What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

Recent debates

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Government Orders

Business of Supply

A debate on the government's proposal for a 'Canada Strong' sovereign wealth fund, which the opposition argues is not a real sovereign wealth fund since the government has no budget surplus to fund it with. The Conservatives and Bloc both criticized it heavily as expensive, based on debt not surplus, and likely to distort markets by having government pick winners and losers. The Liberals defended it as far-sighted leadership investing in Canadian growth and potential.

Official Hansard ↗

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I want to correct the record: the Conservatives didn't build a pipeline to tidewater, we did. We also invested in LNG with the other government that wasn't them. They're very mean and talk a lot without actually doing anything.”
Our translation 68% shorter

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe

Bloc Québécois
“The Liberals and Conservatives are fighting about who can build more pipelines. They don't care about climate change. Government is going to make climate change worse and make Quebec pay for it.”
Our translation 71% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“All parts of Canada have big projects. The port in Montreal is a big project. Montreal is in Quebec. The nuclear project is in Ontario. Pipelines are in Alberta. The port of Churchill is in Manitoba. Energy transmission lines are in Atlantic Canada. Copper mines and LNG are in B.C. Don't say false things.”
Our translation 63% shorter

Gord Johns

NDP
“I don't want the sovereign wealth fund to pay for projects I don't like. The fund should only do things I agree with. The Liberals should not use it to fund pipelines. It should only fund things that everyone agrees are good.”
Our translation 64% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I trust the Major Projects Office. The sovereign wealth fund could be good. They might spend money on things other than pipelines. I want the NDP to support the fund. I don't know if they support it or not. I hope they will.”
Our translation 59% shorter

Anthony Housefather

Liberal
“I want to cheer for Canada's performance. I don't like that you ignore some statistics but use others. I think that's a contradiction.”
Our translation 80% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I don't care about all of your numbers. I'm sure Canada is near the top when you compare us to other countries. It doesn't matter exactly where we rank. I feel good about where we are.”
Our translation 57% shorter

Warren Steinley

Conservative
“The government's investment schemes always fail. They can't spend your money better than you can. The Prime Minister is a failure and full of corruption. His bad ideas caused inflation everywhere. He will ruin the whole country.”
Our translation 77% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“Don't listen to that guy. Everything is fine. The government is doing a great job. Canada is the best country in the world and always will be.”
Our translation 56% shorter

Warren Steinley

Conservative
“I want you to justify your accusation. I demand specifics.”
Our translation 50% shorter

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe

Bloc Québécois
“You're wrong. This isn't like Norway's fund at all. Stop comparing them. Answer my question - if you call something what it isn't, will people believe you?”
Our translation 67% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I think Canadians will agree with us even if Bloc and Conservatives don't. This fund will mean lots of jobs and money. We should go ahead with it.”
Our translation 76% shorter

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“This government spending announcement is not what it seems. It's fake. The government is borrowing at 3.5% or 4% and betting that a Crown corporation run by political appointees will outperform that cost. It's leveraged speculation with taxpayer collateral. This isn't a sovereign wealth fund, it's a debt fund. The fund's mandate is politically directed - it's not a real investment fund. Major projects aren't getting built in Canada because of regulatory burdens, not lack of capital. The government should cut taxes, eliminate red tape and trade barriers, fast-track approvals, and scrap bad laws preventing development. None of that requires borrowing $25 billion. This fund will spend borrowed money, pick winners and losers, and distort the market. The government should get out of the way and let private capital and business work.”
Our translation 91% shorter

Hon. Kevin Lamoureux

Liberal
“I don't like what Conservatives say. They always say government should do less. I want the government to do more big things that cost a lot.”
Our translation 80% shorter

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“You want to spend spend spend. You're not really explaining how a sovereign wealth fund works. If Canada actually made money we'd have the kind of fund you're talking about. We don't. So you want taxpayers to bankroll the businesses you think are nice. Your spending chases away business and makes everything cost more.”
Our translation 64% shorter

Xavier Barsalou-Duval

Bloc Québécois
“When you agree with the Conservatives, the government should listen. The government's Canada Strong fund is supposed to be a sovereign wealth fund. But the Prime Minister will choose the investments. That's not independent.”
Our translation 63% shorter

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“The government's new bureaucracy will meddle in the market. It takes money from taxpayers to push unwanted projects. That's not how a free market works. That won't build Canada's future.”
Our translation 73% shorter

Scott Anderson

Conservative
“The Prime Minister thinks he's wise to put money in a savings account. But that won't be enough to retire on. He's wrong.”
Our translation 72% shorter

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“The Liberals are just as bad at math as I am. They think they're saving money, but they're really not. Canadians don't need the government to save money for them. The government just needs to spend less so Canadians can afford their own groceries.”
Our translation 58% shorter

Shannon Stubbs

Conservative
“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later. A long time ago, things were better. The Liberals are doing everything wrong. Canada is worse than other countries. The Prime Minister's plan won't work. Liberals just want more control. Conservatives will fight for low taxes and less government.”
Our translation 97% shorter