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Finance

In question period on finance, Conservative members said the Prime Minister had pledged to spend less than his predecessor but instead added $90 billion in new spending with bureaucracy and operating costs up, and they repeatedly asked whether the government would commit to keeping the upcoming deficit at or under $31 billion, linking spending to food prices, rent and household debt. Liberal ministers replied that Canada’s economy is among the strongest in the G7, with jobs created since September, wages outpacing inflation, and major building projects such as the $4.4-billion Sunrise pipeline expansion adding jobs and tax revenue; they also criticized the Conservatives for voting against programs like school food, child care, dental care and housing. Most exchanges centred on whether government spending or building programs should drive affordability.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

14 statements

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to spend less, but he added 90 billion dollars in new spending. Operating costs and the size of government both went up. Will he promise to keep the deficit under 31 billion dollars?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister took office, he pledged to spend less than Justin Trudeau. Instead, he added $90 billion of net new spending, two-thirds of that on day-to-day operations. Bureaucracy is up 7% and operating costs are up 9%, all higher than his promised savings. He is putting the nation’s finances on a credit card and pretending all of that is normal. Will the Prime Minister commit today that his deficit will not exceed the already excessive $31 billion Justin Trudeau left behind, or has he simply grabbed Trudeau’s credit card and asked for a higher limit?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“The Conservative leader has achieved nothing in his 22 years in office. Canada's economy is doing well compared to other top nations, with strong growth and wages beating inflation. The Conservatives need to stop their media stunts and work with us to build Canada.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 15 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 40 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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  • A repeated line

    “The Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7.”

    Said 10 times by 7 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the member’s leader talks about presence in the House. He has been here for 22 years and has produced nothing. Let us look at some economic facts: best fiscal position in the G7, second-fastest growing economy in the G7, best net debt-to-GDP in the G7 and wages outpacing inflation. It is time for that member’s leader and that party to stop the bizarre press conferences, stop the podcast tours and help us build Canada strong.

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Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“The Prime Minister doubled the debt and deficit. This caused higher food prices, rent, and household debt for Canadians. I want him to stop this heavy spending.”

  • A repeated line

    “The highest housing costs and the second-highest unemployment in the G7.”

    Said 15 times by 12 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, nobody thought it was possible to outspend Justin Trudeau, but here we are, with the same cast of characters sitting in the exact same seats saying the same thing. The Prime Minister doubled last year’s deficit and sent the bill to Canadian kitchen tables: the worst grocery prices, the highest household debt, the worst housing costs in the G7. Those are the actual facts. When Liberals doubled the debt, they doubled the food bank lineups and they doubled the rent, passing on the balance from the credit card to every Canadian family. Will the Prime Minister stop the credit card budgeting, or does he think Canadians can also just apply for a higher limit?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“I want the opposition member to explain why she votes against school food, cheap child care, job training, housing, and clean water. The opposition opposes everything that helps Canadians.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, all across Canada, Canadians have been pulling together to make sure that we build Canada strong. I would challenge the member from the opposite party to ask herself this: Why is she voting against kids getting food in school? Why is she voting against affordable child care? Why does she vote against skilled tradespeople having the opportunity to fill their apprenticeship and actually get those great jobs? Why is she voting against investments in infrastructure, in housing and in water? It does not matter what solution we propose. Those guys are against Canada and Canadians.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The Prime Minister's high spending has caused high food prices and high debt for Canadians. I want him to stop spending so much money on debt in the new budget.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only surplus this Prime Minister knows is the one in his offshore tax haven. The guy literally doubled Trudeau’s deficit and gave Canadians the worst food inflation in the G7 and the worst household debt in the G7. Tomorrow, he is going to table another costly credit card budget and put it on the national credit card, all on the backs of Canadians. Will the Prime Minister end his credit card budgeting so Canadians can finally afford to live?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“We are getting things built. We announced a $4.4-billion pipeline expansion. It will add 2,500 construction jobs this summer and bring in hundreds of millions in tax money.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, while they are complaining, this is what we are doing: We are getting things built. On Friday, we announced the $4.4-billion expansion of the Sunrise pipeline project, which generates $3.3 billion in annual GDP. It adds 2,500 construction jobs this summer. It adds $700 million in tax revenue to B.C. and the federal government to build Canada strong. That is what we are doing.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to spend less, but he increased government offices, consultants, and the deficit. Will the government stop spending so much money so Canadians can afford to live?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only thing these guys have built so far is literally 12 bureaucracies, nothing else. The Prime Minister said he would spend less. A year after that, he has increased bureaucracy, he has increased consultants and he has increased the deficit, all on the national credit card, all on the backs of Canadians. Once again, will the Liberals end their credit card budgeting so Canadians can finally afford to live?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“Our plan will add 3.3 billion dollars to the economy, create 2,500 new jobs, and bring in 700 million dollars in taxes. The opposition ignores how good this is.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 27 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I do not think he heard me: $3.3 billion in annual GDP, 2,500 new jobs and $700 million in new tax revenues. These guys just cannot see something good when it is ready to hit them right between the— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Pat Kelly

Conservative
“Government spending makes life more expensive. Since 2015, the Liberals have doubled the debt, housing costs, and food bank visits. Will the Prime Minister promise that tomorrow's deficit will not be higher than $31 billion?”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 77 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “proving that he is just another Liberal”.

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  • A repeated line

    “The Prime Minister doubled Justin Trudeau's deficit.”

    Said 10 times by 10 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the cost of government drives up the cost of living. The more the government spends, the more things cost. Since 2015, the Liberals have doubled the debt while doubling housing costs and food bank lineups. The Prime Minister doubled Justin Trudeau’s deficit, proving that he is just another Liberal. Can he commit that tomorrow’s deficit announcement will not be higher than the already reckless, inflationary $31-billion deficit that Justin Trudeau left behind, yes or no?

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John Zerucelli

Liberal
“Our plan is to build across Canada. We are creating skilled trades jobs using Canadian steel, lumber, and aluminum, but the opposition will not support it.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the building trades are in town this week, and I am excited to talk about our plan to build. We are building big, we are building bold and we are building across this country. From B.C. to Newfoundland, we are going to be putting good jobs in the skilled trades using Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian aluminum. We are building. It is time to invest. When will they get on board? Probably never.

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Pat Kelly

Conservative
“The government spent the last ten years borrowing and wasting money instead of building homes, roads, and pipelines. Now housing and groceries are too expensive. Will this year's deficit be more than $31 billion?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the government inherited a balanced budget and then spent the last 10 years borrowing, spending, squandering and taxing hundreds of billions of dollars while home ownership slipped out of reach for the middle class and millions more cannot afford groceries. For the last 10 years, Canada should have been building pipelines, houses, ports and roads, but these Liberals built bureaucracies, slush funds and debt repayments. Again, will the deficit exceed $31 billion, yes or no?

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John Zerucelli

Liberal
“We are spending money to build things. The Conservatives say they care about high costs, but they voted against cheaper housing, child care, dental care, and help for families.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 14 of 100

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 35 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is the time to invest, and that is what we are doing. We are building big. The Conservatives cannot claim they care about affordability while fighting at every turn. They voted against affordable housing. They voted against child care. They voted against dental care, and they voted against support for families. They cannot have it both ways.

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Jagsharan Singh Mahal

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to spend less, but he added $90 billion in new spending. Will he promise today to keep the deficit under $31 billion?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister took office, the projected deficit was $31 billion. He promised to spend less. Instead, he spent more. He piled on $90 billion in new spending, not on results but on bigger government. Bureaucracy is up, costs are up and Canadians are paying the price. Will the Prime Minister commit today that his deficit will not exceed the already outrageous $31 billion left behind by his predecessor, yes or no?

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Rechie Valdez

Liberal
“Canada has added over 94,000 jobs since September, and our employment rate is higher than the United States. Many more women are working because of our policies. Wages are also growing faster than inflation.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 38 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is not business as usual for our economy, so let us stick to the facts. Since September, Canada has created over 94,000 jobs and strong growth right across the country. Canada now has the highest employment rate compared to the United States. This is driven predominantly by women entering the force and joining because of our strong policies. Wages are up by 4.7%, faster than inflation, meaning more Canadians are keeping more of what they earn. That is how we are taking care of Canadians and growing Canada strong.

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Comment rules

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