Courtenay – Alberni MP Gord Johns says yesterday’s federal budget was very vague, and contained both good and bad decisions.
Johns said people waiting for money for housing or a pharmacare plan were given only breadcrumbs, but corporate CEO’s maintained their tax breaks.
“There was a lot missing which will come out in the debate to follow: climate change, pharmacare, housing, ending tax breaks for the wealthiest Canadians all inadequately addressed,” he said. “Some good news for First Nations and Indigenous languages and retrofitting, all of which we have been fighting hard for. But overall, an awful lot missing in this budget.”
Johns said the Liberal Government’s announcement of forgiving treaty negotiating loans was something they announced months ago, but didn’t act on, and he said he’ll be waiting to see if they actually follow through now.
The budget presentation was delayed by Conservative MP’s, banging their desks and chanting; drowning out the budget presentation so even the House of Commons translator could not hear what was being said.
“It’s hard to know where to start when describing events on Parliament Hill on Tuesday,” said Johns. “It began with the Liberal members shutting down the Justice Committee over the ongoing SNC Lavalin scandal. Then, Conservative Members tried to shout down the Finance Minister as he delivered his budget speech. My colleague, MP Charlie Angus described it as “thuggish behaviour” and I agree with him. The right of Members to speak in the House is paramount to our democracy and this Conservative performance was not acceptable,” he said.
