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Budget’s forecasted $20-billion deficits a huge worry

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The spring session of Parliament has been extremely busy, with a lot of committee work taking place, as well as the recent budget unveiling.

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The budget itself created a lot of concerns, due to deficits as big as $20 billion per year forecasted well into the future. The current level of federal debt means we are paying $15 billion each year in interest payments alone, instead of making investments into urgent needs such as affordable housing and hospital upgrades.

The government introduced policies that did not address the need to make home ownership more achievable for first-time buyers; and a lack of plan towards addressing many of the social issues we face such as the opioid and methamphetamine crises; mental health and wellness, and our aging population.

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These issues, combined with serious concerns about the fragile global economy, have many constituents worried that Canada is not well positioned in case of future economic head-winds.

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So, the budget came and went, and was not the “Election Vote-Getter” that many journalists and partisans had been expecting due to the negative response from Canadians themselves.

Of course, the entire budget roll-out was very much dampened by the on-going saga involving allegations of political interference in a public prosecution by the Liberals and Prime Minister Trudeau. At time of writing, we have now seen the expulsion of three very high-level female MPs from the Liberal Caucus, the resignation of the Prime Minister’s “Right Hand Man” Gerald Butts and the “retirement” of Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick.

Many of you are already following these events in the news, and I trust you are aware of the serious nature of what looks like a clear case of a political cover-up.

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The Prime Minister said allegations of undue pressure were utterly false, but clearly that’s not the case based on what has been made publicly available for review, thus far. The Official Opposition will ensure that there is accountability on this matter and that it is fully investigated.

I also had the opportunity to travel across Canada during the first week of April as part of the Federal Health Committee’s work on studying the methamphetamine crisis across Canada. I can say with sadness that this debilitating drug abuse has destroyed many people, families and communities across both rural and urban Canada. During the committee travel we visited Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver.

These cities have been battling the methamphetamine crisis and its impact is startling to see on the front lines of each community where the epidemic is occurring. The Health Committee will be looking for positive ways forward on this urgent issue, and our report will have many common sense and proactive measures we can take towards helping those who struggle with addition towards finding recovery. I continue to work to get Sarnia the treatment and recovery capacity we need.

I will be available for meetings with constituents over the weeks of April 15 to 26 except for Good Friday (April 19) and Easter Monday (April 22) when my office will be closed for these holidays.

It remains an honor to serve the residents of Sarnia Lambton.

If I can be of assistance, please call the office at 519-383-6600 or stop by (Finch at Wellington next to Brownstone’s.) You can also email me anytime at Marilyn.gladu@parl.gc.ca.

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