OTTAWA - Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen is expressing his frustrations with the federal budget released on Tuesday.
"Another federal budget day has come and gone, and while life has gotten worse for Canadians, [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau is spending more than ever before," said Kitchen. "This year’s budget includes nearly $40 billion in new inflationary spending, and in 2024, Canada will spend over $54 billion just to service Canada’s debt; that’s more money than the government is sending to the provinces for health care."
Struggling families can’t afford higher taxes and more inflationary spending that drives up the cost of everything and keeps interest rates high, he said.
Kitchen noted the Conservative Party wanted to see the following:
•Axe the carbon tax on farmers and food by immediately passing Bill C-234 in its original form;
•Build homes, not bureaucracy, by requiring cities permit 15 per cent more home building each year as a condition for receiving federal infrastructure money;
•Cap the spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule to bring down interest rates and inflation; and
•The government must find a dollar in savings for every new dollar of spending.
"Trudeau refused to listen to these demands, so we Conservatives cannot agree to support this budget," Kitchen said.
After eight years, the people of Souris-Moose Mountain deserve better, he said, with a government that won’t tax them at every turn, like the Liberals do with their carbon tax.
"Our miners and energy workers deserve support and recognition for the essential jobs they do, and our agricultural producers deserve a government that understands and respects them as they feed Canada and the world," Kitchen said.
"It is time for a government that works hard for those who do the work. It is time for a new common-sense Conservative government for all Canadians."