“Why are you spending so much money to go backwards? You say electric is the future. Then you spend half a billion to switch a factory back to gas engines. That makes no sense.”
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.
“That won't happen. It's impossible. You're letting in too many Chinese cars.”
“You criticized China's unfair practices, but now you're letting in 50,000 Chinese electric cars per year. Which is it? Were you wrong then or are you wrong now?”
“You say you're making everything electric. So how come Honda just shut down their giant electric car plant? What's up with that?”
“Look, that future you're promising sounds great. I just want to know how Canadian car companies are supposed to go from making basically no electric cars today to making only electric cars eight years from now. Can you actually explain how we get there? Because I don't see it.”
“You didn't answer my one real question. I'll say it again. We only make a tiny number of electric cars. How are you going to make all cars electric in just eight years? Tell me the real plan.”
“I think the new fund's operating costs will be high. $1.7 billion for the pension fund. Half a million dollars per employee. That's a lot of money. What will the costs of this new fund be?”
“You didn't answer my last question. I want to change the subject. I'm going to talk about youth unemployment. That's a real problem. Do you agree?”
“Youth unemployment is high. Does the minister understand how bad it is? I want the minister to admit there's a crisis.”
“The youth unemployment rate is high. You should admit there's a crisis. Cut taxes and red tape so businesses can hire more young people. You should listen to the all-party report that says this would help.”
“You won't give a straight answer. I'll ask you again. A report said more taxes and red tape hurt youth employment. Will you cut taxes and red tape to help youth employment?”
“You talk a lot, but say nothing. I asked about immigration causing youth unemployment. Answer my question.”