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By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

Warkentin describes new federal budget as “non-responsive”

Mar 29, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The MP for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie says that it is startling how non-responsive the new federal budget is to what people are dealing with.

Chris Warkentin says inflation is at a 40-year high when finances were already hard for some people.

“What we saw was nothing that would permanently alleviate the concerns of economists, the concerns of average Canadians that want to see inflation brought under control.”

“We know what causes inflation, which was obviously the Prime Minister’s out-of-control spending and printing of money.”

Warkentin says the government is not doing enough to protect the economy and people’s buying power.

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The government had said the budget would be balanced by 2028 but now says that will not be the case.

Warkentin says that isn’t a surprise and that the government has not considered that the money has to be paid back at times of high interest rates.

The government did include $2.5 billion to pay for GST rebates meant to help with the cost of groceries.

Warkentin compares this to a bank robber taking all the money and then returning $100.

He calls this adding insult to injury.

“Having raised taxes, having planned tax increases on April 1, specifically with regards to excise taxes as well as carbon taxes on April 1. They’ve continued to move forward to see those increases happen.”

“They’re saying while we take with the right hand, we going to give you a couple cents back with the left hand.”

Warkentin says while Canadians need financial help, this is not a long-term solution but is rather “a short-term handout that will not have any long-term impacts or benefits to the average Canadian family.”

Warkentin adds he would like to see the federal government cut spending on outside consultants.

He says the government spends $20 billion on this every year.

The government did say in the budget that reductions in this area would be part of an effort to trim $15 billion in spending.

Warkentin says a Conservative government would focus on growth and helping small businesses succeed.

“Everyone does better when we have growth of the economy in every community across this country. It should not just happen in places where the government dictates, it should be organic.”

“These companies and small businesses should be able to grow and prosper in every community across the country.”

Warkentin says the Conservatives want the government to reverse tax increases on small businesses and cancel the carbon tax.

He says the budget could be balanced if there was a strong economy in every region in Canada and people were employed in good-paying jobs.