“Look, I'm going to hide behind this technicality so I don't have to answer your real question.”
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.
“You said there was a conflict. Show us the letter. Why didn't the ethics screen stop you from talking about Alto?”
“I want to keep quoting the letter that says I don't need an ethics screen. But don't worry, I put one up myself. I'll explain more at committee later.”
“You said yourself you had a conflict. Did your screen really stop you talking about Alto in cabinet?”
“I'm just going to repeat myself and avoid the question.”
“I'm repeating myself. I already said I followed the rules.”
“You've been here over an hour. You say a lot but never answer our questions. Did the screen apply to that one clause or not?”
“I want to keep quoting this letter over and over so I don't have to give a real answer about that one specific clause.”
“Did you really think no one would notice you dodging yes-or-no on that one clause? Try again.”
“I'm going to keep reading quotes until everyone forgets the question you actually asked.”
“I'm going to ask you a specific yes-or-no question about your actions so there's no way you can dodge this.”
“I'm going to keep quoting my talking points instead of giving a direct answer to your question.”
“You're hiding something. I want you to give us that letter so we can expose you.”
“I sent that letter somewhere else. I won't give it to you. I say I followed the rules and that's the end of it.”
“You say you had a screen to stop your conflict. But your department hired someone else connected to your company. Did the screen apply to that guy too?”
“You're an experienced guy. You know better than to throw around allegations like that. Be careful what you say about your colleagues in this House.”
“I didn't accuse you of anything. I just repeated your own words back to you. Did Finance Canada hire an outside contractor for the 2025 budget speech, yes or no?”
“I am a very honourable man. Do not accuse me of anything.”
“I want you to admit that you hired Frank Baylis's sister-in-law. I already know that you did. I demand that you say it out loud.”
“I don't want to answer your question. Look it up yourself.”