The Liberals Speech from the Throne doubled down on ideological goals and missed out on fundamental issues plaguing Canada, according to Red Deer-Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins.
The throne speech, delivered by Governor-General Mary Simon on Tuesday, promised action on climate change, reconciliation with Indigenous communities and growing the economy, all while fighting COVID-19 and rebuilding Canada’s health-care systems.
Those promises are misguided, said Calkins.
“(Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau continues doubling down on ideological goals while avoiding the fundamental issues facing Canadians like the affordability crisis driven by inflation, low economic growth and massive deficits driven by reckless spending. This Speech from the Throne is about more government, more spending, and more inflation,” Calkins said.
“Rather than honing in and actually focusing on the root causes of inflation and affordability, Trudeau is just announcing more programs and more spending, which creates the very affordability and inflation issues that he is claiming to help.
“We need less government in our lives, we need to get back to a solid free-market economy where entrepreneurial spirit and the private sector do what they do best. The government should be focused on making sure our labour force is ready for the potential of our free-market economy. Not creating more big spending programs.”
Calkins added that he was disappointed in the government’s plan to “phase out the oil and gas sector.”
“While he attacks Western Canadian industry, he promises to help other emission intensive economic sectors, which are key drivers in parts of the country that reliably vote Liberal, are able to continue,” Calkins said.
“Canadians deserve a plan that will give them confidence that the government can responsibly rein in spending, lower inflation, create well-paying jobs, and attract investment and innovation.”