Concerns about affordability and paying everything from rent to groceries is the top concern Lethbridge’s Conservative candidate says she is hearing from residents.
Rachel Thomas says while going door-to-door campaigning people have told her they have had to make tough decisions to make ends meet. According to Thomas, this includes seniors who have shared with her they have needed to choose between paying for their medication or eating properly, paying their rent or paying their utility bills on time.
“I think especially those who are living on a fixed income such as seniors or people who live with a disability are finding this time extremely difficult because of course the cost of food, the cost of shelter and the cost of just about everything is continuing to rise but the amount that they live on stays fixed and so it’s really challenging for them,” Thomas says. “I think after a decade of liberal mismanagement there’s no easy fix. It’s going to take hard work and determination. It’s going to take a smart leader and discipline.”
Thomas states she believes Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada are the best party to navigate that journey because they are focused on creating a future Canadians can afford. According to the Conservative candidate to achieve this goal the country’s economy needs to be “firing on all cylinders” and jobs are being created.
“We need to make sure that that government is being disciplined in terms of its spending so that it’s not driving up inflation and we need to make sure that people’s investments stay strong for their retirement years.”
“We need to make sure that that people are paying less tax money. So to that end let’s scrap the carbon tax altogether forever for everyone unlike [Mark] Carney who will scrap it for a couple of months during the election and then intends to bring it back as an industrial carbon tax should he be elected.”
Other financial measures she says the Conservative Party plans to take include reducing income tax by 15 per cent and lowering home building costs. We’re committed to making life altogether more affordable for Canadians. She also shared numbers released Tuesday as part of the party’s fiscal platform that is committed to decreasing the deficit by 70 per cent.
“It’s important for people to understand why that matters. When we incur a deficit it adds to our overall debt load. We have to pay to service that debt. In other words, we have to pay interest payments,” Thomas says. “Right now our interest payments as a country are more than what we spend on public health care. So we spend more just on servicing our debt than we do on health care for the entire country.”
“If we can be fiscally responsible if we can manage our budget wisely, we can then make sure that social programs such as universal health care and CPP and OAS and GIS and these sorts of things are protected for Canadians. It also means that we’re not saddling the next generation with loads and loads of debt which of course results in greater taxation for them.”
Standing strong against Trump
Addressing the U.S. tariffs and the trade war with the United States, Thomas states it is important to have someone in power who can stand up to President Donald Trump.
“We need to protect Canada’s independence and prosperity, we need to do that by making sure that we’re strong as a country and we’re able to stand on our own two feet. So to that end, it means continuing to develop our economy in a strong and robust way, continue to develop or facilitate opportunities for investment in Canada so that we’re creating more jobs and we’re boosting the economy.”
This according to Thomas includes taking down trade barriers between provinces that prevent internal trade, along with pursuing other markets for Canada’s natural resources. She says an example of this is the $46 billion oil and gas put into the Canadian economy each year, which the incumbent candidate says helps pay for things such as universal health care.
“It’s because of oil and gas that we’re able to enjoy, you know, other social programs that we lean on or roads or bridges or other critical infrastructure that we need as a country. So we have to make sure that that industry stays strong. Right now 98 per cent of our crude oil is going south of the border… The Liberals have traditionally said that there’s no business case for further developing this industry and pursuing relationships with other markets.”
She adds there is plenty of opportunity for Canada’s product in markets across the world and that revenue will help ensure the economy is strong and will protect Canadian social programs.
Running for a better future for current and future generations
Thomas says since becoming a mom this past year it has strengthened her resolve and determination to fight for both her community and country to be strong. While she wants a strong Canada for present generations she also wants a strong Canada for future generations and for her daughter to inherit a country she is proud of.
“I want her to inherit a Canada that she sees herself in, that she can work hard and buy a home and raise a family and have a great future.”
“I want her to be proud of the flag that we fly and I want her to go other places in the world and be proud of the country from which she originates and to be an advocate for us as a nation. I think right now we are facing an incredibly important election.”
Thomas states this could be the most important election in a generation and at the end of the day, those who put their names on the ballot are people with a heart and desire to make the country better.
“For me, certainly, I absolutely love the community of Lethbridge and I love the country of Canada and I want to be a strong advocate for the people in this region and I want to be a strong advocate for a unified country… I believe that our future is vibrant if we can properly manage the present situation that we’re in and the challenges that we face.”
Thomas is running in the Lethbridge riding against Federal NDP Candidate Nathan Svoboda, People’s Party of Canada candidate Clara Piedalue, Liberal candidate Chris Spearman, Christian Heritage Party of Canada candidate Marc Slingerland and Green Party candidate Amber Murray.
Advanced voting for the federal election wrapped up on Monday, April 21st, with general election day on Monday, April 28th.