Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison said he has mixed emotions regarding several items in the 2021 federal budget. (File photo/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Harrison Reaction

Minister Jeremy Harrison expresses mixed emotions on federal budget

Apr 22, 2021 | 2:18 PM

With the first federal budget since 2019 finally being released, Meadow Lake MP Jeremy Harrison expressed mixed emotions regarding the Canadian government’s financial blueprint.

“I would say there are some things that we would view positively, and some things that we would view negatively,” Harrison stated.

Among some of the items looked upon favourably by Saskatchewan government officials are funding for the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) and the creation of the National Pandemic Centre in Saskatoon. The Minister also highlighted increased resources for Saskatchewan in Western Economic Diversification.

Harrison shared his satisfaction with the investments in healthcare and business innovation, adding he had been working alongside federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne for several months on ushering in the National Pandemic Centre.

“We had been working with the federal government on a joint-funding arrangement that will create a facility that will be able to go from research to production of vaccines, including a COVID-19 vaccine in the future if there is a need for boosters or anything like that,” Harrison said.

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“The implications that has for our ability as a country to go from basic research to large-scale vaccine production is a capability I think Canadians wish we had two year ago. For a variety of reasons, it is really unfortunate that we didn’t. I’m glad that going forward, we actually have the manufacturing facility under construction right now, the vaccine is in advanced clinical trials, and at the end of all of this, we’ll have one of the leading facilities in the world for research, development, testing and manufacturing here in Canada, and it’s going to be in Saskatchewan.”

On the same token, Harrison expressed his concerns with the carbon tax as he claims it carries implications harmful to trade industries important to the province. He also identified the size of the national deficit as a key concern, saying the lofty price tag’s effect on future generations is a significant concern.

“The overall size of the deficit and the debt implications for future generations are something we have a significant concern with going forward. In the last two years, we have introduced two budgets here in Saskatchewan before the feds introduced one. The federal government went down that path for a variety of reasons which are best left for them to explain. We introduced two budgets here, and that was an important part of our pandemic response and economic recovery plan.”

Harrison stated officials are still reviewing the 700+ page document and seeking clarification on several items, and that he will be contacting his federal counterparts to continue discussions and working through other items of interest.

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elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp