Photo from the Auditor General of Canada Facebook page.

By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

Warkentin, Conservatives want a fiscal update, more checks by the Auditor General

Jun 17, 2020 | 5:30 AM

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin says the Conservatives want a fiscal update from the Liberal government as soon as possible.

“There has not yet been a budget this year. We believe that it’s important that the government if they’re not able to bring forward a full budget because of the turmoil and uncertainty that currently exists, we believe that it’s important for the government o be transparent with Canadians and bring forward a fiscal update.”

Warkentin says the government should also reduce red tape to allow stalled energy projects to get going again as a way of re-starting the economy. He thinks if that were to happen quickly, some of those projects could start this summer.

He adds his party also wants sittings of parliament to resume.

“So that Canadians can get answers to the questions that they have, and that the government could be held accountable for some of the missteps that they have undertaken over the last number of months. While the government has continued to act and be operational, Parliament has not and so we believe that Parliament is necessary so the government can be held to account.”

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The Conservatives also recently sent out a release calling for more funding for the Auditor General. Warkentin says there have been what he terms “a significant reduction in resources” directed to that office.

He says such reviews are even more important during times like this.

“Where we see the federal government pushing out billions, unprecedented billions of dollars, with seemingly no strings attached to, in some cases, large companies and entities of which Canadians haven’t been able to see who those groups are.”

A release from the Conservative Party says 10 years ago, there were 27 audits done per year. Current funding levels would allow 14 such audits this year.