Re: “Why provide input when the government doesn’t live up to its promises” opinion column, Jan. 14,
Dear editor,
I think it’s regrettable that a newspaper would imply that people should not contact their MP with their ideas for the federal budget.
Public feedback is vital to my job of representing constituents in the House of Commons. It is essential in helping me to identify the issues that are important to area families, so that those views can be well represented in Ottawa at all times, including during the budget process.
I am glad to see that, despite suggestions to the contrary in the editorial, the writer ended the article by making suggestions for the budget. I hope that many constituents will also make their views known.
Despite the challenges and obstruction by the opposition in a minority Parliament that make it difficult for our government to accomplish all of our objectives, our Conservative government has paid down the national debt and is cutting taxes. The realities of the global economic crisis required extraordinary measures to protect the Canadian economy. Those measures have been very successful and now our focus is on fiscal restraint to eliminate the temporary deficit, to keep taxes low, and to continue to pay down the national debt.
I have recently sent a pre-budget survey to every household in the riding that invites constituents’ input into how we can best meet these objectives. I look forward to reading the responses. In addition, I am holding a series of 13 pre-budget consultations in 11 communities across the riding in the month of January.
I am committed to making the views of my constituents heard in Ottawa and therefore I appreciate any and all feedback I receive through the survey, and I look forward to meeting with you personally at the pre-budget consultations.
Blake Richards, MP
Wild Rose Constituency
