Made-in-Canada Inflation: Ottawa’s Role in Your High Bills & Wab Kinew's Video

In the latest episode of Inside Politics, host Kevin Klein and Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky, KC and Royce Koop argued that Canada’s affordability crisis is overwhelmingly a made-in-Canada disaster, driven by Ottawa’s policies—not by Donald Trump, U.S. tariffs, or external forces.

Klein opened by challenging the popular narrative that Canadians are paying more because of U.S. trade policy. Roughly 90% of goods traded under the Canada–U.S.–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA) are tariff-free, he noted, meaning federal policy in Ottawa bears primary responsibility for sky-high prices at the pump and in the grocery aisle.

Pinsky was blunt: responsibility for inflation “lies entirely with both the fiscal and monetary policy out of Ottawa,” pointing to massive COVID-era overspending, persistent deficit spending, and ballooning debt under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government. With CUSMA up for review in 2026, he warned that a “weak government in Canada” could face a ruthless renegotiation if Trump returns to the White House.

Koop highlighted how bad things have become for ordinary Canadians, citing Abacus data showing over half of Canadians are now focused on basic survival needs—food, shelter, and personal safety—rather than the aspirations expected in a wealthy democracy. “We should be doing so much better in this country,” he said. “What a shame.”

The panel tied the affordability crisis directly to Canada’s crushing tax burden. Klein described layer upon layer of taxation—municipal fees, carbon taxes, and levies “on everything that moves and everything that stands still.” Pinsky noted a recent study showing taxes now consume the largest share of Canadians’ paycheques, more than food or housing.

The discussion then turned to Manitoba, where Premier Wab Kinew released a light-hearted video celebrating a new liquor trailer beside a Costco, declaring, “Life is good in Manitoba.” Klein contrasted that with 3% inflation in Manitoba, boarded-up local businesses, and one of the weakest economies in North America. “You didn’t cure cancer,” Klein said. “You opened a trailer that sells booze.”

Both guests warned that high taxes, weak growth, and performative politics are driving skilled immigrants and Canadians alike to leave for lower-tax jurisdictions such as the United States or even Ecuador. Pinsky argued that Canadians themselves must stop rewarding political showmanship: “We have a lot of termites in Ottawa and in our legislatures. It’s got to stop before it’s too late.”

#canada #canadianpolitics #politics #markcarney #wabkinew #inflation