The MP for Rimouski-Neigette–Témiscouata–Les Basques, Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, denounces an economic update confirming historic deficits caused by electoral priorities which pushed Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to resign rather than take office responsibility.
“All that Quebecers will remember from this exercise are the historic deficits caused by electoral candy which divides the Liberals and which led Minister Freeland to resign. After the departure of eight ministers and the mutiny of dozens of Liberal MPs, Justin Trudeau lost the confidence of his troops. He no longer has the legitimacy to govern without being given a new mandate by the population and he should call elections,” declared the Bloc Québécois elected official.
It was in the wake of the shock resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, that the 2024 economic statement was tabled Monday afternoon. The update confirms the rumor that the federal deficit is considerably higher than announced in last spring’s budget. Last year, it reached $61.9 billion, including $4.7 billion in money spent during the pandemic which the federal government is abandoning the recovery of. The deficit for the current year has already reached $48.3 billion, an excess of more than $8 billion with three and a half months remaining in the financial year.
“Neither the state of finances nor decency allows us to offer electoral candy to citizens who asked for none of this. The Liberals should have focused on the fundamental missions of the federal state such as supporting seniors, protecting the borders, preparing the economy for the challenges of Canadian-American relations or reforming employment insurance. The Prime Minister has instead chosen to put the liberal interest ahead of the public interest,” noted the MP for Rimouski-Neigette–Témiscouata–Les Basques.
Borders: a number, but no plan
Ottawa provides in its statement a sum of $1.3 billion over six years to “protect the Canadian border”, without specifying its use and mainly financed from 2026, after the next federal elections. “The Liberals had promised a costed plan at the borders. We have the number: a round US billion. But not the shadow of a plan nor the urgency to develop one before the elections. The border security measures were the most anticipated from this economic statement, both by Quebecers and by the next American administration. They will both remain hungry and that is dangerous for our economy,” lamented Maxime Blanchette-Joncas.
