I represented constituents at city hall

Recently I appeared before Edmonton city council as they deliberated their 2021 budget. I felt it was important to share some of the feedback I’ve heard this year from my Edmonton Griesbach constituents. Let me know if you have other thoughts you’d like to share with me about civic issues. Here’s my speech to city council:

Good evening everyone. I’m Kerry Diotte the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Griesbach.

As many of you know, I’m a former city councillor and ex-journalist. 

In fact, Councillor McKeen and I wrote popular city hall columns for competing newspapers.

 

 

 

(Send feedback to [email protected])

Mind-blowing Liberal spending spree a massive rip-off of future generations

By: JOHN IVISON
Postmedia

But taxpayers befuddled by millions, billions and trillions should understand that what is taking place is a massive rip-off of future generations, who will be handed the bill for today’s consumption.

The cost of servicing that debt is as low as it has ever been and the government touts a management strategy that locks into low rates by issuing more long-term debt.

But that doesn’t mean taxpayers aren’t obliged to pay it off; it just means they will never stop paying it off.

As Paul Boothe, a former senior public servant at Finance Canada, put it, we need to have a discussion about taxes.

Even before its $100 billion stimulus package, daycare, pharmacare or new health transfers, Ottawa plans to spend an average of 17.6 per cent of GDP on programs over the next six years, up from 12.9 per cent in 2014/15. Budgetary revenues, as a percentage of the economy, are predicted to average 14.3 per cent over the same period, while real growth is expected to be an anaemic 1.4 per cent, thanks in part to an aging population.

The sharper minds out there might see the problem here.

“Giving away money is the easiest thing to do in government. Collecting it is less easy. And the hardest thing is to deliver services efficiently,” said Boothe.

“With permanent programs, you need to talk about how you are going to fund them. We need to know the costs as well as the benefits.”

(Read the full article by John Ivison, Edmonton Journal at the link below)

 

 

Send a Christmas card to a Canadian Forces member

I think it’s important to send a card to a member of the Canadian Forces this Christmas who might be a long way from home. You can send one to this address:

Any Canadian Armed Forces Member
P.O. Box 5004 Stn. Forces
Belleville, Ont. K8N 5W6

Last week’s straw poll results 

Last week I asked folks if they supported defunding the police here in Edmonton.

There was a large turnout and people overwhelmingly said they didn’t support defunding the police. 

A big thanks to everyone who took part.

 

Have your say

The Liberal government has announced that COVID-19 vaccines should be available for all Canadians sometime in 2021. They will only be available after a thorough examination by Health Canada to ensure that they’re safe.

When the vaccine is available I’ll be getting it, will you?  

Have your say in my new unofficial poll. I’ll publish the results in next week’s e-newsletter. 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest news on COVID-19 

 

You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Public Health or the Public Health Agency of Canada. 

Alberta Public Health can also be reached by phone at 811.

Benefits available for Canadians

There are programs available to help you and your family. 

 

 

 

In the news

• Kovrig, Spavor are still in jail. A new campaign wants to bombard Chinese embassies with cards. Link
• Trudeau needs strong messaging, ‘coherent plan’ for rollout of vaccine, or he could suffer political consequences, say veteran political players. Link
• Mincing words about COVID dangers might well cost lives. Link
• How Justin Trudeau killed the balanced budget. Link
• 11-year-old Muskan Jiwa of Edmonton wins national spelling bee championship. Link
• “Climate change denier” added to Rex Murphy’s Wikipedia page by government IP address. Link
• Trump trumps Trudeau in reducing greenhouse gases. Link
• Protest erupts in Senate after accusations against PM in WE Charity scandal. Link
• Ottawa has spent $240B fighting COVID-19 in just 8 months. A CBC investigation follows the money. Link

 

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I want to hear from you 

I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?

Drop me a note at my e-mail address.

Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.

Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.

Thanks so much. Stay healthy!

E-mail:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

Mail (postage free): 
Kerry Diotte, MP 
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6