John Hjorth Posted March 25 Posted March 25 27 minutes ago, james22 said: Yeah, James [ @james22 ], Any of us investing in Canada are screwed, doomed. It's doomed to go hell. Meanwhile Brookfield and the Canadian banking oligopoly are continuing to deliver, as they have for the last decade, and more. - - - o 0 o - - - James [ @james22 ], I'm still happy to see you back again on CofBF, kicking a**!
SharperDingaan Posted March 25 Posted March 25 (edited) That 20.7% for the US is mostly the contribution from ripping off all those millions of illegals ..... Now deported. Edit: On the agricultural side; paying < minimum wage, not paying at all under threat of deportation, scalping on cheque clearing and money transfers, overcharging on substandard accommodation, etc, etc; lot of others, on the manufacturing side as well. Take away that abused labour, and you ain't getting 20.7% growth. SD Edited March 26 by SharperDingaan
John Hjorth Posted March 25 Posted March 25 (edited) 41 minutes ago, SharperDingaan said: That 20.7% for the US is mostly the contribution from ripping off all those millions of illegals ..... Now deported. SD SD [ @SharperDingaan ], As a Northern European citizen asking, Your above post does not exactly read nice. What is your problem with Americans? -As a Canadadian citizen, you're already deep in taking advantage of Americans, aren't you?! Edited March 25 by John Hjorth
SharperDingaan Posted March 26 Posted March 26 (edited) 14 hours ago, John Hjorth said: What is your problem with Americans? -As a Canadadian citizen, you're already deep in taking advantage of Americans, aren't you?! They've got broad shoulders .... they'll be fine . Lots of US friends; whereas the government ... not so much a fan. The US has a great many very real problems, they are getting a lot worse, and they are spilling over into neighbour's. While we wish them the best, it is hard to see how it ends well, or without another Kennedy. Sadly, the best that we can do is a better boat, against the day the sh1te hits the fan. SD Edited March 26 by SharperDingaan
Ghost Posted March 27 Posted March 27 Not sure if this was posted elsewhere, but this is a fantastic speech given by Mr. Poilievre.
bargainman Posted March 28 Posted March 28 On 3/25/2026 at 3:08 PM, John Hjorth said: Yeah, James [ @james22 ], Any of us investing in Canada are screwed, doomed. It's doomed to go hell. Meanwhile Brookfield and the Canadian banking oligopoly are continuing to deliver, as they have for the last decade, and more. - - - o 0 o - - - James [ @james22 ], I'm still happy to see you back again on CofBF, kicking a**! This is a pretty good overview of the productivity crisis from about a year ago. Quick summary from gemini Key Factors Driving the Crisis: Weak Output: Canada's productivity has dropped from 88% of US levels to just 71% in 2022, placing it behind almost every other G7 country (0:18-0:30). Labor Mismatch: A high rate of immigration brings skilled workers, but many are stuck in low-wage jobs that do not utilize their expertise, such as trained engineers delivering food or foreign-trained nurses not working in healthcare (1:38-2:49). Lack of Competition: Competition in key sectors like telecommunications, banking, and groceries is dropping, which reduces the pressure on companies to innovate (3:05-3:52). Low Investment: Canadian firms are lagging behind G7 peers in investing in machinery, equipment, and technology (like AI), and have very low spending on research and development (4:02-5:42).
bargainman Posted March 28 Posted March 28 On 3/25/2026 at 3:27 PM, SharperDingaan said: That 20.7% for the US is mostly the contribution from ripping off all those millions of illegals ..... Now deported. Edit: On the agricultural side; paying < minimum wage, not paying at all under threat of deportation, scalping on cheque clearing and money transfers, overcharging on substandard accommodation, etc, etc; lot of others, on the manufacturing side as well. Take away that abused labour, and you ain't getting 20.7% growth. SD I'm not sure if you're just being hyperbolic or if you're serious. But most estimates seem to place direct farm output at about 1% of gdp, and more overall food production related aspects at anywhere from 5 to 15%. I have a hard time believing that 20% growth had much to do with < minimum wage workers.
DooDiligence Posted March 28 Posted March 28 https://www.cfr.org/articles/how-does-immigration-affect-us-economy
SharperDingaan Posted March 28 Posted March 28 (edited) 9 hours ago, bargainman said: I'm not sure if you're just being hyperbolic or if you're serious. But most estimates seem to place direct farm output at about 1% of gdp, and more overall food production related aspects at anywhere from 5 to 15%. I have a hard time believing that 20% growth had much to do with < minimum wage workers. GDP Growth reflects productivity (more goods for sale), and the greater export of those goods (competitiveness). Goods produced by either machine (robot, software, reused rockets (SpaceEx), etc.), or humans (crops, retail, nursing, manufacturing unskilled/semi-skilled labour, etc.). The US made a lot of lot of goods by machine, cheap enough that the world wanted to buy them; and didn't have to pay as much as it should have for the manual labour used (use/abuse of illegals, etc). That labour saving pushing GDP higher. With today's tariffs; US goods are now more expensive to make, not as globally competitive, and buyers have active incentive to diversify away from the US as much as possible. US deportations also reducing the cheap labour pool, and pushing up costs. Today's GDP growth star (US) .... becoming tomorrows dog. Today's dog (Canada) ... becoming tomorrows star as greater volumes of oil sell to the world at higher prices, using pretty much the same number of people. CAD progressively strengthening against USD. Most everywhere you look, the name of the game is distrust and reduced exposure to the US. Wherever possible, supply chains permanently diversifying reliance upon US sources, moving away from USD pricing, and engaging in tariff free trade with each other wherever practical. Many already avoid tourism is the US, boycott US produce purchase, etc ..... were tariffs to go to zero tomorrow, it isn't going back to what it was. Obscure linkages, highly unlikely to change the mind of anyone in the US, but it really doesn't have to. She still gets to go to the ball, but all the other girls at the party progressively get more dances at her expense. SD Edited March 28 by SharperDingaan
Spooky Posted March 28 Posted March 28 On 3/24/2026 at 3:52 AM, FCharlie said: Just curious, any of you guys in the GTA? I am. I'm downtown near Trinity Bellwoods.
Spooky Posted March 28 Posted March 28 3 hours ago, SharperDingaan said: GDP Growth reflects productivity (more goods for sale), and the greater export of those goods (competitiveness). Goods produced by either machine (robot, software, reused rockets (SpaceEx), etc.), or humans (crops, retail, nursing, manufacturing unskilled/semi-skilled labour, etc.). The US made a lot of lot of goods by machine, cheap enough that the world wanted to buy them; and didn't have to pay as much as it should have for the manual labour used (use/abuse of illegals, etc). That labour saving pushing GDP higher. With today's tariffs; US goods are now more expensive to make, not as globally competitive, and buyers have active incentive to diversify away from the US as much as possible. US deportations also reducing the cheap labour pool, and pushing up costs. Today's GDP growth star (US) .... becoming tomorrows dog. Today's dog (Canada) ... becoming tomorrows star as greater volumes of oil sell to the world at higher prices, using pretty much the same number of people. CAD progressively strengthening against USD. Most everywhere you look, the name of the game is distrust and reduced exposure to the US. Wherever possible, supply chains permanently diversifying reliance upon US sources, moving away from USD pricing, and engaging in tariff free trade with each other wherever practical. Many already avoid tourism is the US, boycott US produce purchase, etc ..... were tariffs to go to zero tomorrow, it isn't going back to what it was. Obscure linkages, highly unlikely to change the mind of anyone in the US, but it really doesn't have to. She still gets to go to the ball, but all the other girls at the party progressively get more dances at her expense. SD This is a good take. Looking at straight GDP per capita between US and Canada without digging into it further is naive. Sure, Canada's productivity has not been great, we have always had a 20% productivity gap with the US but so has the rest of the G7. The US GDP per capita figures don't include all the illegal immigrants which were the backbone of many industries providing cheap labour. In terms of legal migration, Canada, a country 10% the size of the US, was letting in 4x the amount of immigrants as the US in terms of percentage of population. These migrants need time to integrate into the economy, there will be a lag until they can reach full productivity. The good news is most of these migrants are high skilled workers. We have also always had a problem with brain drain in Canada where some of our best and brightest people are attracted to the US. I'm guessing this has and will not be as big of an issue, the US now starting to run into a brain drain issue of its own where scientists etc. are leaving. If you are the most talented people in the world who wants to go the the US anymore? I like the direction that Canada is on much more than the US. Taking the opposite approach of trying to build more international relationships and free trade agreements. It will be a bumpy road ahead but we will be better off in the long run compared to the US nuking its international relationships.
SharperDingaan Posted March 28 Posted March 28 (edited) Brain drain. It used to be that the US benefited 'cause the money, freedom to do the research, and ability to work with the best in the world were there. Now the money is restricted (for classified purposes only), you are much more constrained (outside of classified research), and many of the best (outside of classified research) can no longer travel to the US (visa refusals/restrictions)... either for work, or to attend academic conferences. You work in a Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, etc; funded by globally integrated Horizons grants instead. Their loss .... SD Edited March 29 by SharperDingaan
mcliu Posted March 30 Posted March 30 On 3/28/2026 at 1:39 PM, Spooky said: In terms of legal migration, Canada, a country 10% the size of the US, was letting in 4x the amount of immigrants as the US in terms of percentage of population. These migrants need time to integrate into the economy, there will be a lag until they can reach full productivity. The good news is most of these migrants are high skilled workers. LOL
Parsad Posted March 30 Author Posted March 30 https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/30/travel/canadian-citizenship-by-descent-americans Cheers!
cubsfan Posted March 30 Posted March 30 1 hour ago, Parsad said: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/30/travel/canadian-citizenship-by-descent-americans Cheers! Lucky for you guys!
John Hjorth Posted March 30 Posted March 30 1 hour ago, Parsad said: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/30/travel/canadian-citizenship-by-descent-americans Cheers! 1 minute ago, cubsfan said: Lucky for you guys! It's not going to work out well! -All those obese Americans overeating superprocessed food, burgers, fries, etc, not exercising, eating drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, moving northbound will move the center gravity of the Earth, so it gets out of orbit!
cubsfan Posted March 30 Posted March 30 2 minutes ago, John Hjorth said: It's not going to work out well! -All those obese Americans overeating superprocessed food, burgers, fries, etc, not exercising, eating drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, moving northbound will move the center gravity of the Earth, so it gets out of orbit! Especially loading up on that poutine stuff!
John Hjorth Posted March 30 Posted March 30 7 minutes ago, cubsfan said: Especially loading up on that poutine stuff! Mike [ @cubsfan ], That poutine stuff available in Canada certainly won't do it better! -Mike [ @cubsfan ], we need to do something about it! - The question is just what?!
Gregmal Posted March 31 Posted March 31 7 minutes ago, John Hjorth said: Mike [ @cubsfan ], That poutine stuff available in Canada certainly won't do it better! -Mike [ @cubsfan ], we need to do something about it! - The question is just what?!
cubsfan Posted March 31 Posted March 31 4 minutes ago, Gregmal said: Haha - Greg knows.. I've had it a couple times - like eating 2 Whoppers from Burger King!
Parsad Posted March 31 Author Posted March 31 37 minutes ago, cubsfan said: Especially loading up on that poutine stuff! Ah, other than myself, most Canadians are skinnier than Americans! It's because our dinner plates and portion sizes are still normal dinner plates and portion sizes. By the way, proper poutine is delicious...especially after a hangover! Cheers!
Parsad Posted March 31 Author Posted March 31 18 minutes ago, cubsfan said: Haha - Greg knows.. I've had it a couple times - like eating 2 Whoppers from Burger King! Go to a good place that makes proper Belgium style fries (skin on, like Kennebec potatoes) and use actual Montreal cheese curds...enough real beef gravy to cover the curds and fries but not too much! Montreal makes a really good "smoke meat" one where they have cubes of brisket/smoked meat in the poutine. It's crazy good on a cold, snowy night! Don't eat the shit from Burger King, KFC or somewhere...that's not poutine...like eating processed cheese and calling it gruyere! Cheers!
cubsfan Posted March 31 Posted March 31 48 minutes ago, Parsad said: Ah, other than myself, most Canadians are skinnier than Americans! It's because our dinner plates and portion sizes are still normal dinner plates and portion sizes. By the way, proper poutine is delicious...especially after a hangover! Cheers! No doubt. Americans are fat..
bizaro86 Posted March 31 Posted March 31 1 hour ago, John Hjorth said: It's not going to work out well! -All those obese Americans overeating superprocessed food, burgers, fries, etc, not exercising, eating drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, moving northbound will move the center gravity of the Earth, so it gets out of orbit! All joking aside, I think this is a fairly serious issue. There's a real adverse selection issue. Poor (and especially the very sick poor) are way better off in Canada. If you have no/crappy health insurance and a serious illness, if you have a Canadian ancestor you're way better off moving to Canada for socialized health care. But rich people are quite a bit more likely to stay in the US.
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