What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

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Oral Questions

Finance

A debate on government finances. The Conservatives criticized the Liberals for increasing debt and spending, while the Liberals touted Canada's economic growth and announced a new sovereign wealth fund.

Official Hansard ↗

Hon. Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Le Journal de Montréal says this Prime Minister uses the nation's credit card. Many Quebeckers have to work during retirement. After 10 years of inflation and taxes, the Prime Minister wants to spend more. Will he cut that spending or keep charging it to seniors?”
Our translation 53% shorter
“I have some good news that makes the government look good. We're creating a new fund to spend more of Canadians' money on big projects all across the country. The government will control the funding and pick the projects. This will make Canada look different from other G7 countries.”
Our translation 44% shorter

Hon. Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“That's not a real wealth fund. There's no money to start it. It's really a debt fund. The budget is like a credit card: more debt, costs, inflation, and taxes. This Prime Minister is just another big-spending Liberal. Trudeau left him a huge deficit and he just added more inflationary spending. Tomorrow, will he reduce the deficit or just put everything on the national credit card and drive up costs more?”
Our translation 28% shorter
“Good news! The International Monetary Fund says Canada is growing faster than Germany, Japan, and Italy. And we're starting a sovereign wealth fund so Canadians can build the country together. This is good news that makes our government look effective.”
Our translation 49% shorter

Hon. Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The last Liberal government spent too much. They doubled the debt, housing costs, and food bank lineups. Trudeau left a big deficit, and now this new Prime Minister spends even more. Banks get rich while workers and seniors lose. Will the Prime Minister keep Trudeau's $31 billion deficit or spend even more on the credit card?”
Our translation 47% shorter
“I have good news. I'll create a giant government fund to control big projects across Canada. Let's spend lots of money together!”
Our translation 78% shorter

Hon. Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is hiding from my question. His minister just gave a vague answer about a big government fund and spending money together.”
Our translation 23% shorter

Hon. Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“We can't afford a sovereign wealth fund. The Prime Minister wants to put $25 billion on the nation's credit card for a Liberal slush fund. He already doubled the debt and caused the worst inflation in 40 years. I bet he'll spend even more tomorrow.”
Our translation 45% shorter
“The economy is fine. The opposition leader just doesn't get it. We'll grow the economy by spending more.”
Our translation 83% shorter

Hon. Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Trudeau messed up our economy. Everything costs more. He spent too much. Will he make it even worse?”
Our translation 85% shorter

Hon. Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“I want you to say clearly which of our big spending programs you think cause inflation. Is it the child benefit? The disabilities? The dental plan? The groceries? Pensions? Which one?”
Our translation 65% shorter

Hon. Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“What causes inflation? Buying useless stuff like the Alto project, a gun grab that won't reduce crime, lots of consultants, growing the bureaucracy, paying fake refugees, and corporate welfare. The government should stop putting it all on the national credit card.”
Our translation 61% shorter

Hon. Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“I want to spend a lot of money on a high-speed rail project. I'm going to ignore his question about inflationary spending and just list some programs that I like instead.”
Our translation 66% shorter