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The Liberals have made the middle class the focus of their government, at least as far as their communications strategy goes.

But as we head into their second budget, Canadians at the middle of the income distribution could be forgiven for being puzzled. Although it has been the primary focus of the Liberals’ message, the middle class hasn’t actually been the primary focus of policy attention.

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There have always been some odd elements to the Liberal government’s messaging about the middle class, mainly to do with its reading of recent Canadian economic history.

For example, there was the story told during the campaign of a time when people came of age in an economy where incomes had been rising, only to be disappointed in adulthood by stagnant or declining incomes in an unforgiving labour market. This is a powerful narrative, but it’s not particularly representative of Canadians’ experience — at least, not anymore. The people for whom it would resonate most are in their 60s: these people grew up during the long post-war boom and then had to deal with stagnant and declining incomes during the 20 years spanning 1975-1995. But the workers who entered the labour force during these years certainly aren’t nostalgic for the labour markets of their youths.