Parliament must address the cost of living

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/11/2021 (565 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the 44th Parliamentary session approaches, I have been reflecting on the critical issues facing our community.

A concern that many of you have shared with me is inflation, which is at an 18-year high. The overall cost of living is up 4.4 per cent compared to 2020. Since last year, food prices in Canada have risen overall by 3.9 per cent; meat is up by 9.5 percent and baby food saw an increase of 5 per cent.

The skyrocketing cost of living is hurting millions of Canadians, especially those on fixed incomes like many seniors, as well as growing families and new Canadians. A recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that more than one-third of Canadians have struggled to afford enough food for their families during the pandemic. I have heard first-hand from food banks across Winnipeg that they are facing increased demand. We know a primary driver of rising costs for groceries has been supply chain issues here in Canada and across the globe.

However, the Bank of Canada has flooded the Canadian economy with billions of newly printed dollars over the past 19 months of the pandemic, which has devalued our dollar. We are now experiencing the real consequences of the federal government spending more than it earns in revenue from taxpayers, and its impact on Canadians.

Your federal Conservative team, led by Erin O’Toole, will continue to pressure the Liberal government to act on the inflation crisis, lower the cost of living, and increase the size of your paycheques.

The next session of Parliament begins on Nov. 22. I will hold the government to account for its record on these and other issues, and debate legislation that will improve the lives of all Canadians.

I want to know what issues are most important to you and your family. Please share your thoughts with my office by emailing me at  raquel.dancho@parl.gc.ca or by calling 204-984-6322. I review each comment personally.

 

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This Remembrance Day I was privileged to take part in Henderson Legion No. 215’s drive-through Poppy Remembrance event, and the Remembrance Day service in West St. Paul. Thank you to everyone who picked up a Lest We Forget lawn sign from their local legions to proudly show their support for our veterans.

I also wish to thank all the families who stopped by the Halloween drive-thru at my office. We handed out over 300 treat bags and it was great to see so many smiling faces and fun costumes.