March 18, 2019 – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks to shift the narrative on the recent SNC Lavalin scandal engulfing his government as the Liberals plan to release a highly anticipated federal budget on Tuesday.
Canadians’ broad fear of a declining economy has splintered into many forms, according to a new Angus Reid Institute public poll. When respondents were asked earlier this month to choose the two most important national issues, health care was the most common answer at 23 per cent, followed by the environment, income inequality, corruption, government spending, housing affordability, the economy, energy, immigration and finally taxes, which polled at 10 per cent.
A poll that was conducted in early 2016, as the federal Liberals prepared their first budget, showed that Canadians ruled the economy the most important issue. Jobs ranked second.
But that doesn’t indicate an end to Canadians’ anxiety. Four-in-10 respondents expect the economy to worsen over the next year. Fifty-five per cent say it’s not a good time to make a big-ticket purchase. Nearly half of respondents were worried that someone in their household could lose their job because of the economy.
The budget is expected to address pharmacare, specific jobs training and potentially housing.
Source : The Toronto Star
