Rachael Thomas running for re-election in 2021. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge MP: Federal budget only adds to affordability crisis

Apr 8, 2022 | 10:18 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The new federal budget is not sitting well with Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled the budget Thursday afternoon.

With a total of $452 billion in spending, it puts significant investments towards housing, defense, and starts the creation of a publicly-funded dental care system, among other measures.

READ MORE: $452B federal budget focused on affordability, innovation

Thomas says the budget doubles down on the Liberal-NDP coalition’s “uncontrolled spending and higher taxes.”

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“The budget projects more than $56 billion in new spending. Sadly, this will offer short-term relief followed by long-term pain. The cost of living will continue to skyrocket due to inflation and those who are already struggling will bear the brunt of it.”

The country is facing inflation rates that have not been seen in decades while things like utilities and gas prices increase at levels far higher.

“To control inflation, you have to control spending. To put it simply, the government has failed. Mr. Trudeau is continuing his tax-and-spend agenda to satisfy the demands of the NDP made during their backroom negotiations.”

“Think about what this means for Lethbridge. We currently have the highest level of child poverty in the province and foodbanks are already overwhelmed by the present demand. Imagine what will happen when more and more people are unable to afford to pay their bills and feed their families.”

Thomas likened the higher levels of spending to “pouring gasoline on the fire,” and that the federal budget will do nothing to lessen the affordability crisis facing Canadians.

She believes a better approach the government could have taken would be to reduce spending.

More details on the federal budget and reactions to it below:

Budget 2022: A look at the highlights of the federal Liberal fiscal plan

Budget 2022: A checklist of promises that were in the Liberal-NDP confidence deal

The federal budget will have the support of the NDP, but will also face opposition

Budget 2022: Flush from booming economy, Feds eye growth with $31B in new spending

Housing supply gets $10B boost; Feds add measures to curb speculation

Budget 2022 devotes $4.3 billion to Indigenous housing needs

Budget 2022 makes good on dental care, but little in new health spending

Budget 2022: $500M in military aid to Ukraine, projects economic upheaval from war

Budget 2022: Canada won’t meet NATO target with more than $8B in new military funding

Budget 2022: Liberals rejig $15B toward new business investment fund