“Do you actually agree that affordability is great, even though grocery prices are way up and millions of Canadians need food banks?”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
Recent debates
8 latest topics
Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act
57 statements
Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act
19 statements
Arab Heritage Month Act
5 statements
The Economy
15 statements
Government Priorities
2 statements
Government Priorities
2 statements
Housing
12 statements
The Environment
2 statements
Government Orders
Business of Supply
A wide-ranging bill to implement the Spring 2026 Economic Update, touching on everything from tax deductions for tradespeople to aviation fuel taxes to beer excise duty rates. In 5 hours of debate, MPs mostly grilled the Finance Minister on unrelated topics like ride-sharing regulation, StatsCan data collection, and election promises from 2015. Some substantive questions were asked about domestic investment levels and the bill's housing provisions, but mostly talk went in circles without many direct answers.
“We know affordability is a problem but we're doing a lot to fix it. Trust me, we have this covered.”
“I want to spend a lot of money on many things. I want Canadians to feel good about the government spending money.”
“I want to talk about how our government helps Canadians. I want Canadians to feel good about the government spending money. I will list many things that our government does. I want Canadians to think we are helping with affordability. I want Canadians to believe our spending will build a strong country.”
“We want Canadians to think we are helping with affordability. I will list three things our government does: housing, groceries, and gas. We spend a lot of money on housing. The IMF said some countries like Canada can spend on it. We send money to Canadians to help with groceries. We want Canadians to think we are helping them now and in the future. We want Canadians to believe our big spending will make things more affordable.”
“I want the money for Quebec housing. I don't want any conditions on how Quebec uses it. Quebec should get its fair share of the money. I want the minister to promise this.”
“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later. Quebec is getting money for housing. Quebec can decide how to use it. Quebec likes this.”
“You should direct your comments to the Chair, not to me directly. The government did something I want to argue about.”
“Madam Chair, the government cut funding for an agri-food research centre in Quebec. Farmers don't like this. I want the budget to give money to reopen this centre right away.”
“I want my colleague to know we protected research funding while cutting other spending. We think this is important for our communities and for Canada's future.”
“There's no money to reopen the agricultural research centre. Did you put $37 million for local news in these estimates instead? Our francophone media needs that money.”
“Look, the $37 million fund for local news is in the spending estimates. I announced it in the spring economic statement, so he should be happy.”
“The government should not cave to Trump. Bring back the digital services tax to raise more arts funding. That tax money belongs to us!”
“I won't answer your narrow question about that one tax. Instead let me rattle off numbers to sound smart and caring without committing to specific action.”
“You gave in to Trump. You changed the law to let American companies off the hook. Are you helping the Prime Minister's favourite company move to the U.S. on purpose?”
“I don't want to answer that. I want to look like I'm helping workers and growing the economy.”
“Why are we spending on the Governor General's office but cutting research and the arts? That's not right. The government should spend more on my preferred programs instead.”
“I want to cheer for my own party. I think it's normal for our government to spend a lot of money. We say we found a way to spend a little less while still spending a lot.”
“You cut science, agriculture and film funding but gave the Governor General lots of money. The Governor General might buy expensive shoes with that money. That makes me mad. I think you should give the money to different programs I like instead.”
“I'm protecting spending everywhere I can. Defence, indigenous services, research and development - I protected budgets in all those areas. I know how important they are and I made sure they were safe.”