the stroke of the prime minister's pen. Instead, Pierre Poilievre's party seems destined — and determined — to learn these lessons again. Its renewed attack on the federal government's electric vehicle mandate is a case in point here. In an email sent to supporters last month, CPC co-deputy leader Melissa Lantsman said that 'the radical Liberals are planning to make your gas-powered vehicles ILLEGAL. They will FORCE you to buy an expensive electric vehicle.' This is obvious nonsense, since existing gas-powered vehicles sold up to 2035 would be allowed to operate for as long as a mechanic could keep them on the road. And while it's true that the up-front cost of electric vehicles is still higher than gasoline-fueled ones, that won't be the case for long. The ongoing developments in battery technology mean that so-called 'up-front price parity' — that is, an equivalent cost, without subsidies, for electric and gasoline versions of the same vehicle type — is a question of when, not if. That may arrive far sooner than Canada's Conservatives want to believe. Chinese automaker BYD and its ultra-low-cost EVs absolutely dominate the ever-expanding Chinese market, and it's rapidly winning hearts and market share in places like Europe and South America. Its new generation of solid-state batteries could lead to both a major increase in range and a major decrease in price. It's not alone in developing these new batteries, either: Nissan Canada has said that solid-state batteries can be produced 'at a lower cost than conventional lithium-ion batteries,' while Toyota and Volkswagen are also betting heavily on them. In time, then, and not that much of it, electric vehicles could enjoy an up-front cost advantage over gasoline-powered vehicles. That's without factoring in the far lower costs of operating an EV, which can amount to thousands of dollars per vehicle per year, according to the Canadian Automobile Association. If Canada follows through with its electric vehicle mandate, it's expected to save Canadians approximately $36.7 billion in costs by 2050. So why are Canada's Conservatives picking this particular hill to fight on? In part, it's because it allows them to play their greatest hits and try to recapture some of the political energy they generated with their campaign against the consumer carbon tax. Andrew Scheer, for example, got to break out his ample supply of political tinfoil in claiming that the EV mandate — one designed and implemented by the previous prime minister — is really a sop to Brookfield, the company Carney chaired before entering politics. 'Brookfield is heavily invested in the EV supply chain. If this prime minister refuses to reveal his financial interests or self-admitted conflicts — isn't it true that this isn't about the environment, this is about the bottom line for Brookfield?' More importantly, they're also doing this because Canada's Conservative movement remains incapable of tacking against the political winds of Trumpism. As Trump has turned ever-more aggressively against electric vehicles, and particularly the ones sold by his former best friend Elon Musk, so too have leading Canadian Conservatives like party leader Pierre Poilievre and Melissa Lantsman. It seems almost inevitable now that electric vehicles will become part of the ongoing culture war there, and that any rational attempt to help the automotive industry adapt to the changing global landscape will be subsumed into Trump's fight with Musk. It seems almost inevitable now that electric vehicles will become part of the Conservative Party of Canada's ongoing culture war, writes Max Fawcett. It's reasonable, and maybe even rational, to re-assess some of the near-term targets in Canada's EV regulation, given the threats posed by Trump to the very existence of Canada's auto sector. But the longer-term objectives here should remain in place, and the Carney government should be willing to fight hard for them. The transition away from fossil fuels and gasoline-powered vehicles is a question of when, not if. As the New York Times reported recently, 'auto executives are nearly unanimous that, even in the United States, electric and hybrid vehicles will eventually displace gasoline-powered vehicles.' Just ask Musk, who shared a post about Norway's June car sales figures — 97 per cent of which involved EVs — and added his own commentary. 'Combustion engine cars will be like the steam engine — quaint, but primitive.' On this, at least, he's correct. Not even Donald Trump can stop the global transition to electrification, and Canada needs to remain focused on the longer-term trajectory here, both for its domestic auto sector and the consumers who buy their products. The Conservative attack here is the very definition of a rearguard battle, one that confirms its enduring loyalty to the oil and gas industry and its economic interests. It's also another reminder that the leadership team that blundered away a 20-point lead heading into the last election might not be fit to win the next one.
National Observer
19 minutes ago
- National Observer
National power grid needed to fend off Trump and build clean economy: advocates
Days after Mark Carney's Liberal government passed its controversial major projects legislation that allows it to bypass environmental laws and Indigenous consultation, more than 100 organizations across Canada are calling for a nation-building project that might begin to rebuild goodwill with those offended by Bill C-5. In an open letter published Thursday, the 105 environmental, labour, Indigenous and community groups urge federal officials to fund an east-west power grid that prioritizes renewable energy, Indigenous and community ownership and energy efficiency as 'key projects in the national interest.' 'Better integrating Canada's electricity system is crucially important for energy security and economic competitiveness in the near term, but it is also a no-regret investment for the long-term prosperity of everyone living in Canada,' the letter reads. Upgrading power grids could create more than 300,000 jobs over the next 25 years, it adds. A national power grid mega-project could also drive clean economic growth, and if materials like aluminum and steel are procured in Canada, it could also support those sectors under pressure from US tariffs, advocates say. The groups argue that federal leadership is required to pull off a project of this scale due to challenges related to permitting, funding and interprovincial trade barriers. A study published in the Osgoode Hall Law Journal in 2022, found that more interprovincial transmission lines could boost interprovincial trade of renewable power by connecting privately owned wind, solar and other power sources to more customers. The Liberals' 2025 platform included a commitment to build out an east-west electricity grid. The platform explicitly says the project will be developed with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners and stakeholders and 'will unleash clean growth across the country.' The Prime Minister's Office did not return a request for comment. A national power grid mega-project could also drive clean economic growth, and if materials like aluminum and steel are procured in Canada, it could also support those sectors under pressure from US tariffs, advocates say. A coast-to-coast high voltage direct current (HVDC) line could be built in under five years, at a cost of roughly $24 billion, according to a study from the David Suzuki Foundation — $10 billion less than the recently completed Trans Mountain expansion project. 'Building an east-west electricity grid across Canada is a huge opportunity that will improve our energy security and create thousands of jobs,' said Stephen Thomas, clean energy manager with the David Suzuki Foundation, in a statement. 'With demand for power going up, our electricity system needs to be powered by renewable energy, not fossil fuels. 'A renewable-backed electricity grid will lower people's energy bills while limiting environmental harm and pollution.' A briefing note prepared for a meeting between federal and Ontario officials in December that Canada's National Observer received through a federal access to information request describes the process leading up to the federal clean electricity regulations. The document notes that Environment and Climate Change Canada 'made significant changes to relax the regulations in the final design,' following 'substantial stakeholder feedback.' Those relaxed regulations, published in December, allow fossil fuels to be used to generate electricity as far into the future as 2050, despite originally intending to be net-zero by 2035. The rules will still push provinces and utilities to transition to clean electricity — a widely recognized prerequisite to decarbonize other sectors like transportation, buildings and heavy industry — but 'flexibilities' to allow gas-fired power plants to operate well past 2035 are now baked into the country's decarbonization efforts. The 105 groups behind Thursday's letter want the federal government to achieve a net-zero power grid by updating Canada's electricity strategy. They also call for upholding legal rights for Indigenous communities, including the right to free, prior and informed consent; labour supports like prevailing wage requirements and training capacity; and upgrades to both transmission and generation in line with affordable, reliable, clean electricity. Last year, then-energy and natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson told Canada's National Observer that some provinces were eager to collaborate on expanding the power grid — with the notable exceptions of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Even though a nationwide grid has long been discussed, a likely starting point is strengthening regional tie-ins between provinces with significant hydro resources and those still reliant on fossil fuels to better manage supply and demand. A bit of geographic luck has already positioned Canada relatively well for this approach. Each province that still depends on burning coal, oil or gas to generate electricity has a neighbour with hydropower that can lend a hand. Some like British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have massive hydro resources, while others like Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia still rely on fossil fuels.
Canada News.Net
an hour ago
- Canada News.Net
U.S. stocks extend gains to conclude first half of 2025
NEW YORK, June 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks continued to climb higher on Monday as signs of progress in trade negotiations buoyed investor sentiment, closing out one of the most volatile first halves in recent years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 275.50 points, or 0.63 percent, to 44,094.77. The S&P 500 added 31.88 points, or 0.52 percent, to 6,204.95. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 96.28 points, or 0.47 percent, to 20,369.73. Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended higher, with technology and financials leading the advance by rising 0.98 percent and 0.86 percent, respectively. Consumer discretionary and energy lagged behind, falling 0.86 percent and 0.66 percent. Monday's gains came after Canada announced it would withdraw its digital services tax, a move widely seen as an effort to smooth relations with the United States just days after U.S. President Donald Trump declared an end to all trade discussions with Ottawa. The tax, which was set to take effect Monday, would have targeted major tech firms such as Google, Meta, and Amazon. Market participants are now looking ahead to the expiration of Trump's 90-day tariff pause next week. Also on Monday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said some countries are "negotiating in good faith," though he warned that tariffs could return to previously announced levels if talks falter. Meanwhile, attention turned to the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers began a marathon session to debate amendments to Trump's proposed 4.5 trillion U.S. dollars tax package. The Congressional Budget Office projected the bill could add 3.3 trillion dollars to the federal deficit over the next ten years. Despite the looming tariff deadline and uncertainty surrounding the tax legislation, analysts believe strong equity fundamentals and broader market participation could sustain the recent rally. Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, noted that improving breadth supports the view that gains may continue into the second half of the year. "While the market has had much to digest the first six months of 2025, resiliency has prevailed," Leslie Falconio, head of taxable fixed income strategy at UBS Financial Services, wrote last Friday. "However, we are not out of the woods just yet, as bouts of volatility and pockets of vulnerability are expected in the second half of the year." Among individual movers, Apple surged 2.03 percent after Bloomberg reported the company may integrate AI technology from OpenAI or Anthropic into its Siri voice assistant. Broadcom rose 2.34 percent, while Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms posted modest gains. On the downside, Amazon and Tesla fell nearly 2 percent, and Alphabet declined 0.49 percent.
