captloadie said:
I think maybe your definition of the middle class might need updating. $13000K to remove an old deck and replace it isn't that far off if you are paying a contractor. I'm sure the "swing set" is probably a city park quality affair, which will serve future PMs, so, once again, not that expensive all things considered. I know plenty of older, retired middle class people who own golf carts, and lots of younger families who own $12-15K quads, side by sides etc. Lots of middle class folks getting into cottages, and installing boats launches, docks, etc.
Sure, not many middle class people pay to groom a ski trail. I'll give you that.
but how many of them are actually paying for these items rather than going into debt for them? According to some reports the middle class is heavily in debt and sinking.
I have the view point that yes we need to maintain these places and it is well overdue but this is beyond that.
swing set - I lived in PMQs and rented places. I also bought a swing set for my kids (a lot cheaper) and installed them myself. My landlords didn't pay for the installation. Serving future PMs is a maybe and really has no bearing as it is still his choice to have it. Maybe the next PM will insist it is a hazard and have it removed as it became termite infested and is falling apart.
golf cart. - as someone mentioned this is an active family so why do they need a $5k golf cart. Walk or pay for it yourself. Enjoy the active lifestyle.
$8500 for new boat racks - possibly part of the maintenance that was long overdue.
$13'000 for a new deck - again possible if it was done to the original design and not extravagantly changed which most likely happened. We will pay to restore and you pay for everything you want beyond that.
$4000 to wire a new sauna - not thinking this is maintenance on a house that is so old. This sounds like an I want this. Sure you could try it with a landlord but I am betting that if they did agree you are footing the bill and not them. I wonder how much of the house could have been rewired for that amount.
$20'000 to groom ski trails - nope. Not buying it at all. ski on the clean and natural snow like so many skiers want. My sister and her husband loved getting out on the trails first before anyone could groom and ruin it. According to them real skiers don't want groomed.
Also middle class is such a wildly loose term as it really isn't the same everywhere. According to StatsCan in 2016 using 2015 data collected the middle class for overall Canada was $33-130k. Quite a wide spread. Then they break it down into areas:
Vancouver - $31-137k
Fort McMurray - $91-297k
Regina - $40-141k
Toronto - $35-147k
Montreal - $29-116k
Thetford Mines - $25-87k
Fredericton - $32-119k
Charlottetown - $30-114k
Halifax - $32-125k
St John's - $35-147k
The PM once described a typical middle-class Canadian family of four as one with $90,000 in household income.
So when talking about the middle class I take it that he is referring to the high end of the scale and not the bottom or even where I am at.