Trudeau announces another plan he expects the provinces to pay for

by
Kelly McParland

The Liberals’ housing proposal came as the provinces were still steaming over a federal plan to split marijuana revenue 50-50

Canada’s provincial premiers must occasionally pine for the good old days of Stephen Harper, when the prime minister semi-politely ignored them, refusing to attend their group get-togethers or even occasionally to return their calls.

When the Liberals came to power, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised a warmer relationship, with mutual respect and displays of good fellowship. As with numerous other Liberal vows, it hasn’t quite worked out as anticipated. On health care, climate change, marijuana legalization and, most recently, the Liberal “national housing strategy,” the premiers have discovered that Ottawa gets the glory, and they get the costs.

The housing plan was rolled out with great fanfare, pledging $40 billion over 10 years to build new housing units, repair old ones, reduce homelessness and safeguard families from losing their homes.

Trudeau promised a warmer relationship with the provinces

“Even one Canadian sleeping in the street is one too many,” Trudeau declared. “Housing rights are human rights, everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.”

Apart from the addition of yet another right to the swelling list of things Canadians are told are theirs by birth, the premiers are worried about more practical matters. The plan’s ambitious budget presumes they will happily kick in billions of dollars to make the program come true. Much of the federal share consists of previously-announced programs, while the “new” money only gets spent if the provinces agree to share at least $12 billion worth of costs.

full story at http://nationalpost.com/opinion/kelly-mcparland-trudeau-announces-another-plan-he-expects-the-provinces-to-pay-for