Recession incoming

[altiplano]

I was answering to this :

Put someone in Ottawa who speaks his language and let's get on the gravy train.

So what do you mean then: "we would lose"?

Aligning and working with Trump, rather than making careless comments after he's out of the room (Trudeau), getting yourself banned from the Oval Office (Freeland), and trying to negotiate bullshit, fruitless, virtue signal left wing identity crap into the largest, most critical deal Canada is involved in would bring far more success for Canada and Canadians.

We threw a ton away and left the Americans shaking their heads about what our priorities really are...

[Babar350]

I was answering to this :

Put someone in Ottawa who speaks his language and let's get on the gravy train.

So what do you mean then: "we would lose"?

Aligning and working with Trump, rather than making careless comments after he's out of the room (Trudeau), getting yourself banned from the Oval Office (Freeland), and trying to negotiate bullshit, fruitless, virtue signal left wing identity crap into the largest, most critical deal Canada is involved in would bring far more success for Canada and Canadians.

We threw a ton away and left the Americans shaking their heads about what our priorities really are...

I am just wondering, what leverage do(did) we have to negotiate a profitable USMCA agreement?
We can get on the gravy train only when the people we would put in Ottawa have leverage and you can't have leverage when we are so much dependent over the USA.
My thoughts though...

[rxl]

What country on what planet is it that Trump is interested in “aligning and working” with?
Americans have enjoyed a very high standard of living since the end of WW2 thanks to their hard work, ingenuity and TRADE with the rest of the world.

[rookiepilot]

What country on what planet is it that Trump is interested in “aligning and working” with?
Americans have enjoyed a very high standard of living since the end of WW2 thanks to their hard work, ingenuity and TRADE with the rest of the world.

Well,

We have a fearless leader - for now anyway -- who expresses admiration for communist china and takes cheap shots at our historical best friends every chance he gets.

And Canadians wonder why we aren't respected on the world stage. And why our friends in the US congress have gone awfully quiet.

Good job!

[altiplano]

What country on what planet is it that Trump is interested in “aligning and working” with?
Americans have enjoyed a very high standard of living since the end of WW2 thanks to their hard work, ingenuity and TRADE with the rest of the world.

I think we ought to be interested in aligning and working with America, and today that's Trump.

I agree with the rest of your post.

[C.W.E.]

They have Trump.

We have Trudeau .

I'll take Trump any day over Trudeau.

[rxl]

I’m not a fan of Mr. Trudeau either.
I’ve grown very weary of politicians of all stripes continually spewing rhetorical nonsense to gain or maintain power. Trump telling Americans that only he can “Make America Great Again” is a perfect example.

[trey kule]

So did you vote Liberal, because our Prime minister is such an ethical, world respected leader?

[Old fella]

OK, y’all don’t want JT back as PM and/or think he has been a disaster. For sure and fair enough, tell us then who should replace him. Just asking!

[Squaretail]

We have a fearless leader - for now anyway -- who expresses admiration for communist china and takes cheap shots at our historical best friends every chance he gets.

Which leader are you talking about here? Unfortunately it describes both Trump and Trudeau.

At the end of the day, who our leader is doesn't matter. It wouldn't matter if Harper was still in office. What does matter to us is that whenever there's a Republican in the White House, its more prominent that they seek to score political points at home by using Canada as a scapegoat for poor practices on their own side. Not that the Democrats don't do that too, the Republicans just seem to be more aggressive about it. Softwood lumber, Dairy producers, Oil, Beef, whatever is easiest depending on where they need votes. Unfortunately for us, a lot of Red votes are in swing districts along our border.

Cheese for instance. Whatever you think of Canada's dairy market and system, the fact of the matter is that its friggin' small potatoes. People forget how few people live here when it comes to market shares, and at the end of the day we don't have a lot of pull. There's more people in California than there is in Canada. So does the U.S. starting a fight with us really help their dairy farmers at the end of the day? No. IF they were to increase American exports in Dairy to Canada by 300% it would mean an increase in less than 1% in revenues for Wisconsin producers. It would be smarter to convince Californians to buy more cheese. But it sounds good in a presidential election to American voters that you're fighting for them.

TBH, what Canadians need to do, is convince Americans on the whole, we're good for business. Which for the most part we are. They get cheap stuff from us, and its secure. We also buy tons of stuff from them, and the better we're doing, the more stuff we buy.

Now if you think Trump's policies are all clever, I know they're not. Oddly his election had a direct impact in my personal business, since one of the first things he did when getting into office was cancel or review all government contracts with foreign businesses, to which I was told was then paid a fee to us, to which we then re-submitted a proposal that was then approved by DoE - for more money. Win for me, I get more work and paid more. Maybe wasn't as great of a deal for the American taxpayer. But sounded good right? Maybe it helped him get more votes.

[Beefitarian]

I used to agree with Squaretail and wanted everyone to buy Canadian cheese, but I know too many cheap bastards want to save $2 buying imported crap from Walmart.

I'll continue buying Canadian any time I can find and afford that sort of thing but I'm not as excited about it as I used to be.

This country hit an iceberg a while ago,

[corethatthermal]

I used to agree with Squaretail and wanted everyone to buy Canadian cheese, but I know too many cheap bastards want to save $2 buying imported crap from Walmart.

They turn the milk and cheese business into a cartel then you say many Canadians are too cheap to buy the pce increase caused by the Cartel! Many Canadians are living paycheck to paycheck BECAUSE of Government Thievery and lust for power ( Look into the CPP if you need a wake-up call )

[Squaretail]

This country hit an iceberg a while ago,

How so? Is the quality of life that you have decreasing because of some specific government policy or some event that has happened? I hear this sentiment a lot from people I don't think are faring poorly. Frig, my wife says it, and we're not doing poorly.

Many Canadians are living paycheck to paycheck

How many Canadians do you know are living in this state? Are you living in this state? I'm not. I'm also not aquainted with anyone who does, at least not anyone who does who can really blame the government. They're living paycheck to paycheck because they're desperately paying down a mortgage on a house they live in that's too big, and their matching gas guzzling SUVs need payments. I know too many out of work Canadians who turn down work. Most are still spending a lot of money on luxury items. Neighbor complains he doesn't have enough work (he's a plumber) yet still bought a new quad. With work I meet lots of immigrants to this country, and lots of them seem to be doing fine. They come for work and are happy to do it. They wouldn't come if there wasn't work. I find from them one gets a lot of perspective. Talked to a cab driver from Zimbabwe the other day. He was furious about his country. He thought we Canadians were silly to worry about some blackface, and we didn't have a clue what a really bad government was like. He sort of had a point.

[digits_]

This country hit an iceberg a while ago,

How so? Is the quality of life that you have decreasing because of some specific government policy or some event that has happened? I hear this sentiment a lot from people I don't think are faring poorly. Frig, my wife says it, and we're not doing poorly.

Many Canadians are living paycheck to paycheck

How many Canadians do you know are living in this state? Are you living in this state? I'm not. I'm also not aquainted with anyone who does, at least not anyone who does who can really blame the government. They're living paycheck to paycheck because they're desperately paying down a mortgage on a house they live in that's too big, and their matching gas guzzling SUVs need payments. I know too many out of work Canadians who turn down work. Most are still spending a lot of money on luxury items. Neighbor complains he doesn't have enough work (he's a plumber) yet still bought a new quad. With work I meet lots of immigrants to this country, and lots of them seem to be doing fine. They come for work and are happy to do it. They wouldn't come if there wasn't work. I find from them one gets a lot of perspective. Talked to a cab driver from Zimbabwe the other day. He was furious about his country. He thought we Canadians were silly to worry about some blackface, and we didn't have a clue what a really bad government was like. He sort of had a point.

I don't think the country is about or has hit an iceberg, and I am not living paycheque to paycheque, but I do think it is much harder to save your money here in Canada than for example Europe. In Europe, the government taxes the hell out of you on your income tax, but once that happens, as an employee, you are pretty much in the clear. There are no other really major taxes or expenses just to live.

Here in Canada you have significant income taxes, then there are property taxes, property insurance that is much more expensive than overseas and mandatory all risk car insurance that is, again, much more expensive. I like to think I'm pretty good with numbers, yet it took a while to get used to all those things. It is a bit of a treacherous system, you need to proceed with caution. I don't think it is too farfetched that a small change will put a lot of people over the edge financially.

[photofly]

There are no other really major taxes or expenses just to live.

Expenses are just the same as here: car and house insurance, dental treatment, pharmaceuticals, local government taxes on property - no significant difference between the EU and Canada.

[digits_]

There are no other really major taxes or expenses just to live.

Expenses are just the same as here: car and house insurance, dental treatment, pharmaceuticals, local government taxes on property - no significant difference between the EU and Canada.

The difference is that the taxes in Europe and the population density in Europe cause those other expenses to be much lower. So yes, the type of expenses are the same, but the cost is a lot different.

From my experience, assuming a 3000 dollar monthly salary which roughly equals a 3000 eur monthly salary in cost of living comparison:

car insurance for an old beater car. Mandatory all risk in Canada (most provinces) : 1400 CAD/year, europe: 600 eur/year
house insurance: 1200 CAD/year seems to be common, 500 eur/year in Europe for a similar house
Dental treatment: just a cleaning uninsured in Canada runs you around 300 CAD, with benefits at work, between 0 and 80 CAD I guess, europe: uninsured around 55-100 eur, insured: 0 - 20 eur, depending on the country
Pharmaceuticals: not enough experience to make a big comparison
Local government taxes: Canada easily 3000 CAD/year, Europe: in a lot of countries it would be a few hundred euros if that. It is part of the income tax based on your income, not your property

I am aware not every country in Europe is the same, and I love living in Canada, but there are significant differences. Part of it is offset in the tax difference, but not everything.

[rookiepilot]

[
If you want to impress, tell us when, and stand on your forecast.

I don't work for free dude. Not here to impress you.

[altiplano]

I always laugh when people tell me Europe is so expensive... check out renting a Villa in Tuscany or South of France vs. a week in a cottage in Muskoka... or a week skiing in Austria vs. a week at Whistler or Banff...

Groceries are cheaper in much/most of Europe - and higher quality.
Beer & wine is less.
Eating out is less.
Free childcare.
Free university.
Better transit infrastructure in cities.
Telecom is less.
Rental cars are cheap.
Flights are cheap.
Great markets.

It's not a utopia of course, but we in Canada could strive to reach for some of the successes they have achieved.

[CpnCrunch]

The difference is that the taxes in Europe and the population density in Europe cause those other expenses to be much lower. So yes, the type of expenses are the same, but the cost is a lot different.

From my experience, assuming a 3000 dollar monthly salary which roughly equals a 3000 eur monthly salary in cost of living comparison:

car insurance for an old beater car. Mandatory all risk in Canada (most provinces) : 1400 CAD/year, europe: 600 eur/year
house insurance: 1200 CAD/year seems to be common, 500 eur/year in Europe for a similar house
Dental treatment: just a cleaning uninsured in Canada runs you around 300 CAD, with benefits at work, between 0 and 80 CAD I guess, europe: uninsured around 55-100 eur, insured: 0 - 20 eur, depending on the country
Pharmaceuticals: not enough experience to make a big comparison
Local government taxes: Canada easily 3000 CAD/year, Europe: in a lot of countries it would be a few hundred euros if that. It is part of the income tax based on your income, not your property

I am aware not every country in Europe is the same, and I love living in Canada, but there are significant differences. Part of it is offset in the tax difference, but not everything.

I think it depends on what province you're in, and how hard you look for cheaper alternatives.

I pay $990 for house insurance, but someone down the street from us in a house worth half as much as us was paying $1200 until he realised he was being ripped off.
Mandatory insurance here in BC is about $800/yr for me with a 6-year old small car. I saved about $500 on my optional insurance by switching to a different company.
"Property tax" is a lot more expensive in the UK...about twice what you would pay in BC from what I can tell:

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-tax/ ... -and-bands

Then there's VAT: 20% in UK and France, 19% in Germany, 23% in Ireland.

[C.W.E.]

How many of you here have actually lived in a country outside of Canada?