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Although it is not the role of the Official Opposition to defend the government, it is worth stating a basic reality: before any government can fix a problem, it must first acknowledge that the problem exists.

This is where Canadians play a crucial role. The information, questions, complaints, and challenges that citizens bring forward to their elected representatives are often the clearest early warning signs that government programs or services are failing to work as intended.

A recent example is access to paper tax filing packages. The Canada Revenue Agency has moved aggressively toward a paperless system. In doing so, it has made tax filing more difficult for some Canadians—particularly seniors, rural residents, and those without reliable internet access.

As I have said before, the federal government should never make it harder for Canadians to pay their taxes. Yet that is exactly what has happened.

This brings me to another issue.

On March 25, during Question Period in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that “affordability is the best it has been in over a decade.” This week, the Prime Minister was asked again whether he still believes that statement to be true. In response, he said that rents are falling, wages are rising, and the economy is growing. Based on those factors, he claimed this is why affordability is now better than it has been in more than ten years.

As members of the Official Opposition, we strongly disagree.

Canada currently has the highest food inflation in the G7. Canadians are carrying record levels of household debt, and housing costs remain painfully high. At the same time, Canada’s economy per person is shrinking, placing us among the weakest performers in the G7.

For most Canadians, affordability is not an abstract economic theory—it is about whether there is enough money left at the end of the month to cover the basics. Many people are not comfortable talking openly about financial stress. Still, I regularly hear from constituents who are struggling. Often, they ask whether there is a government program to help them absorb rising costs.

Others are more direct. They tell me that taxes, when added together, take too much of their paycheque and leave them with too little to live on. One concern I hear more often now comes from people who take on a second job to make ends meet—only to discover that higher taxes and deductions sharply reduce the extra income they expected to earn.

Which leads me to my question for this week:

Are you struggling to pay your bills at the end of the month?

Your feedback helps me do my job. You are welcome to share your thoughts on my Facebook page or contact me directly at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) , or toll‑free at 1‑800‑665‑8711.

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Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Okanagan Lake West - South Kelowna, Shadow Minister for Transport and the Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Dan's riding includes the communities of Kelowna (Mission, South Kelowna & East Kelowna within specific boundaries), West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland.
You can reach Dan by calling 1-800-665-8711, emailing [email protected] or please visit: DanAlbasMP.ca
Our mailing address is:
Dan Albas MP
101-3731 Old Okanagan Hwy
West Kelowna, British Columbia V4T 0G7
Canada

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