WARMINGTON: Federal budget bombs in local pub

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If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walked into Timothy’s Pub, he could count on a greeting with handshakes and the offer of a cold one.

But on the budget and a lot of other things, he would get an earful.

“He would be warmly received, no question,” said Timothy Brem, owner of the pub on Brown’s Line.

That said, the regulars in this amazing Toronto pub are not shy. Trudeau’s ears may have been burning as his budget was being dropped by Finance Minister Bill Morneau Tuesday.

“Can you smell an election?” said Tim. “This is the largest budget in Canadian history where they are giving, giving, giving when on April 1 the carbon tax is coming in that will be taking, taking, taking.”

Those at the table where I sat were especially vocal.

“It is shocking,” said Laura Austen, of the Trudeau government’s projected $19.8-billion deficit. “That sure is a lot of debt. I am not sure if I will be around to help pay it all back and I don’t know who will?”

The main item that caught the eye of the eight or so people watching the details on the TV over the bar was the special help for first-time home buyers. “Skeptical” was the word of the day.

“I don’t know many millennial kids who have $35,000 in the bank who are going to be able to get this lending help,” said Laura’s husband, Grant Austen.

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Laura added: “I feel sorry for the kids of the future because they are not going to have a house or a full-time job.”

Randy Currie said his teenagers are resigned to this reality, adding, “they are just worried how they are going to pay for university.”

Mike Snaddon added he thinks there’s just too much government.

“People are fed up. The world is going to hell in a hand basket. We need a reset.”

These are all great people to spend time with. Hard working, regular Canadians. One thing Trudeau would find if he came into this Etobicoke pub is he’s in Doug Ford country — many people actually pulled out their cellphones to show off selfies with the premier.

The premier has been in the pub before and so had late great mayor Rob Ford.

“We love Doug and Rob,” said Bradley James who — with his dad, Andrew — insisted Trudeau would be more than welcome to drop by, too.

But they say it’s unlikely they would vote for him.

“I like Andrew Scheer,” said Andrew. “As for Justin, the budget is predicable. This is just him spending billions and billions of taxpayers’ dollars to try to get elected.”

Either way, Timothy made it clear the prime minister is “always welcome.” His latest budget — not so much.