Dear friends,

Last month, the Liberals released the 2024 budget. Back in 2015, Justin Trudeau had promised that more taxes, more spending, more borrowing and more debt would lead to a utopia where budgets would balance themselves. 9 years later, the federal government spends more on interest payments than on health transfers or national defence. Budget 2024 claims “Fairness for Every Generation” but it will be Canadian workers, seniors, small business owners, and especially the young who pay for Trudeau’s reckless spending.

My thoughts on the 2024 Budget:

Budget 2024 Speech:

In the House of Commons:

When you tax the farmer who grows the food, you are taxing the consumer who buys the food. The House of Commons passed a Conservative Bill to axe the tax on farmers. Liberal Senators gutted the bill and sent it back to the House. One of the Conservative demands to fix the budget is to pass Bill C-234 in its original form.

Axe the Tax on Food Production:

The Liberal government wasted at least $60 million on the ArriveCan app. This app was originally budgeted for $80,000 but ballooned to 750 times the original price. The government let insiders get rich on a faulty app that erroneously sent thousands of Canadians to quarantine.

Insiders got rich off failed #arrivescam app:

My Tribute to the late Ronnie King:

My tribute in the House of Commons to my late friend Ronnie King, bass player of Calgary’s legendary band The Stampeders.

At the Defence Committee:

I am a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence, and regularly question Canada’s Senior Military Officers, bureaucrats, industry experts, academics, and the Minister of Defence. 

The House of Commons passed Shadow Minister for National Defence James Bezan’s motion to cancel Trudeau’s $450 rent hikes on members of the Canadian Armed Forces. He wrote a letter demanding Defence Minister Blair reverse the Liberals rent hikes and immediately reimburse CAF members their rental increased for April and May. Read the letter here.

I also called on the government to cancel the rent increase for base housing. Like all Canadians, CAF members are struggling with the cost of living. Some are homeless. Now more than ever, we need to support our troops.

Cancel the April 1st Rent Increase for CAF Base Housing:

Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre appeared at Defence Committee, possibly for the last time, during our study on transparency. I questioned him about delays in the Access to Information System, lack of transparency and reprisals against whistleblowers in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Transparency Needed for Canadian Armed Forces Misconduct Victims:

This Liberal government continues to use delay as a tactic to frustrate people seeking access to their own information. This includes victims of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces who need the information to file complaints. The time window to file a misconduct complaint may expire before the government releases information that is material to the complaint. The Privacy Commissioner appeared at Defence committee.

Liberals are Blocking Access to Information for CAF Misconduct Victims:

Feedback from Calgarians is very important to me and informs the work I do on your behalf in Ottawa. If you would like to share your thoughts with me on national issues, please feel welcome to contact me through my Calgary office.

It remains my honour to represent you at the House of Commons as your Member of Parliament.

Pat Kelly

In Ottawa

Our Commons Website

If you would like to find out what is happening in the House of Commons or any of its committees, this is a handy online tool. It’s updated in real-time, has links to video feeds and much more. https://www.ourcommons.ca/en

My Inbox

During the past few weeks, correspondence was received about many topics, including the following, in no particular order: 

Community Events

• Arbour Lake: Meet Your Neighbours – May 25
• Citadel: Community Garden Party – May 25
• Hawkwood: Parade of Garage Sales – May 25 
• Kincora: Holi Festival of Colors – May 25
• Nolan Hill: Community Cleanup – May 19 
• Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak: Youth Market – May 25, Family Fun Day – May 25
• Scenic Acres: Bubblegum Boogie – May 24, Summer Camp Sneak Peak – May 25, Family Poker Night – May 31
• Sherwood: Community Cleanup – May 19 
• Silver Springs: Garden Speaker Series – May 15, Jelly Bean Dance – May 24, Parade of Garage Sales – May 25