Bringing Lethbridge’s Voice Back to Ottawa

This summer, I hosted my 10th annual Whoop-Up Days pancake breakfast. Beyond the festivities, what makes this tradition invaluable to me is the chance to connect directly with the people of Lethbridge. Every conversation offers a clear snapshot of what matters most to our community—insights I am determined to bring with me when Parliament reconvenes on September 21. 

As I return to the House of Commons, my focus remains squarely on what I heard most from our community: making life more affordable, securing a fair trade deal with the United States, and building a strong Alberta within a united Canada.

Over a decade of Liberal financial mismanagement has made life unaffordable for many Canadians. Massive Liberal spending creates inflationary prices, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has managed to outspend Justin Trudeau, delivering the most expensive deficit in Canadian history outside of the COVID-10 years. Canadians are faced with massive food inflation, the worst household debt in the G7, and personal insolvencies at their worst since the Great Global Recession.

Conservatives fought the Carney Liberals’ planned gas tax hike, and this week they were forced to back down. Only after months of Conservative pressure, Liberal Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced a delay of the government’s proposed gas tax hike until early next year. While Conservatives won another battle for Canadian families, this modest extension of the Liberals’ current tax plan will not be enough for Canadians already squeezed by higher costs.

Conservatives continue to call for the government to remove all federal taxes on gas and diesel until at least Canada Day 2027 to save Canadians up to 25 cents per litre. That includes the 7-cent-per-litre Clean Fuel Regulations, the GST, and a permanent cancellation of the Industrial Carbon Tax so Canadians aren’t forced to pay more for food and fuel. We will never stop fighting for an affordable Canada.

Economic stability relies heavily on our trade relationship with the United States. In Lethbridge alone, our region exports over $2.2 billion in goods every year, with nearly 92 per cent bound for American markets. Conservatives stand firmly with Canadians against unjustified attacks from Washington; we cannot accept a one-sided deal that de-industrializes our nation, and we will always defend Canadian workers.

But effective leadership demands transparency, which Prime Minister Carney has failed to provide. Carney himself warned that tariffs are “taxes which are ultimately paid by consumers,” yet the Liberals proceeded to roll out dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs anyway. The hardest hit will be families already living on tight budgets, as new tariffs on items like food and hygiene products push everyday grocery bills even higher, alongside rising costs for appliances and electronics.

Over a year after missing his self-imposed July 21, 2025 deadline, Carney has still failed to deliver the trade agreement he promised Canadians. With conflicting stories surrounding the breakdown in talks, he must release the rejected deal so Canadians can see the facts for themselves.

Underpinning all of these national issues is the clear imperative for Ottawa to respect Alberta and its rightful place in Confederation. Canada was built on the practical principle that power belongs as close to the people as possible. The British North America Act established a framework designed to balance local autonomy with shared national strength—assigning local priorities like natural resources, health, and education to the provinces, while reserving Ottawa’s role for national matters like defence and borders.

Over the last decade, Ottawa has failed at its core duties while overreaching into provincial jurisdiction—taxing industrial carbon, blocking energy projects, and pushing divisive ideologies that erode our shared identity. This overreach harms not just Alberta, but all of Canada.

Throughout my conversations across Lethbridge, the message from our community has been consistent: Albertans want the freedom to develop our natural resources and protect our core values, with a federal government that respects our contribution. My Conservative colleagues and I will continue to fight to unleash Alberta’s economic potential, amplify our voice in Ottawa, and secure a stronger Alberta within a united Canada.

Canadians simply cannot afford more broken promises, higher taxes, or secret backroom deals. As Parliament returns on September 21, I will champion total transparency, real tax relief, and the accountability our community deserves.