James Bareman

There is not one metric today that is better than when @stephenharper led Canada. More than a decade of Liberals and Canada has been in a steady state of decline. Happiness Levels Canada's ranking in the World Happiness Report has declined significantly since 2015. In the 2015 report, Canada ranked 5th globally. By 2024, it had fallen to 15th, with young people under 30 ranking 58th, among the worst global declines. In 2025, Canada dropped further to 18th, marking its lowest position since polling began in 2005, and was labeled one of the "largest losers" in happiness over the past two decades. This trend contrasts with earlier stability; for instance, Canada ranked 6th in 2013. Cost of Living The Consumer Price Index (CPI) provides a historical view of cost-of-living changes. From 2006 to 2026, Canada's CPI (base 2002=100) rose from around 109 in 2006 to 165 in 2026, reflecting cumulative inflation of about 51%. Annual inflation rates varied: under Harper (2006-2015), averages hovered around 1.5-2%, with a spike to 2.9% in 2011 but a low of 0.3% in 2009 amid the financial crisis. Under Trudeau (2016-2025), inflation averaged higher, peaking at 6.8% in 2022, then easing to 2.4% in 2024 and 1.9% in 2025. Overall, the all-items CPI increased from 141.6 in 2021 to 164.2 in 2025, with food up 24% and shelter up 23% in that period. This has eroded purchasing power, with real wages struggling to keep pace in recent years. Healthcare Surveys and Wait Times Healthcare satisfaction and access have deteriorated. In 2024, only 45% of Canadians reported satisfaction with wait times for initial specialist consultations, down from higher levels pre-2015. A 2022 poll found just 15% satisfied with access to care, compared to 29% in the U.S. Wait times for procedures have nearly tripled since the early 1990s, rising by one-third post-pandemic. The Fraser Institute's 2025 report estimates Canadians waited for 1.4 million procedures, with median wait times from GP referral to treatment at 27.7 weeks—up from 19 weeks in 2015 and far higher than 9.3 weeks in 1993. Under Harper, wait times were targeted with $1B investments, stabilizing around 18-19 weeks by 2014. International comparisons show Canada with the longest specialist waits among Commonwealth countries (62% wait >1 month in 2020). A 2026 CIHI update indicates only 8/10 patients receive priority procedures within benchmarks, but overall satisfaction remains low. Additional Metrics for Context GDP per Capita Growth: Annual real GDP per capita growth averaged 0.5% under Harper (2006-2015), but slowed to 0.3% under Trudeau (2015-2024)—the worst among recent long-serving PMs. Adjusted for population surges, per-person output stagnated or fell in 8 of the last 9 quarters into 2025. Canada's gap with the U.S. widened from ~20% behind in 2015 to over 40% by 2024. Federal Debt Levels Debt exploded under Trudeau, from $628.9B CAD in 2015 to $1.17T by 2023 (86% increase), with deficits every year, peaking at $314B in 2020-21. Under Harper, debt rose from $458B in 2008 to $617B in 2015 amid the crisis, but returned to surplus ($1.9B) in 2014-15. Total debt is projected at $2.1T by 2024/25. Housing Affordability The Bank of Canada's Housing Affordability Index shows worsening conditions, with housing costs as a share of disposable income rising from ~35% in 2015 to over 50% by 2024. RBC's measure hit 63.7% in Q4 2023 (worst-ever), easing slightly to 59.5% in Q2 2024, but still near peaks. House prices outpaced income by 37% since 2015; the price-to-income ratio jumped from ~9 in 2007 to 16 in 2022. Real Wages Growth Inflation-adjusted hourly wages grew 1.04% annually under Harper (2007-2015), outpacing the 0.68% under Trudeau's first term (2015-2019). Overall, wages rose 2.6% in real terms from 2014-2015 (Harper's last year), but growth slowed post-2015 amid higher inflation. So, where did ALL the money the Liberals spent go?