Regulated Corruption

/in /by

A few days ago, I discussed how even an idiot like Doug Ford knows that government is the problem.  Government over regulation makes projects in Canada unattractive to investors.  Ford’s solution was to create economic development zones.  Basically, areas set aside where government is not allowed to intrude.  This week Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, one upped Ford by making the entire country an economic development zone, with one catch. Carney gets to decide when the rules do and do not apply.

Bill C5 allows the federal government to suspend the rules for projects deemed to be in the national interest.

Regulations — enactment

22 The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the minister responsible for an enactment, make regulations

  • (a) exempting one or more national interest projects from the application of any provision of that enactment or any provision of regulations made under that enactment; and
  • (b) varying the application of any provision referred to in paragraph (a) in relation to one or more national interest projects.

Regulations — this Act

23 The Governor in Council may make regulations

  • (a) exempting one or more national interest projects from the application of any provision of this Act;

  • (b) varying the application of any provision of this Act in relation to one or more national interest projects; and

  • (c) generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act.

The stated intention is to enable development, but is it really?  If the root cause of our economics malaise is over regulation, why wouldn’t you just reduce regulations on everything?  Why carve out areas or specific projects where the regulations do not apply?  Do the insane and useless regulations only harm some areas or project but not others?

When I put these questions to my wife her answer was immediate.  Ford and Carney want to keep the regulations in place to block projects, companies, or people that they do not like.  These regulations are not about economic development they are about control.  Canada has now adopted NAZIS style socialism.  The government decides which companies are allowed to operate and what they are allowed to do.

It has taken decades of apathy by Canadian voters to allow this to happen.  We allowed successive governments to regulate our economy out of existence.  Now the only solution offered is to allow our dear leaders to bypass the rules as they see fit.  We went from over regulation to regulation by decree.  The rules may or may not apply.  The opportunities for corruption are now endless.

I would say I weep for Canada, but I am done with Canada.  I no longer care what happens to the rest of Canada.  My only concern is independence for my province.