Morneau, who ran human resources services firm Morneau Shepell before going into politics in 2015 — subsequently resigning his seat and the finance portfolio in August 2020 — made the remarks in a lengthy prepared speech for an address at the C.D. Howe Institute’s annual directors’ dinner Wednesday evening in Toronto. It was Morneau’s first major speech since leaving politics.
Indeed, when Morneau resigned amid the WE Charity scandal in the summer of 2020, Ian Russell, then chief executive of the Investment Industry Association of Canada, said Morneau’s tenure had been “disappointing” on issues including business taxes. He also cited competitiveness, and foreign investment.
“That might help you sell a few more memberships. It might even help you win an election. But when you put ‘exciting the base’ ahead of crafting good policy … when you cynically pander to conspiracy theorists … you are doing incalculable harm to the country you claim to love and to the people you seek to lead.”
Other targets of his speech included the “politicization” and divisiveness of debate, which he said isn’t inevitable despite a system that is partisan and adversarial by design to ensure government is held to account. At the time of his resignation from politics, Morneau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were being probed by the federal ethics commissioner over family and personal ties to WE, which had been handed a lucrative student grants contract at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Morneau has lost all credibility and should never be heard from again
Canada has a competitive tax rate but it’s widely reported that his company is using Barbados for tax privileges
There is a mandate of 2% inflation- bank printed money like crazy to support liberal handouts - clearly contradicts its mandate- and you are saying it’s independent!
This is the worst fucking story I've ever read.
WE don't love Bill like he would like.
Virtually every party opposes productivity, what did he expect?
'Our Liberal policies were a failure because they weren't embraced by people that actually have to work for a living....'
Morneau always seemed clueless. Addled. Imagine someone with his net worth taking free anything from the Kielburgers. That just shouts stupid.
They’re starting to shat their pants over Pierre. I’m sure their internal polling is showing they can’t beat him.
Honestly, who cares what this guy has to say. Called Canadian small business owners 'tax cheats'.
Pfff! Who in their right mind would even listen to anything he spews
This is not well researched. Bill Morneau never ran Morneau Shepell. He had a token job but he was not responsible for its success.
REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE BESTIES? NOT ANYMORE!🤣
Speaking of unhelpful. Thanks for coming out.
Trudeau govt was also hostile to business. Certainly lower taxes not only issue, but our tax levels are uncompetitive. However lowering won't fix all that ails us, but should be part of a larger package with many other aspects too.