Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government released their first federal budget yesterday.
Here are both the statements from our local MPs.
Chris Malette, Liberal MP for the Bay of Quinte
“I am absolutely, rock-solid proud to be behind Finance Minister Champagne’s Canada Strong Budget 2025 because it was crafted after several months of consultations across the country and with everyone from financial sectors to first nations to make sure we got it right.
For instance, we are investing $150 billion in infrastructure that will resonate right down to our riding of Bay of Quinte for roads, sewers, water and wastewater infrastructure to get homes – affordable homes – built faster and more efficiently.
We are not only investing heavily and strategically in infrastructure, but we’re also investing in artificial intelligence, protecting and strengthening our intellectual property and banking systems and most importantly also making significant investments in health care at the community and regional levels. Both of these announcements today are good news for the Bay of Quinte and the projects we know need the investments and commitment to launch. We’re not standing still on these important commitments. As Champagne said, we are making responsible and pragmatic solutions to right-sizing our government services. The rate at which our bureaucracy has been growing – up to 8% per year – is simply unsustainable. Using AI and smarter solutions to deliver more timely and efficient services. Highways, airports, ports are all on the books for infrastructure investment and that is good news for Quinte. And for the first time in modern memory, we will invest directly in health to help build hospitals and clinics that are sorely needed. Expanding the north and our own 8 Wing is the military strategic airlift gateway to an expanded north. The massive investments we’re making at CFB Trenton, millions of dollars invested in our community in support of the huge expansions there, will ensure there will be an important and expanding role for our squadrons and services at Trenton in linking services to that expanding north. Investing $1 trillion to the economy over the next 5 years will mean an average increase in wages for the average Canadian by $3,000 a year.”
Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative MP for Hastings, Lennox and Addington, and Tynedinaga
“Canadians expected this budget to show fiscal responsibility and real solutions to our most pressing challenges; reducing government spending, increasing housing supply and tackling the inflation that continues to drive up the cost of living for far too many of our friends, families and neighbours. Unfortunately, this budget falls short. Instead of a plan for stability and prudence, the government has announced record-high deficit spending. What Canadians needed was a focused, disciplined approach to taxpayer dollars, one that delivers results, not more debt. While I do applaud certain measures, the overall direction of this budget does not reflect the balanced leadership our economy needs. Many promises have been made, but will they deliver? As presented, this budget does not serve the best interests of Canada, her industries or the people of Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga. Unless meaningful changes are made, I cannot support it and will be voting against it when it reaches the floor of the House of Commons.”
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