MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Although he says he sees a few positives in new federal budget, Red Deer-Deer-Mountain View Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen says he’s disappointed there isn’t more support for the agriculture industry.
The budget was released April 7, outlining the Liberal government’s financial plans for 2022.
“We have been talking about relief for certain agricultural inputs, but we’ve seen nothing on that,” Dreeshen told the Albertan. “There is very little being done strictly for agriculture. There’s more roadblocks than anything else.
“I was hoping there would be a little more common sense coming through but they (government) are still pushing their 30 per cent reduction in fertilizer use at a time the world needs efficient-grown foods to sell around the world and to help in those areas that are major breadbaskets in Europe that are going to be under extreme pressure.”
He said he is also disappointed with the budget as it relates to western Canada’s oil and gas industry.
“Though I applaud the decision to finally move forward with Newfoundland’s offshore oil production project, our western supplies of clean and ethical hydrocarbons are once again on their own. The world needs our oil and gas expertise but we are being frozen out of this discussion,” he said.
“All of these tools that we have developed to make us so efficient, unfortunately there is no recognition of that by this federal government and I think that is one of key things that has to stay in the front of everybody’s mind.”
The budget does not do enough to help people struggle with high inflation, he said.
“Albertans are looking for a budget that will make life more affordable. This is not that plan,” he said.
Asked if there are things he likes about the budget, he said, “The enhanced defence spending I think is important. There is also $3.8 million for critical mineral strategy and I think that is important too. It is something that is going to need to be discussed.
“And there has been a small improvement in the small business tax rate. Basically they are speeding up the schedule on that and that is somewhat beneficial; but if you tie that into the actually overall costs that small businesses are going to have things are completely unaffordable at this time.”
Under the new Liberal-NDP confidence and supply agreement, the budget is expected to pass.
