Photo credit: Government of Canada

By Curtis Galbraith

Federal Politics

Warkentin unsurprised by expected snap election call by Trudeau

Aug 13, 2021 | 6:00 AM

Chris Warkentin says he is not surprised to learn of an expected election call for this September.

The Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP says he believes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling a snap election because he is hoping to take advantage of Canadians not paying as much attention to parliament during the summer.

“I think that Canadians will wake up and realize what the Prime Minister is doing. I think that people will engage when the time comes. It’s all but clear that by Sunday we’ll be right into an election with the prospect of an election day in the middle of September.”

Trudeau is expected to visit Governor-General Mary Simon on Sunday and ask her to dissolve this sitting of Parliament. That would mean a federal election on September 20.

Warkentin expects people in Alberta to take out their frustrations on Trudeau, but not because it is being held early.

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He says this will come instead because the Prime Minister has been “completely ruthless” by bringing in policies meant to attack Alberta’s industries.

“Really attacking the livelihoods of so many Albertans and really showing complete disinterest about what’s in the best interest of Albertans,” he said.

“We know that here in the Province of Alberta, Albertans have woken up to the fact that this prime minister will continue to attack the province.”

Warkentin says he is hoping other Canadians see that an attack on Alberta’s industries hurts the whole country’s prosperity.

He also expects a lot of debate during the campaign on the government’s pandemic response.

“I do believe that Canadians should cast judgment (on) the prime minister’s inability to secure vaccinations early, his unwillingness to bring our fiscal house in order before the pandemic hit that really limited our fiscal capacity, and the levers that could be pulled other than simply printing money.”

Warkentin says the Conservatives will campaign based on several ideas, including the belief that economic stability should be a top priority. He adds they also plan on campaigning on boosting the energy sector and making sure it has export markets.

Warkentin adds his campaign team is ready to go.