Lethbridge MP Rachael Harder discusses Budget 2018

Instead, now three years into their mandate the Liberal government is doubling down on the idea that spending even more borrowed money is good for the long-term future of Canadians.

“We’re talking about a deficit that’s three times bigger than the initial promise from the Liberals in their campaign. The bottom line is this is going to make life less affordable for Canadians, and right now Canadians just can’t afford that,” Harder said.

Since the Liberals have been in office, Harder says the average Canadian family is paying an additional $800 per year in taxes.

“When I look at this budget, I see a lot of platitudes, niceties and good intentions but I don’t see a lot of action,” she continued. “I don’t see a plan to move forward and put concrete legislation in place to make life more affordable for families.”

One of the aims of the budget is to increase the participation of women in the workforce, that provides up to five weeks of leave for new fathers, worth $1.2 billion over five years, to help break the pattern of mothers automatically taking on the greater share of child-rearing responsibilities.

There’s also a proactive pay equity legislation, as well as $3 million over five years for a pay transparency measure, to close the wage gap among federal workers and in federally regulated sectors.

Harder says Conservatives have always believed that women deserve equal pay for equal work, so at the end of the day that’s something needing to be tackled.

“Unfortunately, we see aspiration in this budget, but we don’t see any legislation in this budget so we’re going to have to wait for those details. I’m hopeful that they’re going to be positive and they’re going to be implemented so real change can come about,” Harder added.
One of the things Harder says she was upset to not see included in the budget was more initiatives to make life more affordable for ordinary people.

“There was a recent Ipsos Reid poll that came out in December where Canadians reported that nearly 50 per cent of them are within $200 a month from not being able to cover their household bills,” Harder continued. “We’re talking about things that are necessary for daily life, so we should be putting in legislation or practises that are actually going to help families get ahead.”

The additional five weeks of parental leave is something that Harder says her party appreciates, but if the Conservatives take power in the next election it would look a little different.

“Not only would people be able to access the additional five weeks under a Conservative government, but we would make it tax free. I think that’s one way we could help Canadian families get ahead, there’s no reason they should have to pay tax when taking time at home with their baby,” Harder stated.

The budget also includes major investments in science, the environment and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Specifically, $5 billion in new spending will be going towards First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples and communities.

Harder says Indigenous communities face some real challenges and that they deserve some real solutions for those challenges.

“Throwing money at them is not going to be a solve-all method. At the end of the day, we need to sit down and talk about real solutions. We need to make sure that people living in these communities have access to potable water, have access to good homes and affordable food as well,” Harder said, adding these issues are going to require some tangible action on behalf of the government.

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter) with files from The Canadian Press

Lethbridge MP Rachael Harder discusses Budget 2018

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