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By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

Historic week in Ottawa, time for an election, says Warkentin

Dec 20, 2024 | 6:00 AM

The Member of Parliament for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie says this was a historic week in Ottawa.

Chris Warkentin made the comment in reaction to the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday and the subsequent calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down.

“Just to watch the Liberal party implode on itself (was historic).”

“These are fights, obviously, that have been under the surface for some time. There’s been jockeying for the leadership of the party. There have been attempts to kick Justin Trudeau out, but this week, obviously, a lot of those fractures started to be completely evident to the public.”

Warkentin believes Freeland resigned so as not to “take the fall for the prime minister” by taking the blame for rising debt and deficits.

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He adds the finance minister resigning the day of the fall economic update has never happened before.

Warkentin adds what he calls these “theatrics” show the government is “completely out of control.”

“The spending is out of control. The debt is out of control. The $62 billion that was announced as the deficit is just unbelievable.”

“This is at a time when the finance minister and the prime minister committed that they wouldn’t go over $40 billion in deficit, which means overspending this last year, which is already an incredible and ridiculous number, to go up to $62 billion is just irresponsible.”

Warkentin believes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “has no intention of going anywhere” even with calls for him to resign.

He adds it looks like Trudeau thinks he deserves to stay on.

“He believes, clearly, that he can win the next election. That may speak to his ego. That may speak to some other type of delusion, but I can tell you that the public is fed up with him, but they’re fed up with the Liberal party as well.”

“It isn’t just Justin Trudeau that’s been running these massive deficits and debt and being completely irresponsible when it comes to our borders.”

Warkentin says it is “hypocrisy ” for Liberal MPs to want to replace Trudeau as they all voted for the policies brought in by his government.

He thinks it is time for a federal election.

“Jagmeet Singh has tried to avoid an election, obviously for very personal reasons, but it is time for an election to allow for Canadians to decide who they want to be the prime minister and what type of government that they want.”

“We believe that it’s long past the point where we need to have an election.”

Warkentin says Canadians value a government that wants to protect communities, a strong immigration system and one that is fiscally responsible.

He charges that the Liberals and the NDP don’t want the public to decide who will form the government, something he says is concerning for everyone in this country.