The Conservative Party is pushing for an urgent debate on inflation before the House of Representatives raises for the summer holidays, as the consumer price index (CPI) rose last month at an annual rate not seen since January 1983.
Ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, Conservative House leader John Brasard told reporters that the party would ask the House Speaker to debate three issues, one of which is rising living costs.
“The first issue is inflation and affordability. “Obviously, with inflation figures this morning at 40-year highs – the impact it has on Canadians, families, businesses across the country,” he said.
Brasard said the party is turning its attention from issues that could be addressed at the autumn session of parliament, such as hybrid sessions, to issues that he says require immediate attention.
He cited continuing delays in passports and allegations of political interference in the RCMP’s investigation into the mass shooting in Nova Scotia as other priorities.
Canadian statistics said on Wednesday that the consumer price index rose 7.7 percent in May from a year ago, largely due to higher gas prices.
“Higher prices for services such as hotels and restaurants have also contributed to the increase. “Food prices and housing costs remained high in May, as price growth remained unchanged on an annual basis,” the agency said.
Conservative MP and critic of financial and housing inflation Dan Albas noted that the last time the consumer price index rose at this rate, Pierre Elliott Trudeau was prime minister.
Albas said Finance Minister Christia Freeland had been warned that the government’s stimulus spending would lead to this.
“It makes life harder for Canadians at a time when the government needs to try to make things easier. So this is putting more pressure on the Bank of Canada and the government is to blame, “he said on Wednesday.
NDP leader Jagmit Singh also drew attention to inflation concerns today, raising several proposals to return the money to Canadians.
“Our proposal is one that will not increase inflation. It is a matter of redistribution of unforeseen revenues in the system. “The unforeseen revenue from the GST that the government currently has as a result of inflation – we can redistribute it back through a tax credit to the GST,” he said.
Singh also proposed a $ 500 increase in child allowances in Canada.
He said the party had consulted with a number of economists on its strategy and discussed the idea with the prime minister.
During a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Toronto on Monday, Freeland said the government was committed to “fiscal tightening” and promoted liberal programs aimed at reducing the cost of living, such as new parenting deals. for $ 10 a day with the provinces.
The session of the Chamber is planned to be interrupted on Thursday, giving the deputies a short term to participate in an urgent debate.
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