After the release of Monday’s Fall Economic Statement, MP Jeremy Patzer saw a problem in the federal government’s priorities.
In the afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland presented the statement to the House of Commons. In total, it includes a record deficit of nearly $400 billion for the current fiscal year. Despite a massive amount of dollars spent, the representative for Cypress Hills – Grasslands does not think it properly addresses what Canadians are facing in the Southwest or across the country.
“The Liberal government has failed to deliver the type of response people need,” said Patzer.
“This fiscal update further proves that they have no plan to help Canadians get their lives back,” he continued. “During the spring and summer, Canadians did their part to contain COVID-19 and buy time for the government to protect people’s health and livelihoods by securing rapid tests and a vaccine. Once again, the government is failing them.”
Following Minister Freeland’s speech, all opposition parties had an opportunity to provide feedback.
On behalf of the Official Opposition, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole called the government’s previous and current approach “erratic and confused” throughout the past year’s hardship. He specifically highlighted the ongoing lack of meaningful support for energy workers, along with the struggles of small businesses, agriculture, hospitality and other industries.
“Minister Freeland made a point of mentioning farming as part of her family history,” recalled Patzer. “Yet, farmers have had the hardest time getting heard by this government before and during COVID. They keep getting very little support compared to what’s needed – and even then, it comes a long time after they asked for it.”
Along with other members of the Official Opposition, Patzer is unable to support the government’s proposal.
“As things currently stand, the Liberals are way off base,” he said. “They’re choosing to focus on their own political projects and campaign announcements. They say they want to rebuild the economy, when we should be saving it. Meanwhile, Canada is falling behind.”
The federal government is expected to introduce legislation in Parliament to implement new measures from the Fall Economic Statement before the end of the year.
