Phot credit: The Canadian Press.

By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

Warkentin slams “let-down budget”

Apr 22, 2021 | 5:30 AM

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin says it was “unbelievable” to watch the Liberal government bring in the new federal budget.

He says people were expecting a plan to reopen and rebuild the economy.

“Everybody that I talked to here in the Peace Country and throughout the country who I’ve engaged with over the last number of days are sorely disappointed. They’re just unbelievably disappointed that there seems to be no coherent plan to move forward, no coherent plan except for a significant amount of more spending without any targeted effort to create jobs or long-term prosperity.”

Warkentin says the new budget is about the Liberals hopes for re-election rather than helping the economy. He adds the Liberals have been playing politics throughout the pandemic and will continue to do that.

“it seems they continue to prepare for an election. We know hearing reports out of their convention, reports out of their caucus meetings and their government meetings that they plan to have an election sooner than later. They continue to put forward announcements that are campaign-style announcements at a time when Canadians would expect different from a government.”:

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Warkentin says there is a chance there won’t be an election if the Liberals decide it is not in their interest to have one.

He adds he believes this budget excludes western Canadians. Warkentin says an economic recovery for the energy sector and other businesses that drive Alberta’s economy will be key in the national economy recovering.

“When given the opportunity to create a policy framework that would not only benefit the Province of Alberta but the national economy, they decided not to do that. They decided to instead bring forward ideas that would play better in urban centres with an Ottawa knows best mentality, one that I don’t believe will lead to long-term prosperity for any Canadians.”

Warkentin says a better approach would be reducing red tape and regulations holding back development and expansion in the energy business and having the Trans Mountain Pipeline completed.