Red Deer–Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins says the federal budget is an example of what happens when people think budgets can balance themselves.
He said the Liberal budget introduces risky and untested economic schemes that will harm the personal financial security of Canadians by strangling job growth and raising taxes on hardworking Canadian families.
“After celebrating a deficit of only $354.2 billion in 2020/21, the Liberals are excited to announce an additional deficit of $154.7 billion for 2021/22. Projections show that the federal debt load will nearly double to $1.4 trillion by 2026, up from $721 billion before the pandemic,” Calkins said.
“It is most certainly not a balanced budget.”
He said once again there is nothing in the budget to address the increasing rates of rural crime in our province and across the country. It contains nothing for the oil and gas sector, other than decelerating the capital cost allowance on technologies used in this sector, thereby further discouraging investment.
The budget also fails to properly support the agriculture sector and focuses primarily on climate issues.
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“Farmers have for generations been the stewards of our land. Budget 2021 fails to recognize their important contributions to our environment, such as zero till and low till, and reward them for it. Rather than adopt Conservative Bill C-206 and exempt farm fuel from the full burden of the carbon tax they are only giving back a pittance of what farmers pay to run their farms and important implements such as grain dryers.”
Calkins said unemployed Canadians hoping to see a plan to create new jobs and economic opportunities are going to feel let down, and so are workers who have had their wages cut and hours slashed, and families that can’t afford more taxes.
“While I am very concerned about what is not in the budget, I am also very concerned about what is in the budget. It seems to me that budget 2021 is increasing and encouraging dependency on the government at a time when we should be concerned about strengthening our economy and securing our nation.”