What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

Recent debates

8 latest topics

Oral Questions

Finance

A debate about the government's economic update, spending, and deficits. The Conservatives criticized the Liberals for increasing spending and deficits, while the Liberals defended their economic record and plans to invest in training and infrastructure. Both sides mainly stuck to discussing the substance of the economic issues.

Official Hansard ↗

Eric Lefebvre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is wrong. A real sovereign wealth fund comes from budget surpluses and natural resources. Charging $25 billion to Canadians' credit card is not a sovereign wealth fund. The Liberals ran up the biggest deficit outside of COVID-19. They can't manage public funds well. The Liberals are shamelessly using the credit card of future generations.”
Our translation 38% shorter

Hon. Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“I think the government should spend more money. We should spend money on workforce training and infrastructure projects. That will create jobs in construction. Our young people need job opportunities. The government must spend money to make Canada better.”
Our translation 56% shorter

Eric Lefebvre

Conservative
“The big spending increase the Liberals just announced is not a cut. They say it is but that's not true. Quebec did not even know about this program until yesterday. The Liberals are being reckless and dishonest by saying more spending is actually a cut. They are racking up huge debt that our children will have to pay back someday. It's wrong for the government to spend so much when regular Canadians are having a hard time paying their own bills.”
Our translation 27% shorter

Hon. Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We Liberals are doing a good job. We have many programs to help young people with their careers and homes. The Conservatives are bad and just complain. We are very responsible with money.”
Our translation 51% shorter

Dominique Vien

Conservative
“The Liberals spend too much. They have doubled the deficit from Trudeau. The newspaper says this is a bad way to run things. Canadians have less because the Liberals spend more. The Prime Minister should stop spending so much so Canadians can afford to live.”
Our translation 46% shorter

Hon. Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The data says we're doing well. We have a strong economy! And we're helping businesses and workers. We're setting up a big fund to help Quebec control its own destiny, like in the 1960s. That's our vision to create prosperity at home.”
Our translation 60% shorter

Dominique Vien

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is borrowing too much, just like before. Economists are warning us. Without measures to boost productivity, our debt will become a huge problem. We already have the worst food inflation in the G7. Why are the Liberals making Canadians pay more for everything?”
Our translation 45% shorter

Hon. Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The Conservatives don't get the urgency here. They'd do nothing during a trade war. We're cutting operational costs and spending on capital projects instead. The IMF says it's working. We'll keep going.”
Our translation 64% shorter

Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“The Liberals doubled the deficit in one year. Trudeau ran up the deficit from $31 billion to $65 billion. Canadians will pay higher taxes and interest. The interest alone costs more than all health transfers. Liberals always spend more money and raise taxes.”
Our translation 61% shorter

Hon. Anna Gainey

Liberal
“I'm spending $6 billion of taxpayer money to train more tradespeople. I hope the Conservatives won't get in my way. That money will help me with voters.”
Our translation 60% shorter