Finance

Question period focused on the cost of living and the federal government’s recent budget. Conservative members said federal borrowing and spending have made gas, groceries, and housing unaffordable, citing Statistics Canada data on food insecurity and a Dalhousie University report on grocery costs, and asked the government to reduce spending. Liberal members responded by listing tax cuts their government has made, saying Canada has the strongest fiscal position among G7 countries, and pointing to programs such as the national school food program, dental care, and grocery supports, which they said Conservatives vote against. Several questions and answers drew on members’ own constituencies and food bank use.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

6 statements

Leslyn Lewis, Haldimand—Norfolk

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to pay for gas, groceries, and housing. I want the Prime Minister to stop borrowing and spending so much money.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, after a decade of costly spending, life has never been more expensive for Canadians. Families in this country pay more for gas, groceries and housing. These are costs that they can barely afford. The Prime Minister’s costly budget is just more of the same Liberal policies that have driven millions of Canadians to the food banks, with more government spending, more debt and more taxes. When will the Prime Minister finally end his costly borrowing so that Canadians can afford to live?

Leslyn Lewis, Haldimand—Norfolk

Conservative
“The Liberals want to borrow $25 billion for a new fund, but that just creates more debt and government waste. They need to admit they are only hiding their overspending.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the Liberals are just creating new packaging to hide the same old spending and record deficits. Now, they want to borrow $25 billion to create another bureaucracy that Canadians never asked for. Their so-called wealth fund has no wealth. It is borrowed money, built on the same failed Infrastructure Bank policies that lost money and rewarded only Liberal insiders. Why will the Liberals not admit that they are simply hiding their reckless spending with more deficit—

Carol Anstey, Long Range Mountains

Conservative
“Nearly 10 million Canadians cannot afford enough food. The government's high spending is driving up the cost of living. I want the Prime Minister to stop this spending so food becomes affordable.”
  • 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

Madam Speaker, the latest Statistics Canada data is heartbreaking for our country. Nearly 10 million Canadians, including 2.4 million children, are now living in food-insecure households. At home, this means parents in Cow Head and Mainland are skipping meals so their kids can eat. It means seniors are choosing between heat and meat, yet this week’s budget shows the Liberals are still addicted to credit card spending, which drives up the cost of everything. The Prime Minister has doubled Trudeau’s deficit. How many more children in Newfoundland and Labrador have to go hungry before the Liberal Prime Minister stops his costly credit card spending and makes food affordable?

Carol Anstey, Long Range Mountains

Conservative
“One in three Canadians has to borrow money to buy groceries. The government spends too much and causes this high cost of food. When will the Prime Minister stop spending so families can afford to eat?”
  • A repeated line

    “Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7.”

    Said 10 times by 4 members since April 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, before the Liberals took power, children and families did not need school food programs to feed their families. Canada now has the highest food inflation in the G7. A new report from Dalhousie University confirms that one in three Canadians is now forced to borrow money just to buy groceries. Canadian families are being crushed by a decade of Liberal credit card budgeting. The Liberals keep spending more while Canadians get less. Why has the Liberal Prime Minister doubled the deficit? When will he stop his costly credit card spending so families can actually afford to eat?

Gabriel Hardy, Montmorency—Charlevoix

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is spending too much money and adding billions to our debt. Food costs are rising and many people cannot afford to eat. When will he cut his spending so people can make ends meet?”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, this week’s economic update proves that the Liberal reflex is the same as ever: a credit card budget, more costs, more debt, more spending and more taxes. Nothing much has changed. We have a new Liberal big spender for a Prime Minister who has not only doubled this year’s deficit, but plans to keep doing the same thing for the next five years, putting us $55 billion in the hole year after year. In the meantime, Canadians are paying sky-high prices at the grocery store, and one in four is experiencing food insecurity. When is the Prime Minister going to rein in his spending so that Quebeckers can make ends meet?

Gabriel Hardy, Montmorency—Charlevoix

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford food, and more people are using food banks. The government is spending too much of their money. I want the government to spend less so families have some breathing room.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I want to talk facts. According to several recent studies, including a Dalhousie University report, Quebeckers and Canadians are now choosing their food not based on what they need, but on what they can afford. Demand at food banks is skyrocketing and families are struggling. In Montmorency—Charlevoix, families are tightening their belts while watching the Liberals spend their hard-earned money. How long will it take for the Liberal government to realize that Quebeckers and Canadians are not bottomless pits of money? When will the Liberals govern in a way that gives families some breathing room?

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