Garth Turner

1 day ago | niagaranow.com | Garth Turner

The incineration of Glencairn Estate was a tragedy. The way it was first reported was not. That initial call came from across the river. From America. New York State. Lewiston. The 1832 white heritage Queenston gem may be lost. Damage is extensive and the fire marshal is poking around. But the fact folks opposite took quick action when they saw the flames lick says much about the relationship that’s existed for more than a century and a half. OK, they attacked and pillaged us in 1814.

1 day ago | greaterfool.ca | Garth Turner

Here we go again. Knowing they were about to get the brown end of the electoral stick, previous Con leaders Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole tried to scare people by saying Libs had plans to tax home equity. They lost. No tax happened. None had been proposed. But that’s not stopped the river of dread from flowing again. Days ago, speaking to a roomful of Toronto wrinklies, leader Pierre Poilievre pulled it out once more. The Carney guys, he said, will have no option but to start Hoovering houses.

2 days ago | greaterfool.ca | Garth Turner

Six days to vote and the last major party is releasing its plan. Tax cuts, spending cuts, frugality, belt-tightening and less is more. In another time, this makes sense. But not this time. At least, not if you want to get elected. Canadians have lost confidence in much around them. Just look at the pace of real estate sales. In the GTA, for example, they’re 40% below the five-year average and half of the ten-year norm. About 10,000 homes should sell in an April.

3 days ago | greaterfool.ca | Garth Turner

He wouldn’t. Would he? As stock markets flirt with a bear, bonds are sold off, the US dollar fades and a global trade war gathers… is Donald Trump on the cusp of nuking the Fed? As we reminded you last week, this is the ‘nightmare scenario’ analysts have been theorizing. But theory no longer. If the American president moves to take over and politicize monetary policy – as Pierre Poilievre has suggested in Canada – Mr. Market could go postal.

4 days ago | greaterfool.ca | Garth Turner

Eight more sleeps ’til the ruler is chosen. Everywhere comes word advance polls are jammed. What does that mean? Conventional wisdom is that people are motivated to vote – and do so as soon as possible – when they crave change. So those long lines should be good for the Cons, after three terms of the other dudes. But things are not conventional these days. This sis more an election about America than Canada.