Report From Parliament Hill

Eric Melillo, MP, Kenora Riding

Dear Constituents 

This week, the House of Commons debated the NDP-Liberal government’s budget. After 9 years, the government’s budget is just more of the same that got us into this mess:

• They did not stop the inflationary deficits that are driving up interest rates.
  
• They did not stop endangering our social programs and jobs by adding more and more debt.
  
• They did not present a plan to lower taxes for Canadians.
  

The NDP-Liberal government is not worth the cost for any generation. The government has doubled rent, mortgage payments and down payments. Their record deficits have driven interest rates sky-high.
Food banks received a record two million visits in a single month last year, with a million additional people expected in 2024.
While life has gotten worse for Canadians, the government is spending more than ever before. This year’s budget will include nearly $40 billion in new inflationary spending. 
This year, Canada will spend $54.1 billion to service their debt. This is more money than the government is sending the provinces for health care.
Both the Bank of Canada and former Liberal Finance Minister, John Manley, told the government that they were pressing on the inflationary gas pedal with their spending that ballooned interest rates. As a result, the Bank of Canada went on the most aggressive interest rate hike campaign in its history. As the millions of Canadians renewing their mortgages know, the NDP-Liberal government just isn’t worth the cost.
Struggling families can’t afford higher taxes and more inflationary spending that drives up the cost of everything and keeps interest rates high. That is why Common Sense Conservatives sent a letter to the Prime Minister with three demands to fix the budget:
1.    Axe the tax on farmers and food by immediately passing Bill C-234 in its original form.
2.    Build the homes, not bureaucracy, by requiring cities permit 15% more home building each year as a condition for receiving federal infrastructure money.
3.    Cap the spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule to bring down interest rates and inflation. The government must find a dollar in savings for every new dollar of spending.
The government refused to listen. As a result, Common Sense Conservatives voted against the budget. Unfortunately, the NDP voted to prop up the Liberals once again. Only a Conservative government will take action to bring home lower prices.
Working for You 
If you’re planning to be in Ottawa and are interested in attending Question Period or taking a tour of Parliament, please let me know and my office can help reserve Question Period and tour tickets. 
As always, if there is anything my office can assist you with, please call me at 807-223-2182 (Dryden) or 807-468-2170 (Kenora) or email me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Eric Melillo
Member of Parliament
Kenora Riding