Trump and Turmoil?

Editorial By- Sukhpreet Giani

The year 2017 present uncertainties unlimited! We start 2017 with persistent challenges and potential new difficulties that would attract more attention that host of other concerns. Going by the kind of campaign he had and his recent statement it’s apparent that President Elect Donald Trump who takes office on January 20^th poses one of the biggest challenges not only for 2017 but the years to come. It remains to be seen what stand Donald Trump takes on the issues of taxation, immigration, trade and investment. His decisions and their implementation would affect the world at large and Canada too will not remain unaffected. The response from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a recent interview with Canadian Press about potential impact of Trump’s promised tax cuts on Canada’s efforts to bring in foreign investment dollars says it all. “Let’s not respond too much to hypotheticals,” Trudeau said.“Obviously, you have to be thoughtful about potential paths, but I’m not going to react to an administration that’s not actually in place yet.” While he made a reference of the administration it could not be discounted for intent of Donald Trump.

For Canadians the New Year rings in lot many changes. New taxes and regulations have gone in effect in the City of Toronto and Ontario.  Some relief from soaring electricity rates while pushing up the cost of home heating, and give first-time home buyers a financial break are in store. Transit in Toronto becomes costlier.The province is doubling the maximum refund of the land transfer tax to $ 4000 for first time home buyers, which implies that they won’t pay the tax on the first $ 368,000 of a purchase price. Restaurant chains with 20 or more locations in Ontario now must start posting caloric content on menus as of Jan. 1. Also the travel agents and wholesalers must include the all-in price for their services and vacation packages in all advertising.Child support will no longer be treated as income for people receiving social assistance or disability payments. Also now the She Succession Law Reform Act will allow a child who is conceived through assisted reproduction up to three years after the death of their parent to inherit and seek support from their deceased parent’s estate.

More changes could be unfolding soon. Along with the 150^th anniversary of the Confederation-the birth of Canada as a nation and the 375 anniversary of Montreal, there is political tussle within parties to seek a change in leadership. Two of the opposition parties the Conservatives and New Democratic Party will be choosing new leaders. Canada too could be working together with other nations on the threat posed by ISIS. ISIS was ousted in its last stronghold in Libya in December 2016, but the political stability in the nation is not in sight, with the government of the National Accord in Tripoli struggling to gain a foothold and stability.

G-20 Summit in the north German city of Hamburg in July will pit leaders across the world –some of them for the first time. Trump will get to meet his counterparts for the first time from the rest of the world, and the world would be watching with keen interest the decisions that may emerge on economy and how to tackle the turmoil poised by terrorist group. It could be the stage of the first meeting between Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Donald Trump, unless Prime Minister Modi throws a surprise -what he is known for. Modi’s popularity and digital payment reforms would to be put to test with 5 states in India going to elections in February and March. Uttar Pradesh will elect 403 lawmakers by March; Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand will have simultaneous polls around the same time. Reverses, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, could cripple Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grand plans. Also with Indian elected representatives going to polls to elect the new President and Vice President, new combination and alignment of political forces can’t be ruled out.

Europe will also bolster all the attention in 2017, with Dutch Parliamentary Election to take place in March, April and May would see the voters in France go to the polling booths in France. Come September, Norwegian Parliamentary Elections would take place and in October the Parliamentary Election in Germany would put to test the popularity of Chancellor Angela Merkel, arguably Europe’s most powerful politician who off late has been facing searing attacks from her own party.

Asia too would witness elections like never before.Simultaneous regional elections will take place in seven Indonesian provinces and among 18 cities and 76 districts spread across a total of 28 of the country’s 34 provinces in February. South Korea could witness the conclusion to President Park Geun-hye’s saga when the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove her from office for allegedly taking bribes and other neglect of duty. Presidential elections will be held either way. Singapore would too go for Presidential election where following constitutional amendments the election would be contested by ethnic Malays.

Canadians would have a lot to look for in sports in 2017. City of Winnipeg would host the Canada Summer Games from July 28 to Aug 13 and would have lot to offer. Indians would be looking at the game of cricket with a different angle especially when the country’s top court has taken up the task of cleaning the Board. The year could very well belong to Trump, Trudeau and hope the turmoil is kept out.