Skip to content

Sorenson: Trudeau budget fails Canadian families, farmers and the military

MP Kevin Sorenson laments the numerous ‘broken’ promises in budget released last week
10798994_web1_170719-BAS-kevin-sorenson-mug_1

The Hon. Kevin Sorenson, Member of Parliament for Battle River-Crowfoot, shares Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s view that “never has a Prime Minister spent so much to achieve so little.” Sorenson adds that “never has a Prime Minister so blatantly broken a promise and not only once.”

The 2015 Liberal election platform promised three “modest” deficits of $10 billion and under, before returning to balance in 2019. Instead, the Trudeau Liberals are currently on track to add $450 billion to Canada’s national debt over the next 27 years with the budget not projected to be in balance again until 2045. The deficit this fiscal year is $18 billion, which is triple what Justin Trudeau promised.

We now have a national debt of $669.6 billion and the interest cost for that debt is rising. This year it will be $26 billion and by 2022, it is projected to be $33 billion which is bigger than the $25 billion spent on National Defence. “If this is not enough of an insult to our men and women in uniform, perhaps the fact that there is absolutely no mention of military spending in this budget is,” said Sorenson.

The Battle River-Crowfoot M.P. also expressed disappointment there was no mention of the agriculture sector. “The only reference to farming in the Budget was the $4.3 million over 5 years to support the reopening of farms at two penitentiaries in Ontario. What does this say about Liberal priorities when inmates come before farmers?” quipped Sorenson. “And, what does it mean for farmers and landowners given the funding allotted in Budget 2018 to continue the implementation of the Species at Risk Act?”

This Budget also failed to address any uncertainties related to NAFTA or provide a response to the major tax cuts announced in the United States. U.S. tax reform and the reduction in the corporate rate from 35% to 21% will make Canada less competitive and will hurt our ability to attract and retain jobs and investment in this country. To make matters worse, the Liberals proceeded with their controversial small business tax changes. And while the Finance Minister did back down somewhat, small businesses will still be squeezed for more than $1 billion by 2020.

The Liberals have been asking businesses as well as Canadian families to pay more. The average Canadian family is paying more than $800 extra per year in taxes as a result of higher CPP premiums, the national carbon price, a number of cancelled family tax credits and higher employment insurance premiums. And, while the Budget mentions the middle class on almost every page, the Liberals are failing middle class Canadians.