Knowledgeable IN-SIGHTS reader Pat McCutcheon says a video from BC Policy Solutions is an excellent presentation about BC’s finances. Pat adds, “Funny how the material contained in the video never appears in the mainstream media sound bites.”
Criticism of deficit financing is frequently heard from adherents of right-wing politics, including those who embrace neoliberalism, a policy system promoted by Thatcher and Reagan. It favours private enterprise and discourages government participation in the economy. Neoliberals advocate for privatization, deregulation, and reduced government services.
They prefer we drive on toll roads or use unsubsidized public transit, if we can afford the cost. Minimal public services are the objective, and those that exist should be funded by user fees. Private healthcare and fee-based education are favoured, and facilities needed by the public should be built and operated by the private sector.
Yale University Professor Greg Grandin suggested an underlying objective of market fundamentalists:
Neoliberalism is hard to define. It could refer to intensified resource extraction, financialization, austerity, or something more ephemeral – a way of life – in which collective ideals of citizenship give way to marketized individualism and consumerism.
British comedian Frankie Boyle says:
The Conservatives exist largely to misinform the public, to convince austerity-crippled voters they have the same interests as billionaires.
That is true in British Columbia, even while the Conservative Party is in turmoil because a segment of the membership believes the party should move from the right to the far-right. Public policy research institute BC Policy Solutions disagrees with Conservative policies, whether those of John Rustad or the more radical ideas of the people who seek to replace him as leader.
Categories: Economics
in-sights.ca 
Thanks for sharing the BC Policy Solutions video on BC Finances. As Iglika Ivanova concluded, we have a revenue problem, not a spending problem.
Some of the ways to collect more revenue include:
• a wealth tax
• increase higher marginal tax rates
• increase corporate tax
• increase revenues from resource extraction
• create a sovereign wealth fund
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I’ve subscribed to Richard J Murphy on youtube. He explains economic ideas, including problems and solutions, exceedingly well. An example:
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A raving lunatic addressed the United Nations General Assembly this morning, and in a speech that should thoroughly embarrass and alarm every American even without the climate reference, called climate change a hoax and the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.
Speaking of lunacy, it seems that Canadian political parties that used to at least go through the motions on climate change have given up the charade and are now opening the door wide for fossil fuel exploitation. They’re removing carbon taxes, subsidizing pipelines and LNG plants, fast tracking (rubber stamping) environmental approvals, and delaying or scrapping EV mandates. There is no doubt about the exponential harm this will bring, and that’s confirmed not only by what we see with our own eyes, but by the fact the same governments that are opening the door are budgeting billions for contingent mitigation of the problems they’re causing in the first instance. That’s lunacy. So for the near future at least there isn’t much distance between the actions of our governments in Canada on climate change and the circus to the south.
To add insult to injury, as demonstrated in the video presentation above we have a revenue problem, despite increased extraction of our natural resources. That must change, although to say so reminds me of the old saw about a man asking a woman if she would be willing to sleep with him if he pays her $1M. She says yes. He then asks if she would be willing to sleep with him for $50. The woman says, “What kind of woman do you think I am?” He replies, “We’ve already established that. Now we’re just haggling over the price.”
We’re going to sell fossil fuels that we know damn well should stay buried for the good of our planet and our descendants to net about $1.4 Billion (maybe) per year in gas royalties while foregoing a carbon tax worth twice that amount at a time when we’re hurting for revenue. Having established what kind of a province we are, shouldn’t we at least haggle over the price?
Click to access CCPA_BC%20Critiquing%20the%20LNG%20Canada%20agreement_FINAL_190506.pdf
https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-lng-export-explainer/
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Well yes. Nr Edwardson. Seeing can be disbelieving.
Mr. Trump (while being incredibly modest) explains reality to the UN and asks why he hasn’t received 7 Nobel Prizes.
Fascinating and absurd.
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Mr Sluyter,
Thanks for the link to Professor Murphy’s video.
For people familiar with similar analysis from Joseph Stiglitz this will not be news but reinforcement
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/neoliberalism-freedom-markets-hayek/678124/
“Neoliberal orthodoxy holds that economic freedom is the basis of every other kind. That orthodoxy, a Nobel economist says, is not only false; it is devouring itself.”
Just watched Mr. Murphy’s take on the coming US crash. Impressive.
The series looks promising.
Who is Joseph Stiglitz?
https://www.britannica.com/money/Joseph-Stiglitz
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Though it won’t make them any friends among the soon to be trillionaire corporate AI enthusiasts, some geeks at MIT forecast some disturbing predictions.
This video agrees that times will be disastrous but then claims – no worries you can make money anyway.
“MIT Has Predicted that Society Will Collapse Due To AI, Here’s How To Make Money”
An interesting point among the comments:
After AI eliminates 50 – 300 million jobs who then can afford to buy the products those 50 – 300 million consumers used to buy?
Having radically and artificially shrunk the economy where is the Market?
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Holy Republican!
Busy instructing Christians on what they should believe, billionaire Mr. Thiel has strong opinions.
https://endtimeheadlines.org/2025/09/palantirs-peter-thiel-warns-that-regulating-ai-hastens-the-arrival-of-the-antichrist/
“Palantir’s Peter Thiel warns that regulating AI hastens the arrival of the Antichrist”
“The billionaire co-founder of Palantir Technologies has long been a polarizing figure in Silicon Valley, known for his contrarian investments, political influence, and unapologetic conservatism.”
“Now, in a series of clandestine lectures, Thiel is warning that efforts to regulate AI could accelerate the arrival of the Antichrist—a figure from Christian theology symbolizing ultimate deception and control.”
“Thiel’s provocative talks took place in San Francisco, organized by the Acts 17 Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to “Acknowledging Christ in Technology and Society.” Founded by Michelle Stephens, wife of Trae Stephens—a partner at Thiel’s Founders Fund and co-founder of defense tech firm Anduril—the events were explicitly marketed as “off the record.””
On the 23-24 September arrival of The Rapture.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article312243014.html
“Less than half of Americans say they’d go to heaven if rapture occurs, poll finds”
“If the rapture were to occur, many Americans say they’d be left behind, according to new polling.”
“In the latest YouGov survey, less than half of respondents expressed confidence they would ascend to heaven in such an end-of-days scenario.”
“However, majorities of several demographics – including Republicans, southerners and adults over 65 – see themselves as likely to cross into the heavenly realm.”
“The survey comes after rapture predictions went viral on social media, with many users pointing to Sept. 23 as the big day.”
“The word “rapture” is not found in the Bible, but it is commonly used by Christians to refer to the time when Jesus will return to bring his followers to heaven ahead of the apocalypse.”
“Nearly two-thirds of Republicans, 63%, said they would be taken to heaven, while 40% of Democrats and just 36% of independents said the same.”
“Meanwhile, 53% of respondents 65 and older were confident they would be carried off with Jesus. Less than half of respondents in every other age group said the same, including 44% of 18- to 29-year-olds.”
“Additionally, 51% of respondents from the South said they would ascend to heaven, while just 38% of those in the Northeast agreed.”
“Men and women also differed slightly in their views. Half of women said they would be transported to heaven in the event of the rapture, while 42% of men said the same.”
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Taking care of Business and enhancing efficiency by consulting Doctor Black Box?
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-launches-ai-program-to-deny-medicare-services/
“Taking a page from the private insurance industry’s playbook, the Trump administration will launch a program next year to find out how much money an artificial intelligence algorithm could save the federal government by denying care to Medicare patients.”
“The pilot program, designed to weed out wasteful, “low-value” services, amounts to a federal expansion of an unpopular process called prior authorization, which requires patients or someone on their medical team to seek insurance approval before proceeding with certain procedures, tests, and prescriptions. It will affect Medicare patients, and the doctors and hospitals who care for them, in Arizona, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington, starting Jan. 1 and running through 2031.”
“The move has raised eyebrows among politicians and policy experts. The traditional version of Medicare, which covers adults 65 and older and some people with disabilities, has mostly eschewed prior authorization. Still, it is widely used by private insurers, especially in the Medicare Advantage market.”
A pilot project? Running for 5 years?
Another reason for Americans to leave America?
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“The hits just keep on coming!”
Why was Elizabeth May equivocal about opposing Mr. Carney’s Social Austerity / Corporate Compassion Budget?
https://www.ipolitics.ca/2025/11/12/elizabeth-may-still-undecided-on-budget-vote-says-an-election-could-absolutely-happen/
“Green Leader Elizabeth May doesn’t want the Liberal government to fall during next week’s vote on the federal budget — but that doesn’t mean she’s willing to support it.”
“In an interview with iPolitics, May said she’s still unlikely to vote with the government because of the budget’s insufficient climate measures and a lack of commitments to pre-existing emissions targets, though she’s still in ongoing negotiations with the Liberals.”
Specific downside considerations are outlined at The Narwhal. Since the article is too lengthy to reproduce, here is a list of subheadings.
https://thenarwhal.ca/carney-budget-environment-cuts/
1/ These are the environmental programs to be cut under Carney’s first budget
2/ Cuts to planned spending at Environment, Fisheries and Oceans and other departments
3/ Government weakens anti-greenwashing law
4/ Climate strategy meant to help protect competitiveness of oil and gas sector
5/ Canada likely won’t follow through with oil and gas emissions cap
6/ Canada will change the rules for industrial carbon pricing, electricity tax break and redirect clean fuel funding
7/ Creating a Youth Climate Corps, critical minerals fund and other initiatives
========================================================================
Also cited in The Narwhal?
https://thenarwhal.ca/scope-3-emissions-canada/
“The emissions that won’t be stopped by Canada’s carbon capture dreams”
https://thenarwhal.ca/competition-bureau-greenwashing-investigations/
“What do ‘clean’ and ‘green’ actually mean? Canadian watchdog receives complaints about environmental claims by Shell, RBC, Enbridge”
Last but not least? How will Canadian delegates explain a swarm of environmental and energy policy flip-flops at COP30?
Or is the game reduced to a Hobson’s Choice – there’s us to lead you or there’s the other guys, and those clowns are a real disaster.
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Can we modify that title slightly/s
from
Do voters have the same interest as billionaires and corporations?
to..
Do Canada’s political parties have the same interest as billionaires and corporations?
How long could an undisclosed convergence remain hidden?
How could some of it be exposed?
Dated Nov 21, 25
https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-pipeline-major-projects/
“Prime Minister Mark Carney was elected on the promise of pushing back against aggression from the U.S. and its trade war. A big part of his response was to pass legislation that would allow the government to “fast-track” grand projects his cabinet deemed to be in the “national interest.””
“Since then, his government has made two big announcements touting its pet infrastructure projects — neither of which actually designated any projects in the national interest to be put on a fast track. ”
“Instead, the government only referred 11 projects — including an expansion of the Port of Montreal and wind-powered energy generation in the Atlantic — to the newly created Major Projects Office for consideration as nationally interesting “major projects” worth fast-tracking. Which means no real projects have actually moved forward, despite the rhetoric around the announcements.””
“”That lack of clarity, and of tangible action, only adds to the sense of disorientation over intense reaction in Alberta when a new pipeline to the West Coast wasn’t part of the latest announcement. Emotions were pretty strong considering there isn’t an actual pipeline project being discussed — there’s no route, no budget, no company that currently wants to build it. The most tangible thing about it so far has been vocal opposition from B.C. and the Indigenous communities this imaginary pipeline would theoretically pass through.”
“It is a debate about something that doesn’t exist being snubbed for inclusion on a list that does nothing — unless you count politicking. And while Alberta is being the most dramatic about it all, it’s a situation playing out all over the country. ”
The next penny waiting to drop?
Suddenly a new mega-company will step forward to say that out of deep compassion it must be allowed to build The Pipeline To The Sea. Real quick like … If only certain legal restraints on how it’s build , what it costs taxpayers, who assumes the risk, and how much damage it can do are “Ironed out”..
Best decided where? Behind closed doors. What with Cabinet Confidentiality, National Security, Privacy Laws, and career politicians at hypothetical risk of serious voter criticism; Mums the word.
Looked at differently – it’s a political chess-fork. If Caney falls, Poilievre takes over. What few restraints still exist will vanish. Big Oil and Gas win.
Next step Canada is ready to be US State 51.
Welcome to conditions last seen in Eastern Europe when Moscow was grated control, looted the region, and controlled the political system with proxies.
No reason to despair now though.
No way! It’s Christmas!
Billionaires and party-friendly mega-corporations have much to rejoice!
Santa has delivered big time!
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Round Two Begins
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/03/british-columbia-pipeline-expert-warning-risks
Though only a few nay-sayers openly claim some of Big Canadian media giants are biased and on their last credibility legs, apparently media’s best and brightest weren’t equipped to uncover something significant about our latest “Glorious Soul Unifying Pipeline To The Sea” political ah, fiasco.
Misremembered by many reporters BC is located on The Ring Of Fire. Who knew a simple fact of geography, geology, physics and earth science could have awful consequences?
Be reminded. No act of Parliament nor Legislature can swat away the fact that BC expects a huge earthquake at or about the same level as in 1700: That was the first Big One. Big One Deux will mean much of BC real estate can expect not to survive. It’s pipelines? It’s power lines? It’s dams?
Dated 3 Dec 25 Toronto, Onterrible, this is where Leyland Cecco’s Guardian story gets interesting.
‘There’s no monitoring of earthquakes’: new British Columbia pipeline could spell catastrophe, experts warn
“Project on ‘very poorly understood’ terrain and likely to pass through Rocky Mountain trench, which researchers say poses immense geological hazard “
“When an earthquake in 2002 struck in a remote pocket of Alaska, the shock was the strongest ever recorded in the interior of the state. But, miraculously, an oil pipeline that crossed directly over the fault line was unscathed.”
“Engineers behind the design of the 800-mile system were prepared. Knowing the high likelihood of seismic activity along the route, which bisected the Denali fault, they constructed sections where the pipeline rested on rail girders, allowing it to sway and shear without snapping.”
“It worked because they could pinpoint how and where to build: they could put their hand right on the fault,” said Edwin Nissen, a seismologist at the University of Victoria.”
“The problem for Canada is that there’s nothing like that in British Columbia, where a pipeline has been proposed. There’s never been a study as detailed as they one they did for the pipeline in Alaska and as a result, there’s just so much we don’t know.”
“Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has given his government’s blessing to an oil pipeline last week that would cross Alberta and British Columbia and terminate at the Pacific. But amid fierce debate over the political, environmental and economic implications of the project, experts warn that the multibillion-dollar project faces immense – and poorly understood – geological hazards.”
“While no route for a heavy oil pipeline has been officially proposed, nor has any company stepped forward to build it, the most efficient route from Edmonton, Alberta, would invariably pass through the Rocky Mountain trench and along the sparsely populated north of British Columbia before terminating at the Douglas Channel, a region with a crenulated landscape of deep fjords. The project has already faced strong opposition from First Nations over fears that Carney’s government will lift a five-decade oil tanker ban in the region.”
“So far much of the public debate has focused on the immense risk of a maritime disaster, but Nissen warns the geography of the landscape itself presents fresh and troubling risks.”
“Nissen and his research team argue that at least two seismic faults, including the Rocky Mountain trench which most Canadian geologists believe are “extinct” or long dormant, are instead still active and “can host big surface-rupturing earthquakes”. He also says the tectonics in mountainous areas along the Pacific coast are “very poorly understood””.
In fairness, rather than repost the remainder of the Guardian’s report be advised that none of Mr Nissan’s team either is qualified or is likely ever to aspire to high public office, nor can his team earn transfer credits towards a degree in Journalism. If so desired.
Since 3 Dec this story was noticed only by The Tyee (as Reported Elsewhere)
Go ahead. Explain why no one else discovered the same quake\pipeline survival facts remotely interesting?
More Details? Why not delve?
https://alyeska-pipe.com/2002-the-denali-fault-earthquake/
https://thewalrus.ca/alberta-bc-pipeline/
https://thenarwhal.ca/prgt-five-things-explainer/
https://globalnews.ca/news/11554632/elizabeth-may-carney-budget-vote-mistake-climate-alberta-deal/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/coastal-gaslink-wetsuweten-abuse-process-hearing-1.7320080
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Forward! Into The Past!
Not that it could ever negatively affect our brilliant plans to get rich for a soon-to-be-energy-superpower but…
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/wti-wcs-enserva-2026-forecast-9.6993382
“Oilpatch drilling slows as oil and natural gas prices sink”
“Oilpatch spending could fall further in 2026, says new industry forecast”
“Low oil and natural gas prices are taking a toll on the industry as drilling activity is falling in Western Canada and is expected to slide further in 2026.”
“North American oil prices remain below $60 US per barrel, after climbing to more than $80 in January.”
“As a result, oil and gas companies are cutting costs, and total capital spending is expected to decline by 5.6 per cent this year and a further 2.2 per cent in 2026, according to a state of the industry report released Wednesday by Calgary-based Enserva, which represents oilpatch service companies.”
“The total number of wells drilled in 2025 is expected to decrease by nine per cent compared to 2024, including a 16 per cent drop in British Columbia.”
When the solution becomes the problem, then what? Dec 02, 2025
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/LNG-Sticker-Shock-Sends-Europe-Scrambling-Back-to-Domestic-Gas.html
“LNG Sticker Shock Sends Europe Scrambling Back to Domestic Gas”
“Europe’s soaring electricity prices—now among the highest in the world—are forcing governments to rethink anti-oil and gas policies.”
“Countries such as Germany, Italy, Greece, and the UK are quietly returning to hydrocarbons.”
“Imported liquefied gas has come to replace Russian pipeline gas, but European countries are paying a high price.”
Remember $100/barrel for oil? Not there yet. Nov 24 2025
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/JP-Morgan-Says-Oil-Prices-Could-Plunge-Into-30s-by-2027.html
“JP Morgan Says Oil Prices Could Plunge Into $30s by 2027”
“JP Morgan predicts the international crude benchmark, Brent, could drop into the $30s per barrel by 2027 due to an overwhelming market oversupply.”
“Goldman Sachs forecasts the U.S. benchmark WTI Crude will average $53 per barrel in 2026 amid a 2 million bpd surplus and advises investors to short oil right now.”
“The oil market is expected to rebalance in 2027 after the current large supply wave, including output from OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers in the Americas, works through the system.”
Who could possibly rescue America’s biggest polluter? Will someone step forward? Nov 30,2025
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Trump-Launches-Largest-Environmental-Rollback-in-US-History.html
“Trump Launches Largest Environmental Rollback in U.S. History”
“EPA, wildlife agencies, and the Interior Department announced major rollbacks affecting wetlands, endangered species protections, and offshore drilling.”
“The administration is dismantling clean energy programs at the Department of Energy while advancing a fossil-fuel-heavy “energy dominance” agenda.”
“Environmental groups warn of severe ecological harm and plan widespread legal challenges as public support for existing protections remains strong.”
“Ironically, the move to dismantle some of the strongest environmental protections in the United States took place as many world leaders were attending the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.”
“President Trump did not attend COP30, making it the first time in the summit’s 30-year history that the United States was not present.”
“White House representatives said that the moves supported Trump’s American energy dominance agenda, which he has been pushing for several months. In recent months, Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders taking target at the growing green energy sector, and instead favouring the expansion of U.S. fossil fuels.”
“This has been met with mounting criticism from environmental groups who claim that Trump is not fulfilling his legal obligations by scrapping several major environmental policies. However, several industries support the latest move, including farming groups, oil drillers, chemical manufacturers, home builders, and real estate developers. Nevertheless, finalising the three proposals could take up to two years, during which time the government may have to endure lengthy legal battles over the proposals.”
The final touches to ending the COP fantasy? Fifty years of earth science matters to politicians? Call for President Edsel! White courtesy telephone! Dec 4, 2025
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/trump-fuel-economy-slashing-gas-vehicle-boost-9.7002631
“Trump proposes slashing fuel economy rules in boost for gas vehicles”
“Ford CEO supports aligning standards with market realities”
“U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed slashing fuel economy standards that former President Joe Biden had finalized last year, in a push to make it easier for automakers to sell gasoline-powered cars.”
“Trump’s action aims to undo one of Biden’s signature climate moves as he sought to incentivize more electric vehicle purchases. “People want the gasoline car,” Trump said on Wednesday.”
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed significantly reducing the fuel economy requirements from model years 2022 to 2031, requiring 34.5 miles per gallon on average by 2031, down from 50.4 miles per gallon (21.4 km per litre).”
(those attending the announcement: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Ford CEO Jim Farley, Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, U.S. Rep Lisa McClain (R-MI), U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and U.S. President Donald Trump)
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Can someone answer these questions?
Tech companies run amok? Reining them in is illegal? Cory Doctorow
How could deliberately making things worse improve profitability? Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow is Canadian.
https://uomod.com/enshittification-how-big-tech-broke-the-internet-and-why-cory-doctorow-says-its-no-accident/
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