Zimmer shares hope for early federal election on This Week in the Peace

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — On the December 20th episode of This Week in the Peace, Energeticcity.ca’s Steve Berard welcomed Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer to discuss the state of Canada and the federal government. 

Zimmer discussed the fallout of the government’s economic deficit, recent resignations, and a possible no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“It was quite a busy week. Monday morning, we were expecting a fall economic statement to be read off that afternoon,” says Zimmer. 

Zimmer expected the deficit to be more than the projected $40 billion, and he was proven right.

Canada’s fiscal deficit for the year ended March was almost C$62 billion, double the projected deficit. 

Trudeau’s Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned before the deficit was presented. 

Zimmer says they have been trying to put forward a motion of no-confidence vote since September but have been prevented by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whom they have been putting pressure on. 

“It was really him who has been enabling Justin Trudeau to stay in power,” says Zimmer. 

Although Singh posted to social media saying his party would bring a vote of no confidence forward during the next sitting of the House of Commons, Zimmer says he is skeptical because the NDP leader has promised that several times before.

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” said Zimmer. 

Zimmer believes the conservative party will vote for an early election, which he refers to as the “Carbon Tax Election.”

The MP believes that if Singh follows through on his promise, the Conservative party will vote in favour of the no-confidence vote and trigger an early election. 

“Canadians are ready for change,” said Zimmer. 

Zimmer says he plans to run for re-election and has already put his name forward in the nomination process. 

Later in the episode, the MP went on to say that the carbon tax has been unfair to people living in places like Fort St. John and Fort Nelson because there are no alternate fuel sources available. 

Zimmer says he sees people working good jobs in the oil and gas sector who run out of money by the end of the month. 

“The carbon tax is affecting even those with decent jobs,” said Zimmer.

He says the tax is supposed to work as a “sin tax” to encourage people to use fossil fuel alternatives that are better for the environment. 

In concluding the first half of the episode, Zimmer says the conservatives are running on the carbon tax but also issues such as firearms rights for law-abiding hunters and being pro-resource development. 

“It is Indigenous communities and northern communities who are really upset about what Justin Trudeau is proposing with the OIS and firearms bans.” 

Zimmer also says it is important to support resource development, noting the closure of the local Canfor Sawmill.

He also points out how the closures and taxes have made resources unaffordable.

“I think we need to get back to being a pro-resource development nation instead of what we have seen for the last 10 years as being an anti-resource government,” Zimmer concluded.