NDP ‘affordability’ tactics politically wise but misdirected

IT is not known whether Premier Wab Kinew is a fan of Isabella M. Weber, a University of Massachusetts associate professor of economics. But even if he does not know about her, Kinew seems to be on the same wavelength.

Last week, Weber wrote a definitive analysis of inflation and its impact on politics for the New York Times. Although it’s worth reading all the way through to the end, the best line was the first one.

“Unemployment weakens governments. Inflation kills them.”

Given his obsession with affordability measures — amplified once again in Tuesday’s speech from the throne — it’s not hard to imagine that underneath Kinew’s modern-cut suits, he is wearing a T-shirt with that adage printed in bold letters.

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