MP Viersen: Stop the Taxes, Stop the Spending

November 16, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, ON – Never before in Canadian history have Canadians paid more in taxes than under the current Trudeau government. Government spending is up 30% and what do we have to show for it? Not lower national debt. Not better healthcare. Not a well-supplied military. Not a working passport office. Not a secure border. Not a functioning Canada Post.

Canada’s debt has ballooned to $1.2 trillion dollars and our annual interest on this debt is now $43 billion – almost the same as the amount the federal government sends to the provinces for healthcare.

Inflation has skyrocketed to a 40-year-high, placing significant burdens on families and seniors across Canada. Paycheques don’t go as far as they used to and consumer debt has increased. Canadians are cutting their diets. Food bank usage is at an all-time high. Meanwhile the Liberals are renting $6000 a night rooms on the tax-payer dime.

This week the House of Commons is debating the Liberal government’s Fall Economic Statement which shows that government revenues have increased by $40.1 billion in this year alone. In other words, the Trudeau Liberals are profiting off of increased inflation.

In the face of all this, the Liberal government seems to have rediscovered the phrase ‘fiscal responsibility’. As their track record shows however, what the Liberals say and what they do are often very different.

For two years, Conservatives have warned Justin Trudeau that the cost of government spending would driving up the cost of living.

To reduce inflation and improve Canada’s cost of living, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has laid out two clear proposals to the Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland:

1. Stop the taxes – No new taxes. This includes canceling all planned tax hikes and the tripling of the carbon tax. Canadians are struggling to heat their homes and put food on their tables.
2. Stop the spending – No new spending. Any new spending by ministers must be matched by an equivalent saving. Cut wasteful spending and stop the inflationary deficits that drive up the cost of everything.

Sadly, the Fall Economic Statement does not do this and only proposes more spending. That is why Conservatives will vote against it.

Conservatives also have a plan to fix this mess when we form government. We will make energy more affordable. We will repeal anti-energy laws and get Canadian energy out to market. We’ll cut corporate welfare. We’ll axe the carbon tax.

We will reform the tax and benefit system to ensure that whenever somebody works an extra hour, takes an extra shift or earns an extra bonus, they are always better off and will keep more of that dollar. And we’ll remove government gatekeepers to get more homes built and make Canada the quickest place in the world to get a building permit.

Conservatives will make this a country where work pays again, where seniors can enjoy the fruit of their labour and where families can prosper together.

Arnold Viersen, MP for Peace River – Westlock

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