As we gear up for today's federal budget announcement, the National Citizens Coalition is watching closely with higher expectations than the last ten years. After a decade of deliberate fiscal mismanagement under the Trudeau Liberals, it's time for a bold shift toward responsible governance that prioritizes everyday Canadians over bureaucratic excess and insider cronyism and corruption.

We're advocating for a budget that delivers real change. Here's what we're hoping to see:

First, meaningful cuts to superfluous spending. Ottawa's bloated bureaucracy and duplicative programs waste billions annually -- think endless consultants and failed initiatives that do little for productivity and deliver even less. A traditionally liberal approach, from a supposed economic expert, would seek to axe these inefficiencies, freeing up resources for tax relief and core services like healthcare and infrastructure.

Second, a serious reduction in the deficit. Canada's national debt has skyrocketed to over $1.2 trillion under the Liberals, burdening future generations with interest payments that now rival defence spending. This is unsustainable and crowds out private investment. We need a path to balance that echoes the fiscal discipline of past governments, ensuring we don't repeat the inflationary traps of the Trudeau era.

Third, a clear break from the continuation of the Trudeau years. No more reckless virtue-signalling or divisive policies that pit Canadians against each other. No more endless subsidies for Liberal pet projects. Let's focus on unity, economic growth, and restoring faith in our failing institutions.

Fourth, a firm commitment to reduced immigration numbers. Current unchecked levels have strained housing, healthcare, unemployment numbers, and suppressed wages without adequate planning or even routine safety and security checks. Securing the civic health of a nation through sustainable population growth must be about returning to quality, not just quantity, to ensure one of the worst housing, youth unemployment, and healthcare crises in the Western World finally comes to an end. This generational imbalance cannot continue.

Fifth, decisive action to build and get out of the way on the Great Canadian energy projects our economy desperately needs. From pipelines and expansions to unleashing Alberta's oil sands and Atlantic offshore resources, we must remove red tape, kill anti-resource bills, and further axe the tax on carbon to boost exports and jobs. Canada's natural resources are a global competitive advantage -- let's harness them to fund prosperity, not stifle them with environmental overregulation.

Finally, an honest admittance that we can't fully uncouple from the American economy, and it's time to put our egos aside. With the U.S. as our largest trading partner, policies that ignore this reality -- like protectionist barriers or prolonged trade spats -- only hurt working Canadians. We're urging pragmatic bilateralism, especially post-USMCA, to secure supply chains and economic stability.

This budget is a pivotal moment to chart a less destructive Liberal course: lower taxes, smaller government, and a stronger Canada. If it falls short, rest assured the NCC will hold the government accountable and continue fighting for these priorities.

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For freedom and fiscal responsibility,

Peter Coleman
President
National Citizens Coalition