“The Prime Minister spends too much. Canadians are forced to use credit cards. The finance minister should spend less in his economic statement.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
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Oral Questions
Finance
During a debate on federal finances, the Conservatives criticized the Liberal government for high spending and deficits, while the Liberals defended their investments in areas like child care and skills training. Both sides traded barbs about which party is more fiscally responsible and better for affordability.
“I want the Prime Minister to promise he won't spend more than $31 billion more than the government takes in. Conservatives want the government to stop borrowing-and-spending so much; the Prime Minister should know better than to spend like he's got a credit card with no limit. A big a deficit is bad for the economy. Will the Prime Minister promise to keep the deficit below $31 billion?”
“I want the government to spend less and tax less. I want the Prime Minister to make different choices so Canadians don't have to take on more debt. I'm showing a contrast between a government celebrating and Canadians sacrificing.”
“The Liberal government celebrates big deficits while Canadians struggle. We have the worst grocery inflation, debt, and housing costs in the G7. Food bank lineups are surging. This is bad. The Liberal Prime Minister should limit the deficit to the reckless $31 billion he already has.”
“The Prime Minister keeps spending more and more, driving up inflation and the cost of everything for Canadians. His big spending is causing the worst food inflation in the G7 and all sorts of other problems. When will this guy stop with his fancy lifestyle that everyone else has to pay for so Canadians can actually afford a decent life?”
“This government is making it too expensive for Canadians to afford basic things. Experts say all the Liberal government's rules are making it even harder for businesses than when Trump put tariffs on us. Businesses want the government to get rid of their own rules so people can invest and build things. The Prime Minister says Canada is in a crisis, but he won't do what the U.S. does in a crisis, or make our reviews go faster, or even say what's important for Canada. In Canada, it takes over two years to approve a gas line and 20 years to approve a mine, and the Liberals say we're not thankful enough for that. If the Prime Minister says Canada is in a crisis, when will he stop spending so much so Canadians can compete?”
“The government promised to spend less but instead they spent more. Trudeau and the new Prime Minister both spent too much. The government is spending money on itself, not on investments. Canadians are suffering because of this. The cost of living is too high. More people need food banks. People are using credit cards to buy food. The government spent more than Trudeau. Who will pay for all this government spending?”