Canadian politics thread

[Jason00S2000]

Wow...damn!


https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelown...een-consensual

************

A Kelowna man was sentenced to 30 months in jail Friday for sexually assaulting his girlfriend, despite claiming that he had thought their sex has been consensual.

Following a trial in August 2024, the 30-year-old man was convicted of one count of sexual assault last fall and he was sentenced Friday morning.

The incident occurred at FV’s home in 2023, when CM was 27 and FV was 20. The couple had been dating for about nine months at the time.

The couple had been watching a movie on FV's bed at about 10 a.m. when they started kissing. At some point, FV told him that she didn't want to have sex that day and CM responded: “OK.”

“After some more cuddling, [CM and FV] kissed again. [CM] then kissed her more forcefully and she kissed him back. He touched her arms, her breasts over her shirt and her thighs over her clothes,” Justice Julianne Lamb said when delivering her decision Friday.

CM then got on top of FV, took off her pants and underwear and had “penetrative sexual intercourse” with FV. He left her home a short time later.

“[FV] told [CM] that she did not want to have sex that day and he took no steps to confirm that she consented to penile-vaginal intercourse,” Justice Lamb said.

In her sentencing decision, Justice Lamb noted CM has no prior criminal record and was described as a “caring father” in several support letters.

CM told the author of a presentence report that he acknowledged that a sexual assault had occurred from FV's perspective, but he maintained he believed they had had consensual sex.

A psychological evaluation found CM is a low risk to reoffend sexually. While the psychologist characterized the issue as CM “misunderstanding” consent, Justice Lamb clarified that FV had “communicated non-consent” and the judge said “I would not apply the term 'misunderstanding' to these circumstances.”

Justice Lamb opted for the high end of the Crown's sentencing position, at 30 months of jail, along with an order that CM be added to the sex offender registry for 10 years.

CM was surrounded by family in Kelowna court Friday morning, who gave him tearful hugs before he was taken away by a sheriff to begin serving his sentence.

************
The weird immigrant guy who stabbed those TWO women up while high on drugs... got far less of a sentence.

Wow... she must have been livid! Maybe there is more to the story and he's a huge crazy asshole, who knows.... still... seems fucked up.

[bcrdukes]

Damn...

[VRYALT3R3D]

It's become a common refrain when Canadian politicians are asked about retaliatory measures or negotiations in the ongoing trade war: 85 per cent of Canada's trade with the U.S. is "tariff-free."

Prime Minister Mark Carney said as much on Tuesday and again on Friday, when pressed for information about his next salvo in the dispute with the U.S. after President Donald Trump imposed 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods that aren't compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

"We're in a situation right now where 85 per cent of our trade with the United States is tariff-free," Carney told reporters at a news conference in Trenton, Ont., on Friday.

But "85 per cent" only roughly describes Canada's exports to the U.S. which have the potential to qualify for exemptions under CUSMA — not the proportion of exports that is actually spared from Trump's tariffs.

Citing that percentage alone understates the costs Canadian businesses are facing as Trump imposes more tariffs, argues Tyler Meredith, founding partner of the policy-based public affairs firm Meredith Boessenkool & Phillips.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that last year, only about 38 per cent of U.S. imports from Canada were traded under CUSMA provisions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/can...rade-1.7604415

[mikemhg]

Honda, you're just giving more credence to the reasoning we've already given countless times now.

I've been going to Penticton ever since I was a kid, and consistently every year as an adult for 20 years now. It's definitely seen its decline in terms of homelessness and drugs, which essentially takes away your arguments and complaints laying this solely on Vancouver and its governance, specifically to the DTES.

As I've said, this problem is spiraling out everywhere, and notably in communities that have seen housing costs go through the roof, along with diminishing employment factors. There was a time where one could rent a place in Penticton for a reasonable price, with AirBNB and the changing demographics, those days are long gone.

The housing situation in Penticton is brutal nowadays, it's one of the primary complaints of the local businesses, and is one of the major reasons why you see newly opened spots close down year after year. They can't find staff, because staff can't afford housing. Penticton used to be a working class community sprinkled with retirees, families could actually afford to vacation there in the summer. Not anymore, Penticton has gotten quieter and less busy over the years, its turned into a playground for the wealthy where they've purchased large swaths of land to build massive mansions on the hills/cliffs, these homes sit entirely empty throughout the year (even in summer).

It's literally killing the town's economy, and its been a sad sight to witness the decline over the years there.

[Hondaracer]

What you described there is pretty much every major city in BC..

Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Osoyoos, etc.

Even Prince George seems to be going through the same thing.

Not really anything to hang the hat on in saying “oh don’t worry it’s just not the DTES, it’s every community in BC” ? lol yea.. exactly?

[Jason00S2000]

Can you imagine the backlash if it were a Church group...

[mikemhg]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

What you described there is pretty much every major city in BC..

Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Osoyoos, etc.

Even Prince George seems to be going through the same thing.

Not really anything to hang the hat on in saying “oh don’t worry it’s just not the DTES, it’s every community in BC” ? lol yea.. exactly?

Exactly, but what I don't understand is why you seem to associate this with some "liberal" or "lefty" idea of a governance issue in terms of lax policies, as opposed to understanding this issue as more primarily an economic one?

[Hondaracer]

I’ve always said that?

When you rent a room in a home, even struggling through life with a hot plate and cup noodles, you’re 100000X better off than homeless.

And why do a lot of these people end up homeless?

Is it because… home prices have doubled in less than a decade? Because a broken immigration system made rents skyrocket? Because govt. officials were intentionally obtuse when it came to money laundering? Which almost certainly all came from the drugs these homeless are all on?

Seems like a lot of govt. intervention put these people there.

It’s “liberal / lefty” thing because that was who was in power when it all happened.

[VRYALT3R3D]

Originally Posted by mikemhg

Exactly, but what I don't understand is why you seem to associate this with some "liberal" or "lefty" idea of a governance issue in terms of lax policies, as opposed to understanding this issue as more primarily an economic one?

Every homeless druggie in Toronto has been offered shelter and they refuse because they can never follow the shelter rules(no drugs, no bringing your hoarded belongings, etc) and they often choose to live on the streets so they can continue to do drugs. Its not always purely an economic problem. Its sometimes mental health and drug addiction...which is not helped when the government provides a safe supply and injection sites which turn neighborhoods into shithole areas, bro.

Cheers,

[Hondaracer]

What’s there to work for?

You’re a homeless drug Addict, here, have a $15 an hour job, maybe one day a decade from now you MIGHT be able to rent a studio in Chilliwack?

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

It’s “liberal / lefty” thing because that was who was in power when it all happened.

Federally, the Liberals have been in power for 31 of the last 50 years and 16 of the last 25 years. (The 10 Chretien years were very NOT progressive b/c of the debt problem).

Provincially, the NDP have only been in power for 18 of the last 50 years and 9 of the last 25 years (The BC Liberals were in no way "Liberals", they were a Conservative Party).

Locally, most cities have been some form of centrist that bounces between left and right.

How is this "The Libs/Left were in power when this happened"?

[pastarocket]

More tariff news. China increases its tariff on Canadian canola. 75.8 percent tariff!


https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/0...nadian-canola/

China announced a 75.8 per cent preliminary tariff on Canadian canola on Tuesday, following an anti-dumping investigation launched last year in response to Canada’s tax on Chinese electric vehicles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by pastarocket

More tariff news. China increases its tariff on Canadian canola. 75.8 percent tariff!


https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/0...nadian-canola/

China announced a 75.8 per cent preliminary tariff on Canadian canola on Tuesday, following an anti-dumping investigation launched last year in response to Canada’s tax on Chinese electric vehicles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Other than siding with the US against China I haven't really understood (or didn't buy in) on why we want to tariff Chinese EVs? If they're safe enough for Europe and Australia they must be safe enough for us. Sure, we are interested in some form of protectionism since we're behind the 8 ball with EVs in Canada but we're not talking some dramatic change overnight here - it's not like the Chinese would instantly take over 10% of the car market. Meanwhile this hurts our goals of lowering emissions and getting off fossil fuels.

[VRYALT3R3D]

Originally Posted by supafamous

Meanwhile this hurts our goals of lowering emissions and getting off fossil fuels.

Interesting take considering you post on a forum dedicated to sport compact cars.

[Hondaracer]

Originally Posted by supafamous

Federally, the Liberals have been in power for 31 of the last 50 years and 16 of the last 25 years. (The 10 Chretien years were very NOT progressive b/c of the debt problem).

Provincially, the NDP have only been in power for 18 of the last 50 years and 9 of the last 25 years (The BC Liberals were in no way "Liberals", they were a Conservative Party).

Locally, most cities have been some form of centrist that bounces between left and right.

How is this "The Libs/Left were in power when this happened"?

Looking at immigration alone, and its direct impact on rents in virtually all metro areas across Canada, it’s not that hard to understand.

Some nice graphics on this page

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/feat...aw-it/housing/

Then, in the wake of the pandemic, the federal government dramatically increased the number of new immigrants allowed into Canada.
Canada saw a surge in population just as the cost of a home was reaching all-new heights — and at the same time that the construction industry was clobbered by rising costs and ongoing issues around zoning, permitting and development fees.
Together, these forces have combined to create a nationwide crisis with no real, viable plan to bring housing prices down any time soon.

[Traum]

Originally Posted by VRYALT3R3D

Interesting take considering you post on a forum dedicated to sport compact cars.

Just bcos we are car enthusiasts doesn't mean we can't be environmentally conscious.

Originally Posted by supafamous

Other than siding with the US against China I haven't really understood (or didn't buy in) on why we want to tariff Chinese EVs? If they're safe enough for Europe and Australia they must be safe enough for us. Sure, we are interested in some form of protectionism since we're behind the 8 ball with EVs in Canada but we're not talking some dramatic change overnight here - it's not like the Chinese would instantly take over 10% of the car market. Meanwhile this hurts our goals of lowering emissions and getting off fossil fuels.

IMO the most reasonable guess is bcos of the automotive manufacturing sector in Ontario. It accounts for ~2% of Ontario's GDP, which translates into something like $15 - $17B, and 100k+ jobs directly related to the auto manufacturing industry.

Cost-wise, allowing the flood of cheap Chinese EVs into Canada (and the US as well, for that matter) will absolutely kill the domestic auto manufacturing sector. No gov (or political party) would ever want to mess with a voting block or GDP that size.

IMO it is also absolutely true that the Chinese gov is providing direct and heavy subsidies to Chinese (EV) manufacturers that continues to contribute to their overproduction capacity. And China is desparately trying to offload those overproduced goods to the international market. This is an unfair business practice, so pushing back against that in one form or another is entirely reasonable. That said, it could be done in a number of different ways instead of outright banning China-made EVs. (Tariffs could be one tool to use against this.)

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

Looking at immigration alone, and its direct impact on rents in virtually all metro areas across Canada, it’s not that hard to understand.

Some nice graphics on this page

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/feat...aw-it/housing/

That's some awfully selective cut and paste when the opening paragraphs say something else entirely:

Canada’s notoriously wild housing market spent much of the last 10 years becoming more unhinged. Affordability was at a crisis level before 2015 and has only gotten worse since.

There are plenty of reasons, but the main ones were extremely low interest rates and unusually high population growth. After the financial crisis of 2008, borrowing costs dropped to emergency low levels and stayed there until inflation took off in 2022.

That acted as rocket fuel for a housing market that was already internationally renowned as a bubble waiting to burst.

Then, in the wake of the pandemic, the federal government dramatically increased the number of new immigrants allowed into Canada.

You, as usual, cherry pick information that's right in front of our eyes to suit your narrative. Like who presided over the gov't that got us to a crisis level in housing in 2015?

There's plenty of blame to go around on why we have a housing crisis (and subsequently a homeless crisis) - enough for every politician to wear some of it. There are the local ones who restricted what could be built for decades, there are the provincial ones who didn't use their powers to over rule local gov'ts, there are the federal ones who deserted the housing market and who increased immigration without considering the impact to the housing market.

There's decades of bad decisions and bad governance that got us to this housing market - the increase in immigration was just another in a long line of tipping points (Fun Fact: The property transfer tax was created in the early 80's to address the housing crisis).

[Hondaracer]

When housing “doubles” from 300,000 to 600,000 it’s still within income ranges.

When it went from 600,000 to 1 million, it was still within a tolerable range for most households.

When it goes from 1 million to 2 million, it’s completely unmanageable for the vast majority of the population.

You also keep glossing over immigration. Which is 1000% the liberals doing. There is nowhere else to lay blame on that.

[supafamous]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

When housing “doubles” from 300,000 to 600,000 it’s still within income ranges.

When it went from 600,000 to 1 million, it was still within a tolerable range for most households.

When it goes from 1 million to 2 million, it’s completely unmanageable for the vast majority of the population.

And who got us to $1m? This stuff doesn't exist in a vacuum - as it gets worse and worse fixing becomes harder and harder. Hitler didn't magically become a Nazi overnight either - there are foundational things that people at every point didn't do that made it much worse today.

Today's politicians are fixing the fuck ups from the last 100 years of inadequate housing policy that starts at the local level - this isn't even a debate among people who study housing, the Feds get the least blame for the problem by a mile. Abandoning social housing projects in the 80s and 90s did far more long term damage than an overly aggressive immigration of the past few years.

You know very well that it takes years (even decades) for housing to be created which is also why it'll take decades to resolve.

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

You also keep glossing over immigration. Which is 1000% the liberals doing. There is nowhere else to lay blame on that.

I haven't glossed over immigration at all - it's just not at all the main reason we're in a housing crisis, it's a significant contributing factor to it but absolutely not the reason we're in a crisis.

The number one reason has always been that we didn't build enough homes and immigration (post pandemic) merely took it from extremely bad to extremely extremely bad.

[Manic!]

Canada should really drop the tariffs on solar panels. In Europe you can get 425 watt solar panel for $130 cad tax included. I have even heard of cheaper prices when on sale. This would create a lot of jobs in the solar industry.

https://kitsolaire-discount.com/gb/c...ce=chatgpt.com

[whitev70r]

yah, I'm all for slowlyu bringing in the Chinese EV's .. BYP, eff Tesla.

[68style]

I don’t know this for a fact and am happily corrected on it if I’m wrong, but I always got the feeling we tariff’d Chinese EV’s to appease the USA and also partly to protect the Canadian auto industry in ON… one of those 2 shouldn’t matter anymore

[underscore]

Originally Posted by supafamous

If they're safe enough for Europe and Australia they must be safe enough for us.

Especially if we're allowing the Cybertruck on the road here. I have no love for EVs or Chinese cars, but they can't be any worse than the shit American manufacturers produce.

[Infiniti]

Originally Posted by Traum

IMO it is also absolutely true that the Chinese gov is providing direct and heavy subsidies to Chinese (EV) manufacturers that continues to contribute to their overproduction capacity. And China is desparately trying to offload those overproduced goods to the international market. This is an unfair business practice, so pushing back against that in one form or another is entirely reasonable.

Aka taking a massive dump in other people's backyards.

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by Traum

IMO it is also absolutely true that the Chinese gov is providing direct and heavy subsidies to Chinese (EV) manufacturers that continues to contribute to their overproduction capacity. And China is desparately trying to offload those overproduced goods to the international market. This is an unfair business practice, so pushing back against that in one form or another is entirely reasonable. That said, it could be done in a number of different ways instead of outright banning China-made EVs. (Tariffs could be one tool to use against this.)

How do these subsidies compare to American companies?