A bill to implement the government's Spring Economic Update. The debate mostly consisted of the Conservatives criticizing the bill for increasing deficits and not doing enough to support the oil and gas industry, while the Liberals defended the bill, saying it provides relief for low-income Canadians. The Bloc Québécois raised concerns about foreign control of Canadian banks. Some time was spent on personal anecdotes and tangents like the history of a hospital emergency room.
“The Liberals are spending too much and racking up huge deficits. They promised a balanced budget but now we have deficits as far as the eye can see. $362 billion of new debt in just over six years. And what do we get for all this spending? Not much growth, only 1.7% on average. We need to unleash our oil and gas industry to increase growth and revenue. The government needs to get out of the way and stop destroying the country with its deficit spending.”
“The other party hasn't gotten rid of their anti-pipeline bills and oil production cap. They tax the oil industry but not industries in other countries. The Major Projects Office is just for show.”
“I'm talking a lot because I don't like the other party. I want to say they broke a promise. I also want to say the other leader only cares about his old company.”
“The government is spending $3 billion on international climate stuff. I think that's too much. I want to know if the other guy agrees. I want to say the government isn't using taxpayer money well.”
“I want to praise my friend for saying good things about oil and gas. The government is wasting money on projects in other countries! That's bad. They want to look good in pictures. People in Canada are hungry. The government should not spend money outside Canada. They should make us richer instead.”
“Thank you fellow west person. You said some nice things. People need help. But I don't like this grocery rebate. It won't help some poor families with kids. It helps single people more. That's not fair. I want you to admit that.”
“I talk about people struggling but I'm not really asking to help them. I'm just setting up a contrast. Then I say the government spends too much on many things. It should spend less and give people lower taxes instead. I want lower taxes and less spending. I don't think the government is transparent. I say some spending on sports is good but I don't care about the rest.”
“The government is using a fancy name to make their program sound good, but it's just more debt. The Prime Minister helped set up the same trick in England. He knows he's fudging the name.”
“The Liberals spend without restraint. They go further into debt year after year. The country's finances are not getting better. They gamble with taxpayers' money, and it is a mistake.”
“$12 billion a year is a lot of money to waste on vanity projects. Canadians are struggling. Does my colleague really think we should make life harder for Canadians just to score political points?”
“$300 billion is a lot of taxpayer money to spend competing with the private sector. Families won't use this train but they will be paying for it for generations. The government is hiding the true costs.”
“$300 million in taxpayer money wasted on PrescribeIT for almost nothing in return. A non-profit CEO paid nearly $900,000 a year while the program failed. The Liberals quietly shut it down and hoped no one would notice. No accountability for massive waste. That's the real result of Liberal spending.”
