“I want to start by acknowledging that I’m a very privileged person,” Freeland said when asked by reporters in Milton, Ont., on Monday. “Like other elected federal leaders, I’m paid a very substantial salary … I’ve really recognized that it’s not people like me — people who are really fortunate — that are struggling the most in Canada today.” Freeland faced criticism for being “out of touch” after she told Global News’ The West Block on Sunday that her family cut their Disney+ subscription to save money.

		Read more: Millions of Canadians to get GST credits starting Friday.  What to expect 		
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			Millions of Canadians will receive GST credits starting Friday.  What to expect

Story continues below ad Freeland said the government is working to find savings in the federal budget and there is “$6 billion more to go,” adding that she believes “every mother in Canada” is using the same approach to reduce costs. Current trend

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“And I want to say to all those mothers, I think I have to take exactly the same approach with the federal government’s finances, because that’s Canadians’ money,” Freeland said in the interview. Freeland said Monday that people struggling to keep up with the high cost of living are low-income Canadians who “have to make tough choices” about what food to buy and how to cover their rent. On Nov. 3, the federal government released its fall budget update, with plans such as a cash advance on worker benefits and the elimination of student loan interest. Freeland said the recognition that low-income Canadians are struggling in this economy shaped the federal government’s economic statement, contributing to the decision to “focus government resources on helping the most vulnerable,” which also led to the decision to double the tax GST credit. The government also recognizes that young people are struggling too, which is why they decided to permanently eliminate the federal Canada Student Interest Rate and Canada Apprentice Loans, Freeland said. 22:20 The West Block: November 6 © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.