ART.OF.THE.DEAL
>The draft bill that magically found its way into the hands of reporters, after the government shared it with the opposition, was sweeping in discretion and duration. It allowed the finance minister to tax, spend and borrow with impunity, but without parliamentary approval, until the end of next year.
>The furor was immediate. Scott Reid, the Ontario Conservative MP, said the bill was so outlandish it provoked spontaneous outrage in every opposition MP who read it. [1]
Why would PM Trudeau ask for so much in a Covid-19 aid bill?
>On Wednesday morning, the government, with the unanimous consent of the Opposition parties, passed legislation giving sweeping powers to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, including the power to unilaterally spend and borrow without parliamentary approval until September 2020.
The only thing the Liberals gave up was taxing power.
>While the original legislation was revised, removing the ability to change taxes unilaterally, it remains an affront to Parliament and the separation of powers on which the Canadian system of government is built. [2]
Now today he has announced they're bailing out small and medium sized businesses.
> Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a major increase to the wage subsidy for small- and medium-sized businesses, boosting it to 75 per cent, up from the 10 per cent previously promised.
>The federal government is launching a special emergency business account for small businesses that will see banks offer $40,000 government-guaranteed loans interest-free for the first year. If certain conditions are met, the first $10,000 will be forgiven.
>As well, an additional $12.5 billion is being made available through federal programs, to help with “operational cash flow requirements,” and HST and GST payments are being deferred until June, giving businesses more time to make their payments.[3]
This will in turn will help 90% of already employed people. [4]
And he also mimics Trump by saying, "We will be able to come back from this, stronger than before".
CANADA CONFIRMED FOR GOING TO MAKE IT
[1] https://nationalpost.com/opinion/john-ivison-liberals-cant-help-being-opportunistic-with-their-covid-19-aid-bill?video_autoplay=true
[2] https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-liberals-get-unlimited-spending-authority-for-six-months
[3] https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/trudeau-announces-major-wage-subsidy-hike-for-small-businesses-1.4870893
[4] https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03090.html#point2-1