“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.”
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 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.”
“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.”
“The government should not cave to Trump. Bring back the digital services tax to raise more arts funding. That tax money belongs to us!”
“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?”
“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.”
“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 want to complain about not finding money I was looking for. But the real point is to say Quebec doesn't get what it wants from the federal government. I'm invoking Quebec's elected members to make this complaint sound bigger and more unanimous than me.”
“The money's not there. You bought votes with carbon tax rebates and didn't send Quebec their $814 million. The assembly asked for it unanimously. Where is it?”
“I want the minister to say how much of the $710 million will be used to take land in my riding and how much will be spent on advertising. I don't like that the company is spending money on advertising.”
“You say your government is investing in infrastructure, but why did you cut money from this transit fund?”
“The government cut $229 million from Statistics Canada. That reminds me of when Stephen Harper cut the agency. I don't like those cuts.”
“You gave $225,000 more to the Ethics Commissioner. I want you to admit it's because the Prime Minister needs more babysitting.”
“You've already announced some money to help business. I'm mad that you won't spend even more money on wage subsidies like the business groups I like want you to.”
“I'm using my time to flatter the chair instead of asking a question.”