The Economy

Question period focused on the cost of living. Conservative members said food insecurity, rising rents, gas prices, and debt were making life unaffordable for seniors, young people, and families, and called on the government to reduce spending. Liberal members pointed to measures they said help Canadians, including Build Canada Homes for affordable housing, dental care, the Canada child benefit, and Bill C-30, which ministers said would put more money in the pockets of Canadians, and asked what the Conservatives would cut.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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5 statements

Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Liberal
“The member supports community groups, families, and women when we work together in committee. But she does not ask for those same things when she speaks here in the House.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 7 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 29 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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  • A repeated line

    “I have a great deal of respect for my colleague.”

    Said 7 times by 6 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague. We sit together on a committee and always have lively discussions. What perplexes me about her speeches in the House is that I get the impression there is a disconnect between what she advocates for in committee and what she calls for in the House. She is always very keen to support community organizations, prioritizing support for families and women, yet that is not what I hear once we are in this chamber.

Marie-Gabrielle Ménard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Liberal
“We take the housing crisis seriously. We created a new federal agency focused on affordable housing because people spend too much of their income on rent and homes, especially in my riding.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we take this very seriously, particularly the housing crisis. We have established a federal agency called Build Canada Homes. It is rare for federal agencies to be created. Under this agency, the government’s priority is affordable housing. We understand that. A large portion of people’s income goes toward housing. This is especially true in the riding I represent, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est. This is the government’s top priority.

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“The Conservatives say our spending makes life harder for people. But Canadians rely on our help for dental care, child care, and groceries. I want to know what the Conservatives' plan is to help people.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Hochelaga—Rosemont‑Est just asked a highly relevant question. What is inflationary spending? The Conservatives tell us that our spending is making life harder for Canadians. However, people rely on dental care. People rely on the Canada child benefit. People rely on the GST rebate for groceries. Conservative MPs seem to object to these measures, but we cannot understand why. Do they have a plan to help people, or is it all just empty opposition rhetoric?

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

Liberal
“The Conservatives should stop asking the same question and vote for this bill. It puts more money into the pockets of 12 million Canadians, including people in the member's riding.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will not take any lessons from those Conservatives. Rather than standing up and asking the same question over and over every day this week, my colleague, whom I respect, should instead stand up and vote in favour of Bill C-30, a bill that will put more money in the pockets of 12 million Canadians. I know people in Portneuf who will be happy about that. Will the member do the right thing for the people of Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier? I know they are listening today, and they expect their member of Parliament to stand up for them when they need some support.

Madeleine Chenette, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and to the Secretary of State (Sport)

Liberal
“We are acting quickly to help people in our ridings. We are building affordable housing, cutting taxes, and spending $755 million to make sports affordable for everyone.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 24 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague explained, Build Canada Homes is there for affordable housing. We are welcoming athletes to Ottawa today and making sport affordable through a $755-million investment to make sport accessible to all. We are developing projects and programs for our society on so many issues, including tax cuts. On this side of the House, we are taking swift action to help the people in our ridings. In my riding of Thérèse‑De Blainville, I can say that organizations are thanking us for everything we are doing for our constituents.

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