Justin Trudeau says he supports independent journalism. Does he really believe it? And what does that have to do with the CBC and other government-funded media outlets like RT and Al Jazeera? Ezra takes a look at the latest on all of this and much more.
00:07:46.580And here's the last part of their rant.
00:07:48.580In addition, our journalism is independent and subject to our journalistic standards and practices, as well as an independent complaints process through CBC ombudsman.
00:08:07.580I do ask that because, you know, given Canada's support of Ukraine in this current crisis with Russia, I don't know if it's far fetched to ask,
00:08:17.580but there is concern that Russian actors could be continuing to fuel things as this protest grows, but perhaps even instigating it from the outset.
00:08:30.580But that reporter got a raise in a promotion.
00:08:34.580The CBC has a policy of following Trudeau's policies to the letter.
00:08:38.580Tell me one issue about which the CBC and Trudeau disagree, from the carbon tax to firearms to open borders immigration to Donald Trump to transgenderism to global warming.
00:08:48.580There is no difference between the Liberal Party platform and the CBC platform.
00:08:52.580In fact, the CBC has a bit of party discipline on these matters.
00:08:56.580For example, as a rule, they never have anyone on their talk shows who is a climate change skeptic.
00:09:32.580It's clear that they let us off the hook for a very good reason, because we paid them $600 million.
00:09:39.580So Trudeau was mad about all this today because he and the CBC are in sync with this.
00:09:46.580He said that Twitter labeling the CBC government funded was outrageous.
00:09:49.580And he said that by calling for that label on them, Pierre Pauliev showed that he is hostile to an independent media and reliant on foreign billionaires.
00:12:50.580Well, if you were to tell me the Canada Revenue Agency was going on strike, I bet most people would cheer that.
00:13:08.580Of course, tax collectors are a bane on our existence, but I don't think it's a good thing because one of the things they do is give tax refunds as well.
00:13:16.580And of course, they supposedly answer questions about how to fill out our tax forms every year.
00:13:23.580But the CRA is just one part of the public service that has decided this is the time to make massive wage demands
00:13:31.580and threaten the withdrawal of their services if they don't get it.
00:13:34.580You know, every sign points to a recession, a recession that may last for years.
00:13:39.580And in fact, the strategy by the Bank of Canada to jack up interest rates is a strategy that will increase unemployment and lead to inflation and unemployment.
00:13:50.580It's a terrible mix. What a time to demand more money from taxpayers.
00:13:55.580And Justin Trudeau, I can tell you right now, will say yes.
00:13:58.580What will the pain be? And are these demands reasonable?
00:14:01.580Here with the facts is the only guy I trust on this because he's not part of a political party.
00:14:09.580He takes no money from the government. And his job is to serve taxpayers.
00:14:13.580It will not surprise you that I'm talking about our friends Franco Teresano of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who joins me now.
00:14:20.580Why is Skype? Franco, great to see you again.
00:14:22.580I have in front of me your latest press release.
00:14:37.580Over three years, they're pushing for up to forty seven percent compensation increase.
00:14:42.580And you're right over those three years, that would cost taxpayers nine point three billion dollars.
00:14:47.580So you ask if it's reasonable. No, it's not reasonable.
00:14:50.580It's unreasonable. It's unaffordable and it's unsustainable.
00:14:54.580Folks, just let that sink in for a second.
00:14:56.580Nine point three billion dollar hit to the taxpayer over three years.
00:14:59.580Now, I don't know about you, Ezra, but I don't know too many people out there who are could afford this type of hit. Right.
00:15:05.580How many Canadians right now are at the grocery store wondering if they can afford the package of ground beef or the jug of milk?
00:15:11.580How many Canadians are out there right now who are worried whether they can afford to fuel up their car with gasoline or how many Canadians out there are worried about losing their homes as mortgage payments go up?
00:15:22.580And now you have some government union negotiators in Ottawa demanding up to forty seven percent compensation increase over three years for a total cost of nine point three billion dollars.
00:15:33.580Nine point three billion. It sounds like an enormous amount, but we're used to billions and even the occasional use of the word trillion.
00:15:41.580But when you break it down to the individual level, that's when it gets shocking.
00:15:44.580Let me quote from your press release. Compensation for each full time federal employee.
00:15:49.580Is one hundred and twenty five thousand three hundred dollars on average.
00:15:56.580When paid pension and other benefits are added up, according to the parliamentary budget officer.
00:16:01.580A hundred and twenty five grand. And that's before they get their raise.
00:16:08.580They get their raise. This is the new ruling class. This is the one percentage.
00:16:12.580I mean, doctors, lawyers, professionals. No, no, no, no, no, no.
00:16:17.580You're a government bureaucrat. You're making one twenty five a year on average.
00:16:23.580That's sure. And they want to raise on top of that.
00:16:27.580The makers versus takers, isn't it? The makers versus takers.
00:16:31.580And let's not forget what happened over the last couple of years.
00:16:34.580Right. If you were a private sector taxpayer, you may have lost your job.
00:16:38.580You may have taken a pay cut. You may have even lost your small business.
00:16:42.580As we look forward, we talked about how people are really struggling to afford the necessities.
00:16:47.580How many small businesses are worried about a possible recession that's right around the corner?
00:16:52.580Well, what happened behind those golden government gates?
00:16:55.580It's federal government employees. More than three hundred thousand federal bureaucrats received at least one raise during the pandemic.
00:17:02.580Ezra, that's anywhere from ninety three to ninety eight percent of all federal bureaucrats received at least one raise during the pandemic.
00:17:09.580Not to mention the feds have dished out more than five hundred million dollars in bonuses during the pandemic years.
00:17:17.580So you have bureaucrats who are not even worried about missing a raise or a bonus demanding huge compensation increase increases from taxpayers who are worried about missing meals.
00:17:29.580Yeah. You know, so many people in the private sector where there was restaurant owners or gym owners or retail shops were crushed.
00:17:36.580And I always said and people were skeptical. I said there are some people who love this pandemic.
00:17:41.580They're the government class, the lockdown class. Not one of them lost a dime.
00:17:46.580A lot of them didn't go to work, but they got paid nonetheless.
00:17:49.580The craziest thing, though, Frank, about your press release, it's this section.
00:17:52.580Let me just read the top of it. I'd love you to tell our viewers the non wage benefits PSAC has demanded include.
00:18:01.580And then you've got a list. So the money is, of course, what most people immediately gravitate to.
00:18:06.580These guys are making one hundred and twenty five grand on average and they want a huge raise.
00:18:11.580All right. But why don't you take us through some of these cuckoo crazy like nutty as a Snickers bar demands and you know they're going to get them.
00:18:21.580Take us through some of these crazy non wage benefits.
00:18:25.580And I think a lot of people in real life don't even have non wage.
00:18:29.580OK, you got health and dental, maybe. But why don't you list some of these crazy things here they're demanding?
00:18:34.580So in the real world, if in the real world you were to ask your boss for some of these non wage benefits that I'm about to list for you, you'd get laughed out of the office.
00:18:43.580These are so crazy. One of them is bureaucrats want more money if they work past 4 p.m.
00:18:49.580And this is for program and administrative services who in the office job isn't working past 4 p.m.
00:18:56.580And these federal bureaucrats want more money to work past 4 p.m.
00:19:00.580Here's another one. These government union negotiators are pushing for an education fund for laid off employees of up to seventeen thousand dollars.
00:19:09.580OK, let me list a few more. They want paid time off of two weeks or of seventy five hours.
00:19:16.580Sorry, annually. They want accrual of four weeks vacation after only four years of service.
00:19:23.580They want overtime paid at double time. And as we can dive into this, but this is the craziest one of them all.
00:19:28.580They want taxpayer funded contribution into a union controlled social justice fund which engages in, quote, advocacy for progressive public policy.
00:19:40.580Now, Ezra, Canadians have a right to advocate for what they believe in, but you don't use government negotiations to take taxpayers money so that you can fund your advocacy.
00:19:51.580Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that's basically code word for an NDP super PAC.
00:19:57.580You know, I there's a moral hazard whenever a government union negotiates with a government in that neither are using their own money.
00:20:05.580I mean, you know, in a private sector situation or in any any other real life negotiation, you're buying and selling a house, let's say both sides.
00:20:15.580It's their it's their own skin in the game here. There's the moral hazard.
00:20:20.580I'm using that word again in that. Why would Justin Trudeau say no if he says no?
00:20:25.580Maybe they're going to strike. Maybe they're going to leak documents on them.
00:20:29.580Maybe they're going to make a fuss. This is his base other than the media.
00:20:33.580I can think of no other part of the society that is more Justin Trudeau's people than this.
00:20:38.580So, of course, he's got every temptation just to say yes, sign the check.
00:20:43.580And these are his allies. These are the people who came out against the truckers in Ottawa.
00:20:48.580These are the people who, of course, they got bonuses and of course they are in favor of lockdowns.
00:20:54.580I don't know. I'm I think he's going to give this to him while the rest of the country goes into recession.
00:20:58.580What do you think? Is there any is there any chance, any sign of any backbone to stand up to this?
00:21:04.580Well, let's make no let's make no mistake about it.
00:21:08.580The reason that these government union negotiators even feel that they can go push for up to forty seven percent compensation increases over three years, which would cost taxpayers nine point three billion dollars.
00:21:19.580The only reason they even think they can make those demands is because of how crazy this government has been spending year after year after year after year.
00:21:28.580If this government wasn't spending so crazy like this, these government union negotiators know they wouldn't be able to push for these demands because they'd be let laughed out of the office.
00:21:38.580Right. But the government has been spending like crazy. Now, here's another important problem is that where is the pushback from the opposition?
00:21:45.580Yeah. Which party out there is pushing back on this?
00:21:50.580Yeah. Maybe I missed a press conference. I don't know. I get paid to watch this kind of stuff.
00:21:54.580Maybe I was sleeping on the job, but I haven't seen a single member of parliament from a single party publicly come out against these government union negotiating demands.
00:22:05.580I mean, of course, Jagmeet Singh, he's he would love the public sector union.
00:22:10.580So he'd probably say to Trudeau, I insist you do this as part of my coalition agreement.
00:22:14.580But you're right. I have not heard the Conservative Party talk about this and maybe they don't want to pick a fight with the unions.
00:22:20.580But look, either you're for the taxpayer or you're not. And it's not like these are, you know, there are certain labor unions in the private sector, working class, blue collar jobs where a union makes some sense.
00:22:32.580But to have a public sector union average income, one hundred and twenty five grand saying we don't want to work after four p.m., we want a left wing super PAC.
00:22:42.580We if the Conservatives can't take a stand against that, I'm worried about that.
00:22:47.580And I'm glad, as always, you point that out, because that's one of the things I love about the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
00:22:52.580They are nonpartisan. So they're never going to give a free ride to the Conservatives. Very important.
00:22:57.580Last word to you. Is this a done deal or do you think there's a chance this will be rolled back?
00:23:02.580Well, you know, I don't have a crystal ball, but that's why it's so important right now for all your viewers to really send a letter, send an email, send a phone call to your member of parliament and tell them to push back.
00:23:12.580You know, that social justice fund, they've used the fund to send their members to climate conferences in Madrid, in Cancun.
00:23:19.580They've even used it to advocate for higher business taxes. It's completely unacceptable.
00:23:23.580And this could cost us billions and billions of dollars over a couple of years.
00:23:27.580Well, you always bring bad news, Franco, but we have to hear it. And so I'm glad you do.
00:23:33.580And you bring it with a smile because you've got that happy warrior spirit, which we love to see.
00:23:37.580It's why we love the Taxpayers Federation. Folks, you can see all their stuff at taxpayer.com.
00:23:43.580Love their website, taxpayer.com. Franco, great to see you. Keep in touch.
00:23:47.580Thanks for having me on. All right. Our pleasure. Stay with us. More ahead.
00:23:51.580Hey, welcome back. Your viewer feedback. Joe says, Ezra, this interview impacted me a lot.
00:24:09.580Xi Van Fleet is possibly giving us the biggest warning of the global threat of communist China, the biggest global threat out there.
00:24:15.580She's absolutely correct. And I'm so glad you tracked her down and talked to her.
00:24:19.580Many people have exposed communist China, but she is one who was there.
00:24:22.580Yes. And I don't know if you're on Twitter, but I highly recommend her Twitter feed.
00:24:27.580She juxtaposes things she saw or heard of in China during the Cultural Revolution with things that are happening now.
00:24:35.580For example, the smashing of old language, the renaming of old streets, children lecturing teachers, like the inversion of things is very powerful.
00:24:47.580So I really encourage you, if you're on Twitter, to follow Xi Van Fleet, Xi Van Fleet.
00:24:53.580KM 002 says, I'm surprised parents were not aware of their kids' school content until the pandemic.
00:24:58.580Don't kids talk to their parents about what they're learning in school?
00:25:02.580Well, what do you learn in school today? Nothing.
00:25:06.580And do you think you're going to get a recitation of the kind of propaganda tactics from class?
00:25:12.580Schools are the worst battleground out there.
00:25:16.580Greg Christopher says the Clinton Foundation set the gold standard for peddling influence at the highest levels.
00:25:21.580This is a feeble copy of that swamp and all NGOs and charities that dabble in politics are now suspect.
00:25:26.580Yeah, well, I mean, that's how Trudeau regards everything.
00:25:29.580A slush fund for him, his family and his party.
00:25:31.580I mean, that's how he treated Katimovic when it was on his board.
00:25:35.580That's how he treated the Trudeau Foundation.
00:25:37.580That's how he treated the WE charities for him and his family.
00:25:40.580I mean, he really has lived his entire life where people give him things for free.
00:25:46.580I think he probably thinks that's normal and how people live.
00:25:51.580Remember that clip I played for you the other day of him saying to kids,
00:25:53.580Hey kids, go ahead and put your college debt on a credit card with 24% interest.
00:25:59.580He said that because I think that's how he thinks money works.
00:26:03.580I don't think he has ever paid a bill in his life.
00:26:06.580And I mean in his life, obviously not as a child.
00:26:09.580And then he had his father's trust fund set up for him with accountants and lawyers.
00:26:14.580I actually don't think he has ever paid a bill in his life.
00:26:18.580And I doubt he's picked up the tab for a dinner either.