New democrat leader Jagmeet Singh is certainly not kidding. Justin Trudeau’s liberals will either carry out their end of the deal with Jagmeet’s party for their support or feel the wrath of an enraged Sikh. And Sikhs have a well-earned reputation as warriors.
The first part of the deal between Jagmeet and Justin was for support for a dental program for children under 12 before the end of this year. There are other programs in the deal but this was the one with a clear date to be put through this year.
All the new democrats had to do was keep the liberals in office. All the liberals have to do is pass this program in the house. It is the ‘good faith’ part of the deal.
And it is more than that. It would not only cause a problem with an annoyed Singh if it did not happen. It would be the end of Justin Trudeau’s troubled reign. Justin might have a hard time imagining an election with no large crowds of liberals urging him on. The reality is that there are too many progressive liberals who are wondering just where Trudeau thinks he is taking us.
This children’s aspect of dental care is only a baby step towards a full, all-encompassing dental program and free prescription coverage for all Canadians as part of Medicare. And if Justin and his cabinet cannot get their minds around that then there needs to be some changes made in the liberal hierarchy.
What is keeping Trudeau in place today is the looming prospect of MP Pierre Poilievre winning the conservative leadership. The extremes of a Poilievre leadership would be an incentive to strengthen Trudeau’s position. Much can be forgiven the Trudeau liberals in the face of that quagmire.
Mind you, there was also the word from our finance minister and deputy prime minister that getting this first stage of the dental plan off the ground this year might be difficult. That is not what we want to hear from Cynthia Freeland. If she had more than an ounce of political smarts, she would be announcing how great the program will be. She has more than enough resources in her finance department to get the program before parliament this fall. If she cannot, Trudeau better, very quickly, find someone who can.
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Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
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