FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MP Marilyn Gladu responds to Budget 2022
OTTAWA, ON—The Liberal government released its 2022 Budget on Thursday, Apr. 7, 2022. “The Liberals’ out-of-control spending continues without a plan to correct course, which will create more issues for generations to come,” says Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu.
Under Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, Canada has had record economic decline, the highest unemployment in the G7, and the highest inflation in 30 years. Canada spent more per capita during the pandemic and yet achieved the worst outcomes in the G7 when it comes to employment, vaccine rollout, and business confidence. Now, with their partnership to the NDP, we will see these effects exacerbated.
“We still don’t see a solid plan to allow Canada to exit the pandemic and restore the economy— instead, entire industries are suffering from job shortages, including healthcare and construction, and there’s no plan to fix it whatsoever,” says MP Gladu. “Canada would seriously benefit from a jobs creation plan, or diversification strategy, but instead, we get more spending on lower-priority items. Nor is there a plan to combat the cost of living, the outrageous costs of housing, or restore balance to the federal books.”
However, there were some highlights for residents in Sarnia-Lambton. The budget puts a focus on creating affordable housing, but that has been this government’s focus for a number of years now, during which house prices have doubled. We will have to see if any of the new programs will work. If executed well, the proposed Tax-Free First Home Savings Account may help those looking to become homeowners, as well as and doubling the first-time home buyer’s tax credit.[i]
“I was also happy to see funding to be delivered to the provinces and territories through the Safe Restart Agreement to bolster health care capacity, and support those experiencing mental health and substance use issues. It’ll also provide $600 million for innovative mental health care for Canadians,”[ii] says MP Gladu.
In the same vein, the new proposed funding for dental care for low-income Canadians will also provide help for those who need it most. Budget 2022 proposes $5.3B over five years, starting this year, and then $1.7B ongoing, to health Canada to provide dental care for Canadians. The program will be restricted to families with an income of less than $90,000 annually, and those who have an income of less than $70,00 will not have co-pays.[iii]
Additionally, our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be fortified with an influx of spending— more than $8B in new funding over five years, to help strengthen our alliances, bolster our capabilities, and reinforce Canada’s cyber security.[iv] In light of the current violence in Ukraine, we need to ensure Canada is able to provide a strong national defence, and support our allies, now more than ever.
There were also a number of elements missing from the budget— there is still no plan to course-correct the Liberals’ discrimination against seniors aged 65-75 in terms of OAS increases. This remains a serious blind spot in the government’s planning, and our seniors are hurting as a result. There was also no mention in budget of measures to support Canada’s fight to protect Line 5, a critical resource, or palliative care.
“I’m also deeply interested in measures to support our supply chain, and ensuring goods get to Canadians. In my new role as Shadow Minister of International Trade and Supply Chains, I will be holding the government to account, making sure our supply chain is able to recuperate and plan for the future,” says MP Gladu.
But MP Gladu says these measures will only do so much. “We are still passing on eye-watering amounts of debt to our children, grandchildren, and future generations of Canadians—this remains unacceptable. We cannot let Justin Trudeau’s spending burden our country for decades into the future and leave our economy in an insecure position,” says MP Gladu.
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[i] Budget 2022, p. 45,
[ii] Budget 2022, p. 150
[iii] Budget 2022, p. 152
[iv] Budget 2022, p. 132