At first blush, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2018 Budget offers more spending and more promises, an increasing deficit but no fiscally responsible plan to get out of the sea of red ink Canada is currently mired in.
For Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty, who is recovering from health issues, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budget speech on Feb. 27 was enough to make our Conservative MP feel sick.
“Never has a Prime Minister spent so much to achieve so little. Justin Trudeau has failed once again to deliver the results that matter most to Canadians.”
Doherty says there are a lot of promises in the 400-plus-page document.
“I see it more as a political document than a fiscal document moving forward.”
The MP is concerned that there is more spending going on and no real plan to get back to a balanced budget.
“The deficit for this fiscal year is $18 billion, which is triple what the Liberals promised during the 2015 election campaign. By 2035, our national debt is projected to be approximately $1 trillion.
That is worrisome, he says.
Doherty says he doesn’t see a plan for job creation in rural communities.
“Rural communities in our neck of the woods are resource-based. We need to make sure we have to make Canadian industry and Canadian businesses is competitive and we are getting private investment that creates jobs in our communities. I don’t see that at first blush through this document.
The MP notes the cost of running a business is rising rapidly.
“I think the tax changes they’re proposing and with the carbon tax, we’re falling further and further back in terms of being competitive in a global market.
Especially, when we’re facing a fairly aggressive and ever-increasing protectionist environment south of the border, which is our No. 1 trading partner.
“We also know small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy that is going to allow us pay for all these big promises this government is actually rolling out with and putting forth.”
Doherty says Canada is not in an economic downturn, but the Liberals are spending with no plans to get back to a balanced budget.
“Our national well-being is predicated on our fiscal responsibilities. We get a credit rating on how the world’s financial institutions and industries view Canada in terms of investment.”
The MP says he looks at the budget to see how it’s going to affect the communities in his riding. At first glance, Doherty adds he’s not seeing anything.
“All I’m seeing is more spending and it’s going to be our children and their children who are going to be paying for it.
“At this rate, we’re looking at a national debt projection of $1 trillion by 2035. We know that’s going to be paid back on the backs of our small business and future generations.”
Doherty notes that during the past couple of Trudeau budgets, he promised a lot of infrastructure dollars.
Dribs and drabs have come out, but they’re focus on major centres and not on small rural areas we live in Cariboo-Prince George.”
There’s nothing in the budget about how the federal government is going make sure communities that are devastated by natural disasters are made whole again, he notes.