Mel Arnold, North Okanagan-Shuswap MP, in the House of Commons (photo credit: Mel Arnold/X)

By Pete McIntyre

new year preview

MP says getting ‘spending under control’ will be economic key in 2024

Jan 4, 2024 | 5:30 AM

The Member of Parliament for North Okanagan-Shuswap says it’s hard to predict what 2024 may bring as far as the Canadian economy and the impacts of inflation.

However, Mel Arnold says if the inflationary spending isn’t brought under control, the cost of living will continue to increase.

“Every business sector that I’ve spoken to says there is investment waiting to happen. Businesses are waiting to invest, but they need some sort of certainty in the future and they can’t see it under this current [Liberal] government,” Arnold told Vernon Matters in a year-end interview.

Arnold said while inflation has decreased, it’s still higher than it should be.

“The cost of everything — I think it’s on everyone’s mind. Whether it’s food prices, rent, mortgage rates or interest, transportation, we see the ever increasing costs of living. People who are on fixed incomes are really having a tough time with it.”

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The federal politician said some people are having to decide if they want to eat, or heat their homes.

“It’s not good. We have to get this spending under control and bring inflation back under control.”

Arnold said there are policies that can make a difference.

“One thing we have been pushing on — and people have probably heard it — we’re pushing on the Trudeau government to end the carbon tax on farmers and on home heating. So far, he hasn’t responded.”

Arnold said if the government eliminated the carbon tax on producing food, it would help everyone at the grocery store and at their dinner table.

“Our leader [Pierre Poilievre] has said the next election will be a carbon tax election. We will campaign on eliminating the carbon tax so people aren’t penalized for buying necessities with an additional tax.”

The MP said the tax affects everything.

“It’s a tax on everything, and every time something gets grown or moved to the next market, it’s taxed again and again.”

Arnold has said he will be running again in the next federal election, scheduled for October 2025, likely in the new Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies riding which includes his hometown of Salmon Arm.

Arnold, a member of the Conservative Party, has represented the North Okanagan-Shuswap electoral district since 2015.