The federal Conservatives have been very critical of this week’s Speech from the Throne, particularly on the topic of western alienation.
Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo MP, Cathy McLeod, said on the NL Morning News, what’s fueling that sentiment in BC and on the Prairies is the Liberals stance against the development of our natural resources. “We know that we have a country that perhaps is pretty divided right now.”
“We have a strong feeling of alienation and also concern. If you visit Alberta, in terms of their whole energy industry, certainly the current government is wanting to shut down that industry.”
McLeod would like to see Canadian oil being developed instead of importing it from overseas. “From my perspective and from the people in Alberta’s perspective is while we need products, while we need oil, let’s use Canadian oil rather that oil from Saudi Arabia, lets’ get our oil east instead of ships coming down the St Lawrence river.”
She doesn’t know how Canada will get out of the red with Ottawa’s attitude to both the oil and gas industry along with our beleaguered forestry sector. “So the fact that this government wants to shut them down, one of the biggest drivers of the economy. So, when they said it’s not the time for austerity, but they want to shut down some of the biggest drivers of our economy so how we’re ever going to get back to a fiscal situation that’s reasonable is very difficult.”
As far as the Prime Minister proroguing Parliament goes, McLeod says “I don’t actually know why we had shut down Parliament for five weeks in order to have this speech.”
McLeod say her party isn’t against everything in the Throne speech. “The one area I do want to note that I think is reasonable and we do support is some additional support for the businesses. So, the continuation of the wage subsidy but those things were already in the works.”