The last session in Parliament wrapped up last Wednesday. Portage-Lisgar MP and Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen gives a summary of the session.

"I would say that it's been a bit of a difficult session on a number of fronts," says Bergen. "I think the fact that we're seeing the Canadian economy become less competitive is a concern. More and more jobs are going down to the south. And it seems like the prime minister doesn't recognize that his policies have failed to make Canada competitive."

Bergen explains she was happy to see the small business tax increases stalled, and hopefully postponed indefinitely. However, she notes, they're still worried about the Liberal insistence on pushing through the federal carbon tax, noting there's no carbon tax in the States. She adds it can only penalize Canadians and penalize rural remote residents who have to use vehicles, including farmers, and moms and dads driving their children to school. Bergen says the only sense they can make of the move is that it's a tax-grab for the Liberals.

She says the first piece of legislation that Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer brought forward was reducing taxes for young families when parents take maternity leave. Bergen explains making life more affordable and reducing taxes is basically getting back to fiscal responsibility in Canada, and is what the Conservatives are all about.

Bergen notes the upcoming session in the fall is rife with rumours that the government may prorogue. She says this will mean they'll bring a new speech forward from the Throne. Bergen notes they're also carefully watching the trade war with the States, and notes the situation regarding NAFTA is quite precarious. She adds, in addition, they didn't see anything in the budget showing that the government was prepared in case things didn't turn out as everyone hoped, as well as whether or not the government is ready for some possible economic struggles. Bergen says the Conservatives are hoping the government will abandon carbon tax, and make things easier for small businesses instead of making them harder.

Basically, Bergen adds, if the Liberals put people ahead of filling coffers, the Conservatives would certainly get behind that.