TORONTO -- Leaders from the other federal parties are responding to the Liberal government鈥檚 newly proposed budget ahead of the first day of debate, with reactions ranging from support to skepticism.
Three opposition leaders appeared on CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Tuesday to discuss the budget. Conservative leader Erin O鈥橳oole would not say whether his party will support the budget or not, but NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has said his party will support it in order to avoid an election during the pandemic.
The budget is expected to pass with the support of the NDP.
O鈥橳oole said the budget, in his party鈥檚 view, both spends too much and does not address enough problems, saying it suffers from a 鈥渓ack of focus.鈥�
He said the budget supplies only 鈥淏and-Aid鈥� support for businesses, and that they will require 鈥渟ome specific supports鈥� beyond what the budget promises.
鈥淲e knew there was going to be a deficit in the pandemic, of course,鈥� he said, but added that the deficit of $354 billion is too much, in his view.
鈥淢r. Trudeau has no plan to ever get close back to some sort of fiscal balance.鈥�
He believes there should be more of a focus on how to get people working again during the pandemic.
鈥淕et the economy moving and then lower the emergency spending,鈥� he said.
The Conservatives will table amendments to the 700 page budget today. The Bloc Quebecois, as the third-largest party, will also add a sub-amendment. The Bloc has stated that they want more support given to provinces for health-care transfers.
While the NDP expressed early on that they would support the budget, Singh鈥檚 concerns are that the budget leaves off many items his party has fought for, such as pharmacare and a universal basic income.
鈥淭he Liberals chose not to ask the ultra-rich to pay their fair share, they didn鈥檛 put in the tax on extreme wealth, there鈥檚 a lot of things they didn鈥檛 do,鈥� he told Your Morning.
But while he believes 鈥渢here鈥檚 certainly some serious problems,鈥� he said he is in favour of supporting the budget because 鈥渢here鈥檚 no way I would ever trigger an election while we鈥檙e going through this third wave.鈥�
He said it would be 鈥渦nsafe and unfair to Canadians,鈥� who he said do not want to face an election during this health crisis.
Green Party Leader Annamie Paul told Your Morning that the Liberals鈥� budget did not go far enough.
The budget promises $17.6 billion in green investments and policies, but it鈥檚 only 鈥渁 start,鈥� she said, adding that our green plan needs to be 鈥渕ore ambitious than what we saw in the budget [yesterday].鈥�
鈥淲e always welcome investments in green technology, green infrastructure,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e looking for is a green recovery.
鈥淲e need to increase our commitment for reducing greenhouse gases.鈥�
She added that while there is an extension of support for commercial renters included in the budget, there is no additional assistance promised for residential renters.
鈥淲e have seen a massive spike in evictions,鈥� she said, adding these are people who 鈥渘eed real help right now.鈥�
She said they were 鈥渟till digging through鈥� the budget, but implied her party would be supportive.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of things in there that we support, and that I think most Canadians support,鈥� she said.
When it comes to the government鈥檚 sweeping child-care plan, which pledged $30 billion in national daycare, both O鈥橳oole and Singh expressed doubt.
鈥淭his is the ninth time the Liberal party of Canada has promised this program,鈥� O'Toole said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a massive pledge of funds that might leave a lot of families out.鈥�
He added that child-care services are delivered by provinces, and said that they were not consulted.
Singh said he had 鈥渘ot a lot of faith鈥� that the childcare rollout will be successful.
鈥淢y concern is that the Liberals are very quick to make a promise, they promised pharmacare for example,鈥� he said, adding that the government had then "walked away from it.鈥�
O鈥橳oole did not give a firm answer on whether he鈥檇 vote in favour the budget, pointing out that the NDP have already given it support.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to table our amendments, see how the debate goes,鈥� he said.
Singh stated that although he鈥檚 pledged support, he still believes his party can positively impact the budget.
He pointed out that early on in the pandemic, the NDP fought to increase the wage subsidy for small and medium businesses announced last spring to 75 per cent, after the government initially announced a 10 per cent wage subsidy.
鈥淲e鈥檒l continue to fight for Canadians at every step of the way,鈥� he said.
