A lot of Liberal programs “disproportionately support low-income families,” according to Nova Scotia MP Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
The Liberals recently lost a long-held seat in Toronto-St. Paul’s, which some consider a major loss for the party.
“When I look at the election results in Toronto, I think it has to create a sense of of reflection within us about what needs do we need to address that we haven’t adequately addressed,” said Fraser.
The Toronto-St. Paul’s seat was held by MP Carolyn Bennett for 26 years until she stepped down in December.
Liberal Leslie Church had 40.5 per cent of the vote, but lost to Conservative Don Stewart, who had 42.1 per cent of the vote.
Fraser said he was “privileged to be able to serve” in his role as Liberal MP and minister.
He said Trudeau has done a lot for his community and spent on a lot of projects, which didn’t exist when Fraser took office.
But Fraser said the Liberals have focused a lot on programs for low-income people, and he thinks middle-income families face a lot of pressure after the COVID-19 pandemic.
That demographic largely helped the Liberals win the previous election, he said, and he’s wondering how the Liberals can address their needs and the needs of others that don’t fall under most of the government’s current focus.
Things are more expensive, whether its groceries or housing, and it causes a lot of stress, anxiety and frustration for people, he said.
Some politicians, like Pierre Poilievre, the current Conservative leader, are “trying to capitalize on that anxiety for their own personal and political benefit, rather than because they actually want to solve the underlying problems,” he said.
Poilievre’s three-word “axe the tax” or “spike the hike” slogans, which target the federal carbon tax, suggest getting rid of the carbon tax would help lower the cost of living.
But Fraser said he plans to get feedback from constituents to see what they really need and how to address those needs.
“I’m going to be spending a lot of time this summer chatting with people at home and making sure that we’re on a policy track that will meet their needs and not just serve the interests of ideas that may be developed on Parliament Hill.”
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