Nation-Building or Austerity? Breaking Down Budget 2025 with Michael Harris
Budget 2025 was billed as visionary, but beneath the glossy language lies a familiar mix of restraint, corporate tax incentives, and tough choices for ordinary Canadians. In tonight’s episode, I sit down with Michael Harris to explore what this budget really signals about Mark Carney’s governing philosophy and why so much of it aligns with long-standing Conservative ideas.
We also discuss the dramatic confidence-vote showdown on the Bloc’s amendments, the NDP’s surprising stance, and Pierre Poilievre’s decision to back the Liberals instead of forcing a snap election. It was a moment that raised eyebrows across the country. This episode examines what happened, why it matters, and what it means for Canada’s political landscape.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Opening Monologue
02:20 Michael Harris Introduction
03:40 Sacrifice & Austerity Debate
05:30 Moral Question of Political Sacrifice
07:55 Deficit + Austerity Contradictions
09:15 Worker Protections & Immigration Structure
11:20 Public Sector Layoffs & Automating the State
12:50 Policing, Defence, and Enforcement Spending
15:05 What Leadership Should Look Like
20:30 Canada’s Fiscal Weakness & Debt Dependency
23:10 Climate & Infrastructure Section
31:00 Pierre Poilievre’s Constituency & Sign Reuse Story
33:40 EV Safety / Button Doors Tangent
38:20 Why Poilievre Protected the Liberals
42:50 The Conservative Party’s Collapse of Momentum
45:20 “Carney Is Governing Like a Conservative” Analysis
49:10 What “Canada Strong” Should Mean
50:40 Veterans Section
53:00 The Politicization of Poppies & The Hollow Symbolism of Remembrance Day
57:20 The Hollow Symbolism of Remembrance Day
01:00:30 Online Right-Wing Characters & Grifter Culture
01:09:45 Closing Rants & Internal Conservative Drama
Read Budget 2025 here:
Transcript: Coming Soon!
References: Budget 2025, pp. 1–2, 6, 12, 14, 19, 33, 84, 98, 101, 104, 109, 155, 159, 162, 174, 214, 217)
