Curse of Politics Trump Made Me Do It (TMMDI)
Nov 3, 2025
The hosts explore the government's budget framing and its disconnect with expected cuts and investments. They analyze the challenges of securing support from opposition parties like the NDP and the implications of potential job cuts. Discussions also include the influence of Trump on Canada-U.S. trade talks, with debates on how to respond without sacrificing Canadian jobs. The panel emphasizes the need for strategic provincial involvement in negotiations and the balance between long-term trade diversification and immediate political needs.
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Budget Needs A Unifying Narrative
- The budget's two pillars—spend less and invest more—look contradictory without a clear unifying rationale.
- Scott Reid argues the unifying narrative should be: "Trump made me do it" to justify both cuts and investments.
Use External Pressure To Sell Trade-Offs
- Sell the budget by explicitly blaming external U.S. pressures so Canadians accept trade-offs.
- Use Trump as the political permission to justify cuts and targeted investments, Reid advised.
Poor Pre-Budget Prep Raises Vote Risk
- The government enters budget week with weak pre-rollout and unclear vote math.
- Corey Hogan warns they lack a clear partner and face high risk due to poor opposition outreach.