Category: Back to Normal

139 – Vote Compass 2021 | Part 5 (Q25-30)

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139 – Vote Compass 2021 | Part 5 (Q25-30)
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Go and Vote on Monday!

Q25. How much should Canada do to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?

There is a lot the country can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it has to start from the top, either via redistributing subsidies, incentivizing green tech, or one of many other progressive climate agenda items.

Q26. How much should the Canadian government spend on police services?

Do the RCMP really do all that much anymore? Why are they still called the RCMP? Defund the Mounties?

Q27. How high should the federal minimum wage be?

Yes, it should be higher, but more importantly, it should be tied to inflation rather than changed piecemeal.

Q28. How much should wealthier people pay in taxes?

Oh so much more, with progressive taxation there’s not reason not to have a ridiculously high ‘wealth tax’ rate.

Q29. Canada’s human rights laws should require that transgender people be referred to by their chosen gender pronouns.

I think this definitely shouldn’t be a thing, but I’m far from convinced that being a dick should be punishable by law.

Q30. Quebec should become an independent state.

I think this is for Quebec to decide, but if you’re all letting me decide, then sure, go for it!

138 – Vote Compass 2021 | Part 4 (Q19-25)

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138 - Vote Compass 2021 | Part 4 (Q19-25)
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Q19. How much control should the federal government have over what Canadians say online?

I don’t know what the laws for online speech and related protections are now, but my gut feeling is they’re OK.

Q20. How much money should the federal government give to Canadians whose employment was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

At this point, it feels like pandemic cash if you can’t work because your business was closed is done, but I do still feel like Canadians should get employment insurance if they’re working but can’t work for an isolation period because they test positive for COVID (although maybe not if you’re not vaccinated?).

Q21. People should be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend public events.

Vaccine passports make sense. Not all services will be able to offer this requirement, but I think as many as possible should.

Q22. How much should the federal government make individual Canadians pay for every tonne of greenhouse gas they emit through fossil fuel consumption?

Whether a carbon tax is levied on the individual or at the corporate level, cost increases will be passed on to the consumer. This is a good thing.

Q23. The federal government should guarantee a minimum income for all Canadian adults regardless of whether or not they have a job.

Yes. I love the idea of basic income. I am sharing a version of my idea for basic income here, with a 36% basic income tax and a basic income of $19,789. It’s radical but it does work to accomplish what it sets out to (lift every single Canadian out of poverty).

Q24. Quebec should be formally recognized as a nation in the Constitution.

Quebec needs to make up its mind and decide whether it wants to be part of Canada or not. If you want to be ‘a nation’, doesn’t that mean you want to be your own country? I don’t know how these things work…

137 – Vote Compass 2021 | Part 3 (Q13-18)

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137 – Vote Compass 2021 | Part 3 (Q13-18)
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This is week 3 of my Vote Compass 2021 series, and I encourage you (if you haven’t already) to take the ‘quiz’ and see where you line up.

Q13. How much should be done to accommodate religious minorities in Canada?

Being a non-religious person, I feel I can say in a relatively unbiased way that religious minorities are pretty well accommodated here in Canada, but it’s very possible I’m not in a good position to judge this and obviously being ‘accommodated’ has a pretty subjective meaning depending on who’s being accommodated.

Q14. All semi-automatic firearms should be banned in Canada.

This question to me is very straightforward and to-the-point, and I totally agree with it. There’s no reason to own a gun outside of defending yourself from wildlife on a farm or in rural areas, and even then, it’s tenuous. In a city, there’s literally no compelling reason you can give me to own a gun (that doesn’t involve other people also owning guns). It’s not worth it.

Q15. Some provinces pay more than their fair share to support the rest of the country.

Equalization payments will always be disputed by provinces who feel they’re putting in more than is fair, but the equalization formula is pretty straightforward, and though I have no idea how much is actually paid/received by which provinces, I believe Ontario pays these payments, and I have no problem with it.

Q16. How much tax should large corporations pay?

Large corporations, especially those providing essential services (power/communications/utilities, etc.) should have a cap on profits they can make, and if that’s not feasible, their taxes should certainly increase such that their remaining profits shrink.

Q17. All Canadians should have access to government-funded prescription drugs.

Obviously a national Pharmacare plan is a good idea, and seems to have overwhelming support. I’d be curious to know popularity stats on this, if there are polls on the subject.

Q18. How many immigrants should Canada admit?

I strongly feel Canada should admit more immigrants until nobody tells us they want to be here anymore, or until we start to run out of resources (haha). We have lots of room and should be welcoming people of all cultures with open arms.