Deluge of federal pre-budget announcements draws fire from opposition, premiers

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to face resistance from the Conservative opposition and some provincial leaders as time ticks down to the federal budget on April 16.

In a letter to the prime minister released on Sunday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievreagain articulated his critique of the government's handling of a range of issues from housing, to the carbon tax, to the economy more generally.

He said the federal government would need to meet three demands to gain Conservative support: abolishing the carbon tax; adopting a Conservative proposal on housing; and ending government spending that is not accompanied by equivalent cuts.

"Common Sense Conservatives will only agree to support the budget if these three conditions are met," Poilievre said in the letter. "It's time for you to turn the hurt your government has caused into the hope Canadians desperately need."

Trudeau has staunchly defended the carbon tax in recent weeks and is unlikely to accede to Poilievre's other proposals.

The NDP-Liberal supply-and-confidence agreement means that the governing Liberals will likely have enough support to pass budget legislation without support from other opposition parties.

WATCH | Poilievre calls on PM to put brakes on spending:

Poilievre sends his budget demands to Trudeau

5 months ago

Duration 2:04

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre released a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau detailing three key demands for the upcoming federal budget. Poilievre wants more carbon tax exemptions, more homes built and a cap on spending.

Trudeau and federal ministers have been on a countrywide tour in recent weeks to make a series of pre-budget announcements. Many of those announcements have focused on housing, but Trudeau has also signalled the government's intent to launch a national school food programand invest inthe artificial intelligence sector.

The announcements have often taken a campaigntone, with Trudeau frequently taking the opportunity to launch attacks on Poilievre.

"Pierre Poilievre has continued to promote austerity and cuts as the path forward for Canada and for Canadians. He is wrong," Trudeau said Sunday in Montreal following his announcement on AI spending.

He also defendedhis handling of the economy and deficit, which Poilievre has attacked.

"The job of an opposition leader is to criticize the government, we get that. But it's not to fearmonger," Trudeau said.

Some of the forthcoming budget measures have also run up against provincial opposition, which could pose a challenge.

The national school food program and various housing announcements would require provincial buy-in to be effective.

WATCH | New Brunswick premier discusses carbon tax, housing:

N.B. premier pitches natural gas exports as alternative to carbon tax

5 months ago

Duration 8:55

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is asking for an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss carbon tax alternatives such as converting coal plants to natural gas.

Carbon tax continues to animate premiers

In an interview that aired Sunday onRosemary Barton Live, New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs said he would considerco-operatingon the government's new housing infrastructure fund, but only if they could have an open discussion about it.

"I want to work with the federal government;I don't like the concept of bypassing the provincial government in order to make things happen in a way that [Trudeau] feels most productive," he told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

In a separate interview, Alberta cabinet minister Jason Nixon, whose portfolio includes housing, said the federal government was not investing equally across provinces, nor was it devotingsufficient resources to Indigenous communities. And he took exception to the government's approach to cross-jurisdictional issues.

"They've continued to come into our province, bypass the provincial government, try to work with municipalities or other providers directly. This is not appropriate," he said.

"This province will not be bribed by federal money to let the federal government continue to come into our province and enter our jurisdiction."

Premiers also continue to push the federal government on the carbon tax, which has for months been a point of contention between the Liberals and several provincial leaders.

WATCH | Justin Trudeau defends carbon tax:

Trudeau responds to criticism carbon tax rollout was a 'dumpster fire'

5 months ago

Duration 5:00

In an interview with CBCs Matt Galloway, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the rollout of the recent carbon tax hike, which one critic described as a dumpster fire.

Andrew Furey, the Liberal premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, sent a letter to Trudeau last week asking for an emergency federal-provincial meeting on the issue.

Higgs told Barton that premiers had not received a response on that request. He argued that the federal government should allow provinces flexibility in their approach to reducing emissions and take a global view allowing exports like national gas to help reduce emissions in other countries.

Trudeau has challenged premiers calling for an end to the carbon taxto instead come up with their own domestic plans to reduce emissions.

"If the premiers want to propose individually or collectively another way of fighting climate change and supporting affordability for Canadians, I'm all ears," Trudeau said Sunday.

WATCH | Alberta minister on pre-budget announcements:

Alberta won't be 'bribed by federal money' on housing policy, minister says

5 months ago

Duration 9:51

The federal government has made several announcements related to the 2024 budget ahead of its unveiling on April 16. In response, Alberta's government accused Ottawa of playing politics and overreaching in their housing plan. Jason Nixon, Alberta's minister of seniors, community and social services, expressed his concerns to CBC's Rosemary Barton.