NowMedia video host Jim Csek welcomed Kelowna businesswoman and former MLA Renee Merrifield back into the studio for another episode of Beyond the Ballot.
In a recent KelownaNow live stream, hosts Renee Merrifield and Jim Csek discussed failed European LNG deals, the federal government's energy policies immigration and healthcare access issues.
Merrifield offered sharp criticism of Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership, highlighting perceived failures in international trade, energy policy, and economic management.
Merrifield emphasized the need for bold action amid growing uncertainty.
She described Carney's recent European trade mission as a significant misstep, particularly in efforts to secure LNG deals.
"It was brutal. It was so bad," she said, noting that reporters pressed Carney on immediate solutions rather than long-term promises.
She pointed to comments from the Polish ambassador and that Germany has already secured a deal through the EU with the US, underscoring what she called Carney's lack of "political savvy and that political vision."
On the domestic front, Merrifield claimed that Carney's "honeymoon is over” as Canadians demand results.
"We are sitting as one of the last countries without a firm deal in place with the US, and we're experiencing that uncertainty," Merrifield stated, citing a spike in the business uncertainty index due to looming tariffs.
Energy emerged as a central theme, with Merrifield stressing its foundational role in the economy.
She warned that without repealing or amending bills like C-69 and C-45, pipeline projects remain impossible, and policies like the EV mandate could drive manufacturers southward.
"You're gonna have a huge amount of car manufacturers moving to the states," Merrifield said, predicting a "huge migration" under current policies.
She advocated for low-cost energy as key to prosperity, saying, "You look at the most prosperous nations in the world and they all have access to very inexpensive energy for their citizens."
Merrifield also addressed broader economic woes, including capital outflow from Canada and high youth unemployment in Ontario at 20%.
She described Ontario's economy as being "on its knees," with housing stalled and no new industries on the horizon. In BC, she highlighted impending financial troubles, including rising interest costs and downgrades to the province's borrowing ability.
On immigration, Merrifield called the recent numbers "pretty scary," exceeding promised limits.
"We don't see that slowing down... the liberal government just has not got that under control yet," she said.
She questioned the assumption that temporary stays guarantee permanence, adding, "We're not requiring our immigrants to assimilate or to adhere to our culture or morality or, you know, our laws even."
Throughout the episode, Merrifield emphasized authenticity in politics, praising figures like Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford for speaking "from the hip."
At the end of the episode, she predicted a "very interesting” fall parliamentary session, with Conservatives poised to challenge Carney aggressively.
