Nash: Trudeau still foggy on what he’ll cut

Today, while in Trois-Rivieres, Justin Trudeau refused to answer the direct question about whether he would follow in the footsteps of his economic advisor former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, and cut transfers to the provinces to make up for his $10 billion-plus deficits.

“It wasn’t just the weather that was foggy today in Trois-Rivieres, it was once again Justin Trudeau’s answers on what services he’ll cut,” said NDP industry critic Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park). “If Justin Trudeau is going to cut transfers to the provinces that’s going to have a significant impact on the provinces in areas like, healthcare, education and seniors care. We can’t go back to the Paul Martin cuts of the 1990s.”

Nash once again pointed out that the size of the Liberal cut needed in 2019 to balance the budget is already larger than the entire annual provincial budgets of at least four Canadian provinces. Cuts in transfers to the province would only make the holes in his budget plan even bigger.

“Canada can’t afford Justin Trudeau’s cuts to our vital services. Tom Mulcair and the NDP have a concrete, costed plan that is affordable – it’s a plan that will work even in difficult economic times,” said Nash. “Mr. Trudeau has a responsibility to be clear with Canadians for once about what he’s going to cut and how deep.”