Stability and local support needed: Sask and P.A. chambers respond to throne speech
The best stimulus is certainty, so if there’s going to be a federal election make it quick: that’s the take from the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce following Wednesday’s Liberal government throne speech. Meanwhile, the Prince Albert and District Chamber is again calling on locals to shop local, in-person or online.
“We want now, for a period of time, where there’s not going to be an election threat every single day,” Sask. Chamber CEO Steve McLellan told paNOW in reaction to the broad, huge-spending vision laid out by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which may yet prompt opposition parties to try to topple his minority government. “We want a period of time where people can focus on their businesses and know those supports are going to be there.”
The Conservative Party and Bloc Quebecois appear set to vote against the Liberals in a confidence vote, while the New Democrats have yet to offer clear backing for the Trudeau vision to get the nation through the COVID pandemic and the eventual economic recovery.
McLellan said at a time when Saskatchewan faces provincial and municipal elections in successive months, and given the U.S. presidential election as well, this is not the time for continued uncertainty. He said either there’s a clear sign the existing government in Ottawa stays, or an election needs to happen soon.