Photo Courtesy Alberta Government

By Tanner Smith

2024 Federal Budget

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin reacts to federal budget

Apr 16, 2024 | 5:19 PM

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie Member of Parliament, Chris Warkentin has expressed his concerns over the Liberal budget announced today. (Tuesday, April 16)

Warkentin issued the following statement.

“After 8 years, Justin Trudeau’s budget is just more of the same that got us into this mess. Common Sense Conservatives told this Liberal-NDP government to stop their deficit spending and tax hikes. He did not stop the inflationary deficits that are driving up interest rates and he did not stop endangering our social programs and jobs by adding more and more debt.”

“Justin Trudeau is not worth the cost for any generation. This Liberal government has doubled rent, doubled mortgage payments and have doubled down payments. His record deficits have driven interest rates sky-high. Food banks received a record two million visits in a single month last year, with a million additional people expected in 2024.”

“We called on Trudeau to stop his deficit spending and bring Canadians the relief they desperately need, but his spending has only gotten worse. This year’s budget will include nearly $40 billion in new inflationary spending. Canada will spend $54.1 billion to service Trudeau’s debt. This is more money than the government is sending the provinces for health care.”

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“Both the Bank of Canada and former Liberal Finance Minister, John Manley, told Trudeau that he was pressing on the inflationary gas pedal with his spending that ballooned interest rates. But Trudeau didn’t listen. As a result, the Bank of Canada went on the most aggressive interest rate hike campaign in its history. As the millions of Canadians renewing their mortgages know, Trudeau just isn’t worth the cost.”

“This photo-op budget is going to do nothing for the average Canadian who can’t afford a home or groceries today. After nine deficits, this Liberal government is only growing richer while the people are becoming poorer.”

“Struggling families can’t afford higher taxes and more inflationary spending that drives up the cost of everything and keeps interest rates high. That is why Common Sense Conservatives sent a letter to Justin Trudeau with three demands to fix the budget.”

Conservatives three demands:

1. Axe the tax on farmers and food by immediately passing Bill C-234 in its original form.
2. Build the homes, not bureaucracy, by requiring cities permit 15% more home building each year as a condition for receiving federal infrastructure money.
3. Cap the spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule to bring down interest rates and inflation. The government must find a dollar in savings for every new dollar of spending.

“Common Sense Conservatives will be voting against this wasteful, inflationary budget and are voting in favour of a carbon tax election that will allow Canadians to choose a party that will cut taxes, build housing, fix budgets and stop crime,” Warkentin concluded.

In the 2024 federal budget, the Liberal government included $535 billion for total spending, There is $8.5 billion set to go towards housing initiatives and a $39.8 billion deficit.