Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.

So here we are again, Canada caught up in another squabble with our southern neighbours. This time it’s over that new tax on Big Tech. Folks in Ottawa say it’s only fair, as after all, companies like Google and Facebook haul in piles of money from Canadians, but pay next to nothing back. Makes sense on paper.

But you’ve got to wonder if there’s something else brewing under the surface. Seems to me our Prime Minister, Mr. Carney, might be playing more than just a tax game. Could be he’s trying to look tough for folks here at home, so we all feel he’s finally standing his ground, instead of just nodding along with whatever Washington wants.

Or maybe, just maybe, he’s got his eye on a bigger prize. You see, if trade with the U.S. gets rocky, that opens the door to push harder into deals with the UK, India, France, and even China along with others of course. It’s risky business, sure, but it might just be the kind of gamble he’s willing to take. Then, when Canadians complain about new tariffs on lumber or steel, or what ever, he can stand there and say, well, we’re working on fresh markets, we’re not just tied to one big customer anymore.

I can’t say for sure if that’s smart or just political posturing. But one thing is for sure, I’ve lived long enough to know sometimes it’s both at once. And I also know, that whenever politicians start talking tough, it’s worth paying attention to what they’re NOT saying. Could be we’re all about to pay a bit more at the grocery store, so Carney can polish up his backbone.

At any rate, maybe instead of chasing deals halfway around the world, we ought to be putting more energy into making things here at home. Building up our own industries, supporting local businesses, and growing stronger from the ground up. That in my mind is where real strength lies, not just in playing the global game.

Food for thought, anyway.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

I’m not here to tell folks what to think — just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.”

So here’s the thing, folks. In Ontario, if you go out and buy a fresh steak, some raw chicken, maybe a pork roast to cook at home, there is no tax on it. Not a penny. But if you toss a pack of bacon or a few slices of deli ham in the cart, suddenly you are hit with thirteen percent tax.

And you would think that would be the other way around, wouldn’t you?

Turns out, we are paying more for the stuff that is worse for us, and less for the stuff that is actually real food. Now that might sound a bit backwards, but if you look a little closer, it starts to make perfect sense. Just not in the way most folks might expect.

You see, the government knows exactly what people are buying. They know folks are busy, tired, and looking for something quick. Processed meats, packaged food, ready-to-eat meals, well those are the things that fill the carts. And that is what gets taxed. Not because it is unhealthy, but because it sells.

They will tell you fresh meat is zero-rated because it is a basic grocery item. Sure, that is the reason written on paper. But do not mistake that for looking out for your health. They are not doing you a favour. They are just collecting more$ off what is already flying off the shelves. It is not about steering you toward better choices. It is about taking a cut from the ones you are already making.

And the crazy part? Most folks do not even notice. They just keep paying and moving on, figuring that is how it has always been. But take a second, next time you are at the store. Look at what is taxed and what is not. Real food, the kind you cook from scratch, gets left alone. The quick stuff, the salty stuff, the plastic-wrapped meat packed with preservatives, that is the stuff they are charging you extra for.

So what does that tell you?

It tells me someone is watching what we buy, and they are making money off it. Plain and simple.

Now, I am not saying folks should not buy what they want. That is their choice. But do not think for a second that the government is helping you make better ones. They are just following the money and getting their share along the way.

“Until the next time, keep your mind open and your stories alive.” GW

Only On The Walters Post

I’m not here to tell folks what to think — just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.”

Let me ask you something. If Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, with all the brains, tools, and resources we could ever need, then why are we falling behind when it comes to defending ourselves?

The answer isn’t that we don’t care. The truth is simpler and harder to hear. Yes, we are sort of broke, deeply in debt and stretched thin. But it’s not because we ran out of money. It’s because the people in charge have been wasting what we have, dragging their feet, and putting off the tough decisions for years. They don’t want to admit it, but I will.

Right now, Canada spends about one point four per cent of our GDP on defence. That is far below the NATO goal of two per cent. Meanwhile, countries like Poland, which are nowhere near as wealthy as we are, are spending over four per cent because they know the world is not safe anymore. Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have all met or committed to meeting the two per cent mark. They stepped up. We did not.

But we could. In fact, we could do better than two per cent, that is if we stopped wasting money on things that do not help Canadians, we could be stronger, safer, and more respected. So here is where the money really goes at least from what I found out, and what needs to change.

1. Too Many Government Layers

We have too many departments, too many offices doing the same thing, and too many people pushing paper instead of doing something useful. The government spends over fifty-five billion dollars a year just to run itself. A lot of that is wasted on overlap, slow processes, and things we do not even need anymore.

2. Foreign Aid with No Follow-Up

We send out around seven billion dollars a year in foreign aid. Some of it is good and helps people who truly need it. But a big chunk of it goes to countries with poor records or no accountability. The thing is… Canadians have every right to ask why we are giving away billions, when our own military is underfunded and stretched thin.

3. Reports and Consultants

Instead of fixing problems, governments spend millions studying them. They hire consultants to write long reports and recommendations, then shelve them. That money could go toward real equipment, training, and infrastructure.

4. Travel and Perks for Politicians

While the average Canadian struggles to afford groceries, those in power fly business class, stay in luxury hotels, and collect travel pay. The cost of government travel and perks can run into the hundreds of millions every year.

5. Handouts to Big Corporations

Big companies making billions still get handouts from the government. Oil, auto, and green energy firms, media outlets, and others have all gotten taxpayer support. This adds up to between fifteen and twenty billion dollars a year. That is money going to rich CEOs while our soldiers go without basic gear.

6. Bad Purchasing Decisions

When Canada does try to spend on defence, we often mess it up. Projects take years longer than they should, and cost way more than they were supposed to. We delayed buying new fighter jets for over a decade. We pay more than we should, and get less than we need.

7. Public Sector Wages and Pensions

There are over four hundred thousand federal workers, many earning more than their private sector counterparts, with guaranteed pensions that most people in the real world do not get. Salaries and pensions cost over sixty billion a year. Now here’s the thing, I am not saying slash and burn, but we do need to trim and refocus.

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What We Could Do Instead

If we took just a third of that wasted money and put it to good use, we could not only meet the NATO target of two per cent, we could go beyond it. We could build a modern, well-equipped military. We could protect the Arctic, strengthen our cyber defences, and show the world that Canada is not just a quiet observer.

We could also use some of that money to bring back real manufacturing here at home, secure our energy supply, and invest in real education and science instead of flashy slogans and pet projects.

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Final Word

This is not about war, it’s about being ready, being smart, and being respected. It is about making sure our soldiers have what they need, and that our country can take care of itself in a dangerous world.

The truth is, we can afford it. What we cannot afford is more delay, more waste, and more excuses.

So the next time someone says we cannot afford to step up, ask them where all the money is going now, and why none of it ever seems to make a difference where it matters most.

“That’s how I see it, plain and simple” or “Just my opinion, take it or leave it”? GW