Inflation is at the top of everyone’s minds right now, but a major question should be forming about the truthfulness of media sources, banks, and corporations about what is causing it.
If you watch the evening news, you will be bombarded with stories about the inflation crisis, how much groceries are rising in cost but also how we got here. The Conservative Party and media outlets which often pedal its views would have you blame the Liberals and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for inflation. Taking on the national debt and giving it to citizens caused inflation. An argument that perhaps would make sense if this crisis was unique to Canada, but because it is international and affecting countries that didn’t get any benefits throughout the whole pandemic this explanation doesn’t tread water very well.
The amount of money given out to average citizens pales in comparison to the bailouts which were given to corporations throughout the pandemic, bailouts which largely were given to companies that saw record profits during the crisis whilst small businesses collapsed and their market share was eaten up by the likes of Wal-Mart, Loblaws and fast food joints. Which makes no mention of the fact that corporate payroll to executives increased dramatically in the same period of time, further concentrating wealth among a few Canadians while 1-in-5 Canadians struggle to buy groceries every month.
While Canadians struggle to pay for groceries among dwindling wages and a housing crisis that has seen rents skyrocketing even in rural communities, Loblaws has seen profits increase by up to 40%. Grocery stores have risen the prices of items in an attempt to keep up with the inflationary costs, yet their profits on those same groceries are double the inflation rate. These corporations which receive our money in bailouts despite being profitable are now turning around and price-gouging everyday Canadians to increase their profit even more.
At a certain point, things need to change. Canadians are going homeless despite having jobs and struggling to feed themselves despite putting in a hard day’s work. Conservative provincial governments are busting unions in an attempt to appease corporate donors. The federal government isn’t offering any real relief to Canadians either. The Liberal plan for first-time home buyers is one that is only useful to a small sector of citizens who were already close to being able to own a home. Our government and the corporations which are quickly killing off their competition are both conspiring to become richer on the backs of everyday Canadians. Whether that is a conspiracy they work on together or not, isn’t of much concern since it affects the working class all the same.
Fundamental change is needed to prevent the loss of the Canada we know. We are a wealthy country, and people working full-time jobs; be it construction workers or fast food workers, deserve to be able to live comfortably for doing their job. The various provincial governments and the federal government need to come up with a scheme to solve the housing crisis. A simple scheme is the mass construction of government-owned apartment buildings with a subsidized rent scheme. Build them in groups of apartments so that in the buildings you can include a small clinic, government offices like Service Canada, and employment help.
While this might bring the brutalist architecture of the USSR or East Germany to mind, it is undeniable that it solves homelessness. These aren’t free apartments, they pay what you are able to apartments. This allows young people to have affordable housing and also save up money, allowing seniors to retire without fear of becoming homeless or losing independence. It is also cheaper for our nation to house all homeless people than it is to continue allowing it. Eliminating homelessness reduces medical costs, reduces the need for policing in certain areas, helps prevent communicable diseases, reduces drug use on the streets, and also gives fellow human beings happiness.
History has shown time and again that surges in public works increase GDP, increase employment and overall build up our society. It isn’t socialism to say all of us, regardless of race or religion or province share a common nation and our common humanity, something that should never be forgotten. A doctor making $120,000/year is closer to a homeless woman than they are to a billionaire. A fact you should remember when you cast judgment on your fellow human. We can build a better future for Canada together through projects like guaranteed housing in all cities, high-speed rail construction nationwide, investments in green energy projects and nuclear energy and rebuilding robust unions and co-ops across the nation.
Layman's Terms 