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Finance

Question period on finance focused on the government’s spring fiscal update and budget. Conservative members argued the government is spending and borrowing too much, citing figures like added household debt, a federal debt reaching $1.4 trillion, rising interest costs, planned EI premium increases, and slow action on the U.S. tariff dispute, and called for spending cuts. Government members replied that Canada has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and a deficit reduced by $11 billion, and pointed to investments in trades training, infrastructure, major resource projects, and reduced CPP deductions as making life more affordable.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

19 statements

Raquel Dancho

Conservative
“The government plans to keep spending more money than it has. This makes life more expensive for Canadians. I want the Prime Minister to cut spending so people can afford to live.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will share a quote: “In the upside-down land of Liberals, a spending spree is a spending cut, blowing a windfall of billions of dollars is prudent and failing to prepare for a fiscal storm is, well, just good [fiscal] management.” That is the scathing review from the Globe and Mail editorial board, because yesterday the Liberals promised Canadians that they would continue their decade of massive deficit spending, which means a rising cost of living for Canadians will also continue, with no end in sight. When will the Liberal Prime Minister finally show some responsibility and some fiscal restraint so Canadians can afford to live?

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Rebecca Chartrand

Liberal
“Our budget helps Manitobans get jobs. We are spending money on transportation, community buildings, and job training to make life more affordable. The opposition should support this.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 33 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 42 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what Manitobans want, especially young people, is a job. They want opportunity, and that is what the government is delivering. The spring budget delivers real momentum for Manitobans. We are seeing infrastructure investments that keep the province moving in the right direction, from transportation upgrades to community facilities. We are expanding Red Seal training. The member opposite continues to deny what we are delivering on. They need to get on the side that we are on, which is delivering on affordability.

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Raquel Dancho

Conservative
“The government is not acting fast enough to solve the tariff dispute with the United States, which is costing factory jobs. They also need to cut red tape and stop running big deficits so Canadian businesses and workers can survive.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals can dress this up however they like, but there is a glaring omission in the fiscal update, which is urgency. They have no urgency in resolving the U.S. tariff dispute, which is costing thousands of Canadian manufacturing jobs. What is worse, according to the Financial Times, “Canada’s leading industry groups say [the Prime Minister’s] effort to cut red tape is floundering, costing the country billions more in trade losses than...Donald Trump’s tariffs.” Liberals have no urgency to resolve that issue either, despite it being 100% in their control. Rather than massive deficits, why do they not cut red tape so our workers and industries can survive?

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Rebecca Chartrand

Liberal
“We are spending money to help people in Manitoba get good jobs. We are supporting the aerospace industry, the economy, and putting $6 billion into the trades for young people.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 87 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “What is she not seeing here?”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are investing so Manitobans can step into good jobs. What is she not seeing here? We are strengthening Manitoba’s aerospace sector. We are advancing the economic wealth fund. We are investing $6 billion in the trades so young people can get jobs. The member opposite continues to downplay this work when these measures are directly supporting Manitobans.

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Dan Albas

Conservative
“The government's new budget adds about $3,400 of debt for every household. It doubles the deficit and raises costs instead of bringing the change they promised. I want to know which of their promises was false.”

  • A repeated line

    “This costly credit card budget means more debt.”

    Said 8 times by 7 members since April 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians were promised change after a decade of a costly Liberal government under Justin Trudeau. Yesterday, they did not get change; they got more of the same. The Liberals are asking every Canadian household to shoulder roughly $3,400 of new debt from a Prime Minister who said he would be different. This costly credit card budget delivers more debt, more costs and more taxes, and it is doubling the deficit while life gets more expensive. Which promise was false, the promise of change, or the claim that doubling the deficit would somehow make Canadians better off?

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Jill McKnight

Liberal
“Our government is helping British Columbia's economy. We are backing major resource projects and training over 80,000 skilled workers to create jobs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 31 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, people in Conservative and B.C. ridings are telling me this week that our new government is delivering the things they need. We are bringing major projects, such as LNG train 2 and Red Chris mine, which are going to invest in our natural resources and build B.C.’s economy. We are delivering the team Canada strong program, which is going to recruit, train and hire over 80,000 new skilled workers. This means jobs for British Columbians. This is good news.

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Dan Albas

Conservative
“The government is spending too much money instead of cutting costs. It is doubling the deficit and spending almost all of its new revenue. I want the government to admit its budget proves it has not changed.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only thing the government delivers is more recycled talking points. Even The Globe and Mail says that, in this upside-down Liberal world, a spending increase of $26.8 billion is not a spending cut. For every $100 in new revenue, the government spends 97% of it. Will the government admit this costly credit card budget proves nothing has changed, or are Canadians now supposed to believe that doubling the deficit is fiscal responsibility?

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Jill McKnight

Liberal
“We are spending money to train and hire over 80,000 skilled trade workers. This will help British Columbia and grow the Canadian economy.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I had a conversation with the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade this week, and we were talking about the need for skilled workers in British Columbia. In yesterday’s spring economic update, we announced that we are investing in the recruiting, training and hiring of more than 80,000 workers in the skilled trades. We are going to grow the Canadian economy. We are going to invest in those projects. We are doing what B.C. needs.

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Garnett Genuis

Conservative
“Unemployment is high, especially for young people. The government wants to raise employment insurance premiums, which is a tax on jobs. This will make it harder for businesses to hire people. Why is the government raising taxes on jobs to pay for its spending?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, those apprentices desperately need projects to go forward that they can work on. Canada faces an unemployment crisis, most severe among youth, yet this Liberal costly credit card budget plans further increases to EI premiums. Increasing the tax on jobs now would make it harder for businesses to create jobs and would make the jobs crisis even worse. Why are the Liberals paying for their costly credit card budget with further tax increases on jobs?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The head of Shell said Canada is a great place to invest in energy right now. They are excited about liquefied natural gas and the jobs it will bring. The Conservatives are ignoring that.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 36 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives read only half the newspaper, obviously. If they had read the other half, they would have seen the CEO of Shell say that it has never been as attractive a time to invest in the energy sector of this country. They would have said that they are excited about the development of LNG in this country and that they are excited about the jobs that are going to be created. They should read the rest of the paper.

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Garnett Genuis

Conservative
“The government's plan raises taxes on jobs when young people are already struggling to find work. It hurts small businesses, workers, and students in vocational schools. When will the government stop this?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am not at all surprised to hear that the minister spends a lot of time talking to CEOs. However, on page 122 of the Liberals’ fiscal update, it is clear that they would increase the tax on jobs, at a time when we already have a massive youth unemployment crisis. This credit card budget proposes to squeeze small businesses and workers even more, at the same time as these Liberals are voting against allowing student grants to go to those at vocational institutions. They are attacking young people and attacking jobs. When will it end?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“We cut pension deductions from paycheques to make working more affordable. We are also adding 100,000 new skilled trades jobs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, maybe instead of reading the paper, the member should go online and see that we actually cut CPP deductions from paycheques. We are making it cheaper and more affordable for people to work, and we are adding 100,000 new Red Seal jobs. Read the paper. Read all the paper.

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Mike Lake

Conservative
“In 2015, Canada's federal debt was $616 billion. This year it will reach $1.4 trillion under the Liberals. I want someone in the government to stop this spending.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, Canada had a balanced budget and the richest middle class in the world. Coming out of a global economic meltdown, Canada’s federal debt stood at $616 billion. Yesterday, we found out that after a decade of Liberal economic experiments funded on the national credit card, our debt this fiscal year will hit $1.4 trillion. The Liberals are trading away Canadians’ future prosperity to fund this tiresome daily Liberal QP routine of riffing off ever-increasing lists of things they are charging to the national credit card. Is there someone over there with the courage to stand up and say, “enough is enough”?

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“Canada has one of the strongest economies in the G7. We are spending money on skilled trades, sports, cheaper housing loans, and grocery support. I want the Conservatives to support our plans.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Canada has one of the strongest positions fiscally in the G7. In addition to maintaining and growing that position, we are also delivering for Canadians: $6 billion for investing in the skilled trades; more than $700 million for athletics in this country, from playground to podium; building Canada’s homes by providing low-cost financing; and ensuring that there is a groceries and essentials benefit. We ask the Conservatives rationally to get on board.

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Mike Lake

Conservative
“The government borrows too much money. It now spends more on interest than on health care. By 2030, all of its deficit will go toward paying interest on its new debt. I want to know when the government will stop this borrowing.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 43 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in a mythical Liberal world, budgets balance themselves. In the current Prime Minister’s theoretical world, the national credit card has no limit and the bill never comes due, but we live in the real world, where the Liberal government’s addiction to borrowing has real consequences. This Prime Minister is now spending more on interest than on the Canada health transfer. According to his own economic update, and this is quite astonishing, in 2030, the entire deficit would go to paying interest on debt that the Liberals have added since being elected. In this new world, Liberal debt becomes self-generating. When will this experiment end?

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“Canada has the lowest debt among the G7 nations, and we just cut our deficit by $11 billion. The Conservatives keep voting against our programs that help Canadians pay for dental care, medicine, food, and housing.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 21 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7.”

    Said 17 times by 13 members since April 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. At the same time, in direct response to my colleague’s question, we have reduced the deficit by $11 billion, as announced yesterday. One thing the Conservatives have failed to do is to vote for Canadians, vote for dental care, vote for pharmacare, vote for the groceries and essentials benefit, vote for housing and vote for supporting school food lunch programs on a permanent basis. I ask them to get—

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Glen Motz

Conservative
“This budget is still bad, no matter how the government tries to make it look good.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, no matter how much lipstick they put on this budget, a pig is still a pig. Liberals’ costly credit— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Glen Motz

Conservative
“The government's budget adds too much debt, spending, and taxes, which makes life unaffordable. I want the Prime Minister to cut spending and get the deficit under control.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals’ costly credit card budget is more of the same: more debt, more spending, more taxes and higher inflation. The Prime Minister has doubled previous annual deficits. He had still added $54 billion in new spending, costing Canadians now $59 billion in debt interest charges to cover it. His $25-billion sovereign debt fund is just another deception. When will the Prime Minister set aside his illusions and bring his deficit under control so Canadians can afford to live?

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal
“Our economy is strong under our government. Our deficit is down by $11 billion, we are creating more jobs and bringing in more foreign investment than the U.S., and we have the lowest tax rates in the G7.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know it is a lot to ask, but the Conservatives could finally give up their infatuation with our former prime minister and just face reality for once. Canada is strong and resilient, and only getting more so under this government’s leadership. The evidence is in, in the spring economic update: $11 billion less in deficit, and a fiscal track with a declining deficit-to-GDP. Operating expenses are being managed responsibly. Canada has triple the job creation and double the foreign direct investment per capita of U.S. counterparts. We have the most competitive tax rate in the G7 and the strongest fiscal position.

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All 34 items ·
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  2. Oral Questions International Trade 5 statements
  3. Oral Questions Finance 14 statements
  4. Oral Questions Labour 4 statements
  5. Oral Questions Finance 10 statements
  6. Oral Questions Infrastructure 3 statements
  7. Oral Questions Finance 19 statements
  8. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Finance 7 statements
  10. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions Finance 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Veterans Affairs 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Privilege 2 statements
  14. Government Orders Weights and Measures Act 28 statements
  15. Private Members' Business Preventing Coercion of Persons Not Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying Act 12 statements
  16. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  17. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 5 statements
  18. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements