The Buzz April 20th 2024: Reactions to the budget, new developments in the Pearson gold heist, and more.
A few days before the budget, David Dodge, the former Governor of the Bank of Canada was asked what he thought of the budget content he’d already heard. He didn’t hold back.
He proclaimed it the worst he’d seen since the November 1981 Alan MacEachen budget. That sent most people to the history books. Not Old Man Mansbridge. I remember sitting in the lobby outside the House of Commons doing the live TV bit with my colleague Mike Duffy.
We were both stunned. “What were they thinking?” I asked Duffy and he shook his head and said, “This will never fly.” It didn’t and within months, the Liberals had a new budget that better addressed (well a little better anyway) high interest rates, double-digit inflation and record unemployment.
Time will tell whether Dodge’s assessment of Chrystia Freeland’s 2024 budget will fare better, but the early reviews aren’t helping. Most are negative.
You may not agree with my old friend Don Martin, but he sure has a way with words. Here’s his CTV analysis:
Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
Not surprisingly, the budget was the hot topic for Good Talk this week. The YouTube version of Chantal, Bruce and I is available at nationalnewswatch.com.
Okay, I can hear you. Enough with the budget. Pause from politics. How about a good thriller?
Like a mysterious gold heist. In Canada. Got it.
Here’s one of our favourite storytellers here at The Buzz, the CBC’s Andrew Chang from About That (sit back, relax, grab a coffee: it’s nine minutes long but it’s done in Andrew’s special style just hours after Toronto police gave out the details):
How thieves pulled off the largest gold heist in Canadian history
This is an issue that’s always bothered me. MP’s taking free overseas trips sponsored by special interests. It could be changing, as the Hill Times reported this week:
Sponsored travel climbed back to pre-pandemic levels in 2023 as MPs accept trips to Israel, Taiwan, U.K. 🔒
Some of you may recall that a few weeks ago on Good Talk, we floated the idea that Dominic LeBlanc’s name was rising to the top of the rumour list for liberal leader if Justin Trudeau stepped down.
Nobody seemed to pick up our lead at the time but now a new piece in The Globe by veteran reporter Lawrence Martin puts some meat on the bone as the saying goes.
LeBlanc has since downplayed the story, but this too is fodder for this week’s Good Talk:
Dominic LeBlanc wants his close friend Justin Trudeau’s job 🔒
I’m taking an overseas flight on Monday and while I love flying and sleep like a baby on long flights, I’ll be taking a good look at the aircraft after reading this piece on msn.com
American Air Pilots Cite ‘Significant’ Jump in Safety Issues
