“You say you want to help the economy, but it got worse when you were in charge before. I think you made bad choices that made companies want to leave Canada. I want you to admit you were wrong.”
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.
“I won't admit to any mistakes. The economy isn't doing as badly as some people expected, so I'm going to talk about how strong and resilient everyone is instead of answering the question.”
“You're dodging my actual question. Tell me the number I want. How much money left Canada while you were in charge?”
“I want to talk about something that makes me look good instead of answering your question.”
“You didn't answer my question. I'll say it simply. One trillion dollars left Canada. That is the most money that has ever left Canada in history. That's $25,000 for every person here. Do you think that's okay?”
“I won't say if the money leaving is okay. Instead I'll just talk about investors liking how Canada is stable and predictable.”
“Do you think it's okay that a trillion investment dollars left Canada while you were in charge?”
“I don't want to answer your specific question about investment leaving Canada under my watch. Let me change the subject to how great our high spending and low business taxes are instead.”
“You are dodging my question about investment fleeing Canada. I'm pinning the blame on you personally. Do you accept responsibility for a trillion dollars leaving Canada on your watch?”
“I don't want to admit any blame for money leaving Canada. Instead I will flatter Canadians about all the past decades of investment. Then I will bring up irrelevant facts about world uncertainty to dodge your question.”
“You're wrong about world uncertainty being the biggest problem. Our own Business Council of Canada blames Canada's domestic regulatory burden. It's government that's getting in the way of investment dollars. Do you agree with your own Business Council?”
“Forget our own Business Council blaming regulation. I'll talk about something else. Other people say world investors like Canada and its energy. That's good. We'll build Canada strong together.”
“I want the minister to admit we need private investment so I can say the government's policies are bad for it.”
“I'm saying words that sound like I agree with you, but I'm just filling space to avoid admitting anything.”
“You say investment is up, so tell me: how long did it take you to build TMX? Did your 'conditions' take too long?”
“I won't say how long TMX took. I'll just list other good news and hope you forget the question.”
“TMX was slow and expensive. I want you to admit that $28 billion is a lot of taxpayer dollars to spend on a pipeline that isn't even new.”
“I'm filling time until I can change the subject. I don't want to admit TMX was expensive.”
“You wasted public money and time on TMX. Now your new pipeline plan is just as slow. You don't get things done.”
“I want Canada to play a bigger role in the world's energy security. I'm filling time with vague talk about redesigning energy ecosystems.”