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Rail Transportation

In question period, the topic of a roughly $90-billion rail project came up. Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis said families in her riding are struggling with the cost of groceries and gas, questioned spending that much on a train line in an area that already has transportation options, and asked which Liberal insiders would profit from it. Liberal ministers Wayne Long and Patty Hajdu responded by criticizing Conservative media appearances, pointing to trade deals, tax cuts, the dental care plan and child care savings, and saying the Conservatives voted against those measures. No further details of the rail project were discussed in the sampled exchanges.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Leslyn Lewis

Conservative
“Life is getting too expensive for families because of government spending and taxes. How can the government justify spending $90 billion on a train project in an area that already has plenty of transportation?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians were promised that life would become more affordable if they trusted the Liberal government. Instead, families are falling further behind as the cost of everything keeps rising. After years of reckless spending, inflation, debt and more taxes, the Liberal Prime Minister is proving more costly than Justin Trudeau. How does the Liberal government justify spending $90 billion, which is more than its entire deficit, on the Alto rail boondoggle in a transportation corridor that is already the most heavily serviced in Canada?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“Canadians are tired of Conservative media stunts. Our government is signing trade deals, cutting taxes, and growing the economy. The Conservatives should work with us to make Canada stronger.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.”

    Said 15 times by 6 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are tired of the podcasts, bizarre workout videos and empty parking lot press conferences. They are tired of it. On this side of the House, we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7. Abroad, we are signing trade deals that bring billions of dollars to our country. At home, we are cutting taxes. It is time for the Conservatives to put down the kettlebells and help us build Canada strong. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Leslyn Lewis

Conservative

Linked statement

“People in my riding are struggling to afford food and gas. The government should not spend $90 billion on a train line most people will not use. I want to know which Liberal insider will profit from it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am hearing from desperate Canadians who are frustrated that the Liberal government prioritizes wasteful projects over the needs of families. In Haldimand—Norfolk, people are crushed by the cost of gas and basic necessities and the price of groceries, and they are choosing to pay their bills rather than putting food on the table. Now the government wants to spend $90 billion on a rail line that most people will never use, while Canadians are lining up at food banks just to survive. Which Liberal insider stands to profit from this tax—

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“Our dental care plan lets people in my riding see a dentist for the first time. Over 900,000 kids benefit from our child care program, saving families in Ontario about $13,000 per child. The Conservatives voted against all of this.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, constituents I am meeting in my riding are talking about the changes in their lives through the Canada dental care plan. People who have never been able to get dental care, who have not been covered by plans, for the first time in their lives are able to see the dentist. People with young children who have not been able to bring their children for dental care now have coverage. Let us talk about child care for a minute. Over 900,000 children are benefiting from child care, and families in Ontario, that member’s province, are now seeing savings of, on average, $13,000 per child. These are all things the Conservatives voted against.

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