This was a Business of Supply debate taking place during consideration of the government’s recent economic update legislation. Conservatives pressed the Finance Minister on deficit spending, asking when the budget would be balanced, how many homes are being built, the costs of a planned sovereign wealth fund, and details of specific spending items such as a spaceport lease, while repeatedly saying the minister was not answering their questions. Liberals defended the government’s record, saying the economy is strong, the deficit is lower than expected, and housing prices and rents have come down. The Bloc Québécois asked about the exemption of American companies from the global minimum tax in Bill C-31 and about wage subsidies for workers affected by tariffs, and the NDP asked why the government is not taxing oil company excess profits or banning surveillance pricing. Some members also raised local matters such as support for regional media.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .
13 statements
“I am sharing my speaking time with the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. Government workers who work from home part-time are being affected.”
“Mr. Chair, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. Federal civil servants working partly from home are being—”
Mr. Chair, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. Federal civil servants working partly from home are being—
“Federal public servants are being forced back into the office full-time, even when there is no room for them. This will hurt their quality of life, lower productivity, and cost the government more. Why are the Liberals doing this?”
“Mr. Chair, federal civil servants working partly from home are being forced to return full-time to an office, even where there is no place to put them. There is no compelling reason to work from an office. It will negatively affect their quality of life and productivity, and it will cost the government more money. Why are Liberals pursuing a policy that is so irrational?”
Mr. Chair, federal civil servants working partly from home are being forced to return full-time to an office, even where there is no place to put them. There is no compelling reason to work from an office. It will negatively affect their quality of life and productivity, and it will cost the government more money. Why are Liberals pursuing a policy that is so irrational?
“The government said pausing the gas tax would save people 10 cents a litre, but gas prices have gone up instead. Does the minister think oil companies are keeping the tax cut for themselves?”
“Mr. Chair, the government claimed that suspending the gas tax would save Canadians 10¢ a litre. When the suspension came into effect, the national average gas price was $1.69 a litre. Today, it is $1.83 a litre, and $2 a litre in Vancouver. Does the minister believe that oil companies are pocketing at least some portion of the tax cut?”
Mr. Chair, the government claimed that suspending the gas tax would save Canadians 10¢ a litre. When the suspension came into effect, the national average gas price was $1.69 a litre. Today, it is $1.83 a litre, and $2 a litre in Vancouver. Does the minister believe that oil companies are pocketing at least some portion of the tax cut?
“Oil companies will make about $90 billion in profit this year because of the attack on Iran. I want to know why the government will not tax those extra profits.”
“Mr. Chair, oil companies are set to make some $90 billion in profits this year as a result of the attack on Iran. Why will the government not tax those excess profits?”
Mr. Chair, oil companies are set to make some $90 billion in profits this year as a result of the attack on Iran. Why will the government not tax those excess profits?
“The Liberals want to sell off our ports and airports. When Britain did this, costs went up, service got worse, and foreign governments bought major shares. Has the government checked the national security risks of foreign powers owning our key infrastructure?”
“Mr. Chair, Liberals are planning to sell off Canada’s ports and airports. When the U.K. privatized Heathrow, costs skyrocketed and service declined. Today, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China control major stakes in that airport. Has the government conducted a full national security review of the risks posed by foreign and state-linked entities acquiring ownership of Canada’s strategic infrastructure?”
Mr. Chair, Liberals are planning to sell off Canada’s ports and airports. When the U.K. privatized Heathrow, costs skyrocketed and service declined. Today, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China control major stakes in that airport. Has the government conducted a full national security review of the risks posed by foreign and state-linked entities acquiring ownership of Canada’s strategic infrastructure?
“Does the minister think selling Canada's airports to private companies will make service better?”
“Mr. Chair, does the minister expect that service quality will be improved by privatizing Canada’s airports?”
Mr. Chair, does the minister expect that service quality will be improved by privatizing Canada’s airports?
“Does the minister think that letting airports make a profit will lower airport fees?”
“Mr. Chair, does the minister expect that introducing a profit element will lead to lower airport fees in Canada?”
Mr. Chair, does the minister expect that introducing a profit element will lead to lower airport fees in Canada?
“The Prime Minister promised to sign deals with all provinces to cover prescription drugs, but the government has not done it. I want the minister to explain why this promise was broken to people who cannot afford their medicine.”
“Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister made a campaign promise to protect pharmacare and sign agreements with all outstanding provinces and territories, yet the government has refused to sign any new agreements or allocate funding to cover all Canadians. Can the minister explain to the millions of people who cannot afford their medication why this promise has been broken?”
Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister made a campaign promise to protect pharmacare and sign agreements with all outstanding provinces and territories, yet the government has refused to sign any new agreements or allocate funding to cover all Canadians. Can the minister explain to the millions of people who cannot afford their medication why this promise has been broken?
“Will the Liberals completely end the pharmacare program after the current deals expire in 2029?”
“Mr. Chair, can the minister confirm if the Liberals are planning to eliminate pharmacare entirely when the current agreements expire in 2029?”
Mr. Chair, can the minister confirm if the Liberals are planning to eliminate pharmacare entirely when the current agreements expire in 2029?
“The Liberals promised to build 500,000 homes a year, but the budget officer says their main program will only build 26,000 homes by 2030. I want the minister to explain this gap.”
“Mr. Chair, in the last election the Liberals pledged to double Canada’s rate of residential construction to 500,000 homes per year over the next decade, but according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the government will produce only 26,000 homes by 2030 through its flagship Build Canada Homes. Can the Minister explain this massive gap between what was promised and what is being delivered with respect to affordable housing?”
Mr. Chair, in the last election the Liberals pledged to double Canada’s rate of residential construction to 500,000 homes per year over the next decade, but according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the government will produce only 26,000 homes by 2030 through its flagship Build Canada Homes. Can the Minister explain this massive gap between what was promised and what is being delivered with respect to affordable housing?
“The government plans to spend five percent of our economy on the military by 2035. That will cost 159 billion dollars a year. How does the government plan to pay for this?”
“Mr. Chair, the government plans to spend 5% of Canada’s GDP on defence by 2035. That is a greater share of our economy than the U.S. currently spends on its military. The PBO estimates that meeting this target will require $159 billion a year in core defence spending. How does the government intend to pay for this dramatic increase?”
Mr. Chair, the government plans to spend 5% of Canada’s GDP on defence by 2035. That is a greater share of our economy than the U.S. currently spends on its military. The PBO estimates that meeting this target will require $159 billion a year in core defence spending. How does the government intend to pay for this dramatic increase?
“The government is cutting 60 billion dollars across federal programs, including two billion from Indigenous programs. I want to know how these cuts will affect Indigenous communities that already need better services and infrastructure.”
“Mr. Chair, the government is slashing $60 billion across federal departments and programs. With over $2 billion in cuts to indigenous programs alone, what impact will these reductions have on communities already facing significant infrastructure and service gaps?”
Mr. Chair, the government is slashing $60 billion across federal departments and programs. With over $2 billion in cuts to indigenous programs alone, what impact will these reductions have on communities already facing significant infrastructure and service gaps?
“Why is the government letting companies use people's personal data to charge them higher prices instead of banning it?”
“Mr. Chair, why are the Liberals allowing companies to use surveillance pricing to harvest Canadians’ personal data in order to charge them higher prices, instead of banning this new form of price gouging in an affordability crisis?”
Mr. Chair, why are the Liberals allowing companies to use surveillance pricing to harvest Canadians’ personal data in order to charge them higher prices, instead of banning this new form of price gouging in an affordability crisis?
