The article discusses the potential risks of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government attempting to buy votes with billions of dollars in spending leading up to the budget. The author, Philip Cross, argues that this approach is unlikely to succeed and may even backfire, citing the example of former Premier Kathleen Wynne’s failed attempt to buy the Ontario electorate in 2017.

Cross highlights several issues with Trudeau’s government, including:

1. Poorly administered spending initiatives: The article notes that many government programs have been poorly implemented, leading to inefficiencies and wastefulness.
2. Inadequate attention to real problems: Cross argues that the government has focused on easy-to-solve problems, such as reducing child poverty through transfer payments, rather than addressing deeper issues like poor parenting or lack of access to nutritious food.
3. Unresponsive bureaucracy: The author suggests that the rapidly growing ranks of civil servants are becoming increasingly disconnected from the notion of public service.

Cross also notes that a clear majority of Canadians now say that government spending and deficits are too high, and that everyday concerns have shifted to issues like high interest rates and living costs. He concludes that Trudeau’s attempt at vote-buying is unlikely to succeed and may leave a legacy of a divided country and a faltering economy.

The article provides an analysis of the potential risks of Trudeau’s government attempting to buy votes with increased spending, highlighting the importance of addressing real problems and implementing well-administered programs.