Liberal budget good news for the wealthy, bad news for climate change says Stetski

Member of Parliament Wayne Stetski says he plans to take a deeper look at the implications the 2018 federal budget has for constituents in the Kootenay-Columbia riding. Stetski released a statement criticizing the budget for what he calls gaps between plans laid out in the budget and money to make them happen. Here’s what Stetski had to say about the budget;

The budget does not crack down on tax loopholes for the super-rich, it fails to make real progress on affordable housing, studies universal pharmacare rather than implementing it, and  does not  take strong enough action to address climate change.

“[T]he Finance Minister spoke at length about helping the middle class, but my first impression of the budget plan, is it does little to address the growing inequality in our country,” said Stetski. “People in our region are rightfully asking, ‘if the economy is doing so well, why am I not feeling those benefits?’”

Stetski is also concerned that the Liberals are failing to respond to the urgency of climate change, by delaying most of the funding until after the next election.

“There seems to be gasp between the plans laid out in the budget, and the money to make them happen. Action on climate change is one example, and pay equity is another,” said Stetski. “The legislation on pay equity is long overdue, but there is actually no funding or estimate in the Liberals’ budget allocated to the implementation of pay equity legislation for federal government employees.”

The lift in funding to support parks and conservation is good news.

Stetski continues to voice his concern about the continuing trend of deficit spending; this budget will add another $18.1 billion dollars to Canada’s deficit.

“The Liberals continue to spend much more then they promised in the election,” said Stetski. “I am not sure that the people of Kootenay-Columbia are benefiting today in a way that justifies leaving that burden to the next generation.”