Photo credit: Retina 2020/Dreamstime.

By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

New budget a “doubling down” of previous policies, says Warkentin

Nov 7, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Grande Prairie MP Chris Warkentin says the first budget under Prime Minister Mark Carney is a “doubling down” of the policies of Justin Trudeau.

(It’s) actually far worse. We saw, effectively, a doubling of the deficit over what Trudeau’s numbers had been. It’s quite staggering, I think.”

“The Parliamentary Budget Officer called it stupefying, just (an) unexplainable betrayal of what Canadians expected from this current prime minister.”

Warkentin says people were expecting the government to turn away from tax-and-spend ideas, deficits, and higher interest and costs.

He adds this is the most expensive budget in Canadian history, but “Canadians aren’t getting anything for it.”

Warkentin also says people were “expecting a change in the tax system that would encourage investments.”

“I think there was an expectation that we would see investments and a plan for national energy corridors that would lead to the building of pipelines from the west coast to make sure we can access Asian markets.”

“We were promised that there would be a diversification of our trade relationships included in this budget.”

Warkentin adds all these things were expected after the budget presentation was delayed from the spring until the fall but none of them happened.

He also says there only a few things in the budget that will “lead to a meaningful difference in people’s lives”…..

“Even the things that are fulfillments of some of the things that they committed to in the election campaign are simply a small token in comparison to what was promised.”

“When looking at the budget, I just can’t see where all the money is going, I mean, we’re talking about so many billions of dollars.”

The budget deficit is over $78 billion.

Warkentin says all the money people pay in GST will now be needed to cover debt servicing costs.

He adds the cost of interest on the debt will be more than the federal government spends on health care.

“Anybody who’s run up the credit card knows that to back to balance, to cut off those interest payments, it takes a lot of work.”

Warkentin is also critical of an increase in the industrial carbon tax, something he calls “one of the most devastating things that the prime minister could have now imposed on industries that are already struggling.”

“This will have a negative impact on farmers. It will have a negative impact on the forestry industry, on the energy sector, and manufacturers across this country.”

Warkentin is blaming Carney for tariffs on things like canola, peas and pork.

“The prime minister caused these challenges, and it is time he spent some time and re-opened these markets, reduced the tariffs that he has had increased while he has been prime minister.”

“Frankly, Canadian farmers can’t afford this guy getting on a jet one more time.”

There is a 15 per cent cut in funding over three years for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The budget does include just over $109 million for AgriStability for 2025-26. This money will be used to set the compensation rate at 90 per cent, up from 80 per cent.

There is another $75 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, for the AgriMarketing Program, an effort to find new markets.

Also starting in 2025-26, there is $97.5 million to increase in the interest-free limit in the Advance Payments Program to $500,000 for canola producers for 2025 and 2026 and $250,000 for all other crops for 2025.

There is also $372 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, for the Biofuels Production Incentive.

Warkentin says he does not expect this budget to trigger an election but does add that the Conservatives will vote against approval.

“This government doesn’t deserve to have the support of the House (of Commons) to pass this budget.”

He says the NDP is signalling that the party will support the budget.