Politics or sound policy? Liberals have another choice to make.
The federal government’s economic advisory council led by the managing director of global consulting giant McKinsey & Company has called on the federal government to reverse several of its most high-profile policies. Many of the policy recommendations submitted by the council would likely lead to improved economic growth. It is, therefore, political barriers rather than economic concerns that would impede such policies.
One of the highest-profile recommendations is the raising of the age of eligibility for retirement benefits from public programs to 67 from 65. While in opposition, as well as during the 2015 federal election campaign, the Liberals heavily and consistently chastised the governing Tories for raising the age of eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS).
The proposal from the council calls for a much broader reform, which is raising the age of eligibility for all public programs including OAS as well as the Canada Pension Plan and other senior benefits. Such a reversal would be politically costly, particularly given the government’s recent high-profile reversal on its electoral reform promise. But raising the age of eligibility makes eminent sense when one considers the aging of our population.
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The Trudeau Liberals seem to be in a place where they’re increasingly being forced to recognize the difference between governing and campaigning (and being in opposition). Governing requires difficult decisions that are in the best interests of the population at large.
As evidenced by the reversal on electoral reform, the governing Liberals have shown their ability to lead. The question now is whether they will accept the analysis of their own advisory council and reverse course on yet more policies.
Liberals have another choice to make.
What's a leader to do...acknowledge the recommendations of it's economic advisory council and look like a partisan hypocrite or reject them to save face and hold to flawed ideals? How many broken promises are they up to now??
The federal government’s economic advisory council led by the managing director of global consulting giant McKinsey & Company has called on the federal government to reverse several of its most high-profile policies. Many of the policy recommendations submitted by the council would likely lead to improved economic growth. It is, therefore, political barriers rather than economic concerns that would impede such policies.
One of the highest-profile recommendations is the raising of the age of eligibility for retirement benefits from public programs to 67 from 65. While in opposition, as well as during the 2015 federal election campaign, the Liberals heavily and consistently chastised the governing Tories for raising the age of eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS).
The proposal from the council calls for a much broader reform, which is raising the age of eligibility for all public programs including OAS as well as the Canada Pension Plan and other senior benefits. Such a reversal would be politically costly, particularly given the government’s recent high-profile reversal on its electoral reform promise. But raising the age of eligibility makes eminent sense when one considers the aging of our population.
---
The Trudeau Liberals seem to be in a place where they’re increasingly being forced to recognize the difference between governing and campaigning (and being in opposition). Governing requires difficult decisions that are in the best interests of the population at large.
As evidenced by the reversal on electoral reform, the governing Liberals have shown their ability to lead. The question now is whether they will accept the analysis of their own advisory council and reverse course on yet more policies.
Liberals have another choice to make.
What's a leader to do...acknowledge the recommendations of it's economic advisory council and look like a partisan hypocrite or reject them to save face and hold to flawed ideals? How many broken promises are they up to now??