When the Prime Minister stood in front of Canadians and spoke about having a “Team Canada” approach to fighting the COVID-19 health and economic crises, I shared the frustration and skepticism of many Western Canadians.
Of course, provincial and federal governments, businesses, health care workers and everyday Canadians would need to come together as a nation to have any chance of overcoming these challenges.
However, without the federal government taking into consideration the needs of all Canadians, including from the West, this “Team Canada” approach would amount to nothing more than a catchy slogan.
Unfortunately, it seems that the Trudeau Government has once again left the West to sit on the sidelines instead of letting it play a significant role in getting through the pandemic.
When the government put out a call for business owners to retool and begin producing personal protective equipment (PPE), Western Canadian business owners jumped at the opportunity to not only get their employees back to work, but also to serve their country and fellow Canadians.
I’ve spoken to business owners from my riding in southwest Saskatchewan who were eager to begin providing PPE to the federal government. They were shocked when the government never replied to their offer or were simply told, “Your help isn’t needed at this time.”
A quick look through the public list of government contracts related to COVID-19 shows dozens of deals that the government struck with businesses located in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, with few located in Saskatchewan, Alberta or Manitoba.
The lack of Western Canadian representation is even more surprising, when the government quickly struck deals with businesses that didn’t even have any manufacturing facilities located in Canada, such as the 10-year, $133 million deal made with AMD Medicom, based in Quebec.
Furthermore, the equipment being procured by the Canadian government is still being mostly sourced from abroad, with only 40 per cent being sourced from within Canada.
At a time when millions of Canadians are out of work and local business owners have offered to help with the production of PPE, the government has still chosen to look elsewhere.
One would think that the government would source most of its equipment domestically in order to provide Canadians with desperately needed jobs, ensure the quality of the equipment being procured and avoid funding potentially unethical and inhumane sources of labour.
Instead of relying on our hardworking, innovative Western Canadian business owners, the government turned a blind eye to their offers for help.
Sadly, I cannot say that I am at all surprised that the government has largely left out the West in its “Team Canada” approach. After all, this is the same government that promised that help was hours, possibly days away for the oil and gas industry. Until the government finally taps into Western Canadians’ potential, there will never be a true “Team Canada” approach.
I am excited to have the opportunity to work with our new leader, Erin O’Toole, to fight for all Canadians, including Western Canadians and to make sure they get the opportunities they deserve.
Under a new Conservative government, all players on Team Canada will be included in our game plan.
