Nunavik MP denounces Liberals’ federal fall economic statement

Sylvie Bérubé says update lacks ‘concrete measures’ to support region

Nunavik MP Sylvie Bérubé denounced the federal government’s fall economic statement released Monday, saying it is “lacking in concrete measures” to support her region. (File photo)

By Kierstin Williams

Nunavik MP Sylvie Bérubé says she denounces the federal government’s fall economic statement delivered Monday.

The statement’s release followed the abrupt resignation earlier in the day of finance minister Chrystia Freeland. Instead of being introduced by Freeland, it was instead tabled by Liberal House leader Karina Gould.

Bérubé, the Bloc Quebecois member whose Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou riding includes Nunavik, said the update will go down in history for the wrong reasons and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lost the confidence of his own cabinet and MPs.

“All that Quebecers will remember from this exercise are the historic deficits caused by electoral handouts, which are dividing the Liberals and which led minister Chrystia Freeland to resign,” Bérubé said in a written response to Nunatsiaq News.

“This is the first time a government has been so divided that a finance minister refuses to present the exercise, refuses to take responsibility for it, and resigns dramatically.”

In a letter addressed to Trudeau and posted to social media, Freeland questioned the prime minister’s handling of the economy and said she and Trudeau had been “at odds about the best path forward for Canada.”

Noting U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on products imported from Canada, Freeland decried “costly political gimmicks” that Canada cannot afford now.

The government instituted a two-month GST holiday on many products for the Christmas period, and proposed a one-time $250 rebate for most working Canadians for early next year.

The economic statement revealed a deficit of nearly $61.9 billion for the last fiscal year — approximately $20 billion more than Freeland said it would be earlier this year.

Bérubé said the update lacks “concrete measures” to help citizens in Nunavik and the federal government is failing to meet their needs.

“Our communities have unique challenges in terms of affordable housing, assistance for seniors, access to services and support for businesses,” she said.

“This document marks a new milestone in the disintegration of the Liberal government, which we are witnessing in real time.”

Bérubé said Trudeau does not have the legitimacy to govern without a new mandate and should call an election, echoing a similar statement by Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet on Tuesday that pushed for an election as early as January.

On Monday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called for Trudeau to “resign” after Freeland quit cabinet.

Nunatsiaq News attempted to contact Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout but she was not available for comment.

 

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(5) Comments:

  1. Posted by Victor Mesher on

    who?

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    • Posted by Lol on

      You know who she is, you comment this on every post that mentions her .

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      • Posted by Mephistopheles on

        Nunavut has an MP?!! For real?
        Go figure…..😂

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  2. Posted by Nunavimiuk on

    Justin knows , he is done for !!!

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  3. Posted by John K on

    I wish we could just skip all the preamble and jump right to the next guy being just as bad.

    All the pretending that the Blue Liberals will be better is exhausting.

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