In an interview with Bloomberg News in which Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland denied reports of a rift with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, amid speculation he wants to replace her with Mark Carney, she also indicated the Liberals’ strategy for winning next year’s election. Basically, they’re just playing for time. Or as Freeland put it: “I think time is our friend.
We have the investments in place that are starting to kick in. I think when you look at the macro cycle, getting to actually having the soft landing is really important for everyone.” In other words, the Liberals are hoping that by next summer, when their supply-and-confidence deal with the NDP expires, thinks will be looking up for them.
That is, the economy will be in better shape, inflation will be lower, national employment will be steady or on the upswing, federal housing initiatives will have begun to produce results and the kinks will be out of their new dental care plan, all leading up to an election that must be held on or before Oct. 20, 2025. Or, as Freeland put it, in releasing this year’s federal budget in April: “We have a plan to build a Canada that works better for you, where you can get ahead, where your hard work pays off, where you can buy a home – where you have a fair chance at a good middle class life.
“First, we’re building more affordable homes ...
Second, we’re making life cost less ...
Third, we are growing the economy in a way that’s shared by all.” That’s be.