Canadians who want a balanced budget outnumber those who support the current Liberal approach, creating a big political opportunity for the Conservatives to exploit.
In the wake of the latest federal budget – another high-spending, high-tax, inflationary economic ‘plan’ – a new Angus Reid survey shows Canadians are tiring of the Liberal economic approach.
When given the choice between supporting a return to a balanced budget and supporting Liberal spending increases, a plurality chose the more Conservative approach.
45% agreed with the statement “The government is taking the wrong approach – it is spending too much and should balance the budget.”
Meanwhile, 33% agreed with the statement “The government is taking the right approach – investing in industries and supporting lower-income Canadians.”
22% said they were “unsure/can’t say”.
83% of Conservatives support the balanced budget approach, while just 8% support the high-spending approach.
57% of Liberals support the high-spending approach, compared to 19% who want a balanced budget.
54% of New Democrats support the high-spending approach, compared to 19% who support a balanced budget.
And 44% of Bloc voters want a balanced budget, compared to 24% who support higher spending.
The Liberals should be particularly concerned with the fact that a full 43% of their own supporters either want a return to a balanced budget or are unsure about whether they support the Liberal economic approach or not.
Conservative opportunity
This presents a real opportunity for the Conservatives.
45% of Canadians wanting a balanced budget is a larger number than recent polls show supporting the Conservatives, giving them opportunity to grow. This also shows CPC Leader Pierre Poilievre remains on the right track with Canadians, as he and the Conservatives have been articulating a principled Conservative position when it comes to government spending.
The Conservatives do face a potential risk if they campaign against the dental benefit plan, as the survey shows 76% of Canadians think it is a “good” or “great” idea. However, only 35% say it will benefit them/their household, and the plan is only a promise from the government at this point, a promise from a government that lies constantly.
Canadians are also split on the idea of a clean energy/technology tax credit. 44% support the whopping $35 billion tax credit proposal, while 41% are opposed.
Returning to the deficit taboo?
Canada suffered greatly due to the consequences of Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s insane socialist spending sprees. For two decades, both Liberal and Conservative governments were forced to make very difficult decisions to prevent a debt spiral, and this led to the formation of a long-standing taboo around budget deficits. That taboo was tested during the global financial crisis, but remained in place when the Harper government balanced the books in their final year in office.
It was further strained when Trudeau took office, but even he had to promise to return to balance quickly.
Of course, that promise was broken, and Canada has run massive budget deficits ever since.
Yet, the deficits taboo may not be dead after all.
Canadians are starting to see that the more Trudeau gives stuff out to people, the more everything costs. Government largesse and rampant inflation are closely linked, and without a return to fiscal responsibility we can’t get back to a more stable, low-inflation economy.
As Canadians realize this, they could increasingly turn against Trudeau’s policies and demand a return to fiscal responsibility.
Spencer Fernando
