Ottawa – a brand new Canada – greener, healthier, more compassionate, more vibrant.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised last month, after announcing that he was adjourning parliament because he was adjourning parliament as a moral scandal involving his government and his family.
He promised to present the country with an ambitious coronavirus recovery plan, and the economic devastation it wreaked, saying “this is our moment to bring about change for the better in the future.”
On Wednesday, he will finally unveil his expected legislative plan – and as much as an attempt to reset the nation, it is also an opportunity for Mr. Trudeau to reset his political fortunes.
Mr. Trudeau is grappling with high unemployment, a severe budget shortfall and an uncertain future for many Canadian businesses. Coronavirus infection rates have begun to rise again – as well as fears that another wave of epidemics has begun.
Sanctions have been revived in some provinces, raising concerns about even more economic hardship. High – and expensive – long-term goals can be less tasty.
Kathy L., a professor of policy studies at Queen’s University, Kingston, N.T. Brock said the prime minister would have to offer more than platitudes.
“Mr. Trudeau should have a plan or proposal that tells Canadians: ‘We know where we’re going, we’re not reacting anymore.’
The deal was eventually scrapped and the charity recently announced it was closing operations in Canada.
But the episode includes controversy over SNC-Lavalin’s attempts to reduce criminal charges against a large engineering company through his office fees, and a revelation about the prime minister, after Mr Trudeau’s re-election campaign. Wearing blackface and brownface in the past.
“For those who are skeptical or not particularly thrilled, the whole thing just cementes their minds,” said Lori Turnbull, director of public administration at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “Polls show that Mr. Trudeau’s Liberal Party suffered short-term losses from the episode.
At the same time, he said, Mr Trudeau’s supporters “say there’s nothing to see here,” letting the WEE affair wash away politically.
When Mr Trudeau announced he would close parliament – which, as his political opponents noted, would close committee hearings at the WE charity – he also raised expectations of what he could deliver.
Mr Trudeau said in the August Gust that “the epidemic is not only an unexpected challenge, it is also an unprecedented opportunity.” “This is our opportunity to build a more technological Canada. Canada is a healthier and safer, greener and more competitive Canada. Canada which is more welcoming and more just. “
Opposition parties, businesses, trade unions and think tanks across the country presented ideas on what should be included in Mr. Trudeau’s plan, which will be presented in the so-called throne speech, read by Governor General Julie Payet in Parliament as the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II.
These ideas range from the so-called Green Recovery Scheme for job creation to the National Daily Care Program to address climate change, which will help working mothers who are disproportionately affected by the epidemic lose employment in three months.
“The epidemic has certainly exposed some of the cracks in our social security net,” said Hassan Youssef, president of the Canadian Labor Congress, an organization of labor unions.
Given the record unemployment figures across the country, the plan to cite the country’s social security net is likely to be well received, said policy professor Ms. “Canadians have a real sense of helping each other,” Brock said.
In addition to offering wage subsidies and other measures, the government cracked down on an emergency program that paid unemployed workers Canadian dollars, about $ 1,500 every four weeks, in some cases more than the recipients received once.
Instead of expanding the program when it expires in early December, one idea is to replace it, as well as unemployment insurance and other federal programs, which guarantee a minimum income.
This will require the approval of Canada’s strong provincial governments, which regulate many social programs and participate in federal intervention.
Government ministers have hinted at a green recovery plan, but that could spark a revolt among Conservative opposition groups, which could theoretically create a new political problem for Mr Trudeau.
His Liberal Party is a minority in parliament and so his plan will attract enough votes from members of the opposition or else the country will move on in an epidemic election campaign. The next federal election is scheduled for three years. No government in Canadian history has been defeated on the throne speech.
Details of how Mr Trudeau will pay for any new initiatives will not come until the budget is announced. But discussions are already underway on how much more the government can afford after the epidemic has pushed its deficit to levels not seen after World War II.
Most economists agree that the government needs to spend behind support programs because of the epidemic. But some economists argue that Mr. Trudeau does not have an unlimited license.
“Homes and businesses don’t need ongoing support yet,” said Douglas Porter, chief economist at Bank Montf Montreal. “But I’m not sure it’s time to move on and come up with all sorts of new, big, bold policy initiatives when we’re not sure where we’re going to be in six months. ”
In recent days, Mr. Trudeau’s party, in response to a growing number of coronavirus cases, has boldly sought to cool the country’s expectations for a strategy.
But, pulling back would damage Mr Trudeau’s already tarnished reputation as a great communicator, which sheds light on matter and ethics, said Mr Brock, a policy professor.
“There’s a question about Trudeau,” he said. “Does he really understand the question of files, government business and ethics? Get it? ”
“That image sticks with it,” he added. “It simply came to our notice then. He knows he has to do something, but he has to do something he can accomplish. “
Reported by Ian Stan O Tova, and Catherine Porter from Toronto.
