Reacting to the fall federal budget released yesterday, Newfoundland and Labrador NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) says that not only does the budget fall short on any real relief on affordability for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, but it leaves people with more questions than answers.
“The federal Liberal’s call this budget ‘generational’, but it does little to help working families across this country, especially here in Newfoundland and Labrador, with relief on the cost of living they so desperately need,” said Dinn.
One major concern he raises is with the lack of additional funding for the federal Pharmacare program.
“It’s good to see social services like the school lunch program and dental care will continue, but I have questions about the lack of funding for pharmacare,” Dinn said. “We saw the former NL Liberals delay action, refusing to ensure that people in our province – where one in three have diabetes – have access to free medications. I urge Premier Wakeham to engage with Prime Minister Carney immediately to demand to join this essential program.”
“It is particularly concerning for families of public service workers, who are now anxious about job cuts during an already challenging economic period. With around 8,000 public service employees in our province and an estimated 40,000 jobs being cut nationally over the next four years, I am deeply worried, not just for the workers, but also for the quality of services they provide to Canadians. Cutting our public service is not the solution.”
“I always welcome investments in affordable housing, but I am left questioning what the government’s plan is to ensure affordability for new builds,” said Dinn. “This cannot be left to the profit-driven private market. Canadians – and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians – deserve a concrete plan that prioritizes affordable, non-market community housing. From what I see in this budget, it’s unclear whether that is the case.”
“While this budget shows investments to our economy, it really misses the mark. Working families across this country and in our province needed real relief, not more strain. Building a stronger Canada shouldn’t come at the expense of the very people who hold it together.”