Adjournment Proceedings

An adjournment debate on government spending and its impact on young Canadians. Cathay Wagantall (Conservative) said the government is spending too much, leaving youth with high costs, unemployment and hundreds of billions in added debt and interest, and called on the government to adopt a committee report on youth jobs along with Conservative plans to cut taxes and build homes. Leslie Church (Liberal) replied that Canada’s fiscal position is strong, that deficits are projected to decline and the deficit for 2025-26 is now forecast $11.5 billion lower than in Budget 2025, and that the government is cutting waste while investing in housing, infrastructure and training for 100,000 trades workers.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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3 statements

Leslie Church, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth, and to the Minister of Jobs and Families (Persons with Disabilities)

Liberal
“Our government is managing public money responsibly. We are protecting Canadians now and securing the country's future.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, fiscal responsibility is about managing public finances in a way that protects Canadians today while securing the country’s future, and that is exactly what the government is doing. Despite global uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical instability—

Leslie Church, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth, and to the Minister of Jobs and Families (Persons with Disabilities)

Liberal
“Canada's economy and finances are strong, and our deficits are going down. We are cutting waste while investing in housing, infrastructure, and training for 100,000 new trades workers. We are managing public money responsibly to protect the future for young people, and the opposition should support this work.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, despite global uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical instability, Canada’s fiscal position remains strong. The 2026 spring economic update confirms that our fiscal outlook has improved, not deteriorated. Deficits are declining over the medium term, and the government remains firmly committed to a declining federal deficit-to-GDP ratio. As a whole, Canada also continues to have one of the strongest fiscal positions in the G7, with the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio and the second lowest deficit-to-GDP ratio. That strong position is not accidental. It is the result of a government that is committed to making responsible, disciplined choices. That means spending less on government operations, cutting waste and ensuring public funds are used where they can deliver the greatest impact. By managing costs carefully, we are creating the fiscal room to invest more in the things that truly matter, such as supporting workers, helping businesses grow and building the nation-building infrastructure our economy depends on. Fiscal responsibility also means not fuelling inflation. Inflation has remained within the target range for 28 consecutive months, and we want to maintain the right conditions to keep it there. That is why the government is focused on improving supply, especially housing supply, and providing real targeted affordability relief without compromising economic stability. Even under more challenging global conditions, our fiscal position remains stable under our responsible fiscal plan. Let us talk about fairness, because fiscal responsibility is ultimately about intergenerational fairness. The government knows that young Canadians deserve more opportunities. By keeping debt under control and investing in growth, we are protecting their future. The 2026 spring economic update shows a government that is meeting today’s challenges while protecting tomorrow’s prosperity. I have to highlight for my colleague, given her interest in young Canadians and creating opportunities for them, the transformational $6-billion initiative in the spring economic update to invest in recruiting, training and hiring up to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers right across the country. Canada’s finances are improving, our fiscal anchors are intact, our debt remains sustainable, and our economy is being strengthened, not undermined by responsible public investment. That is fiscal responsibility. That is what the government is delivering. I hope that my colleague opposite gets on board.

Leslie Church, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth, and to the Minister of Jobs and Families (Persons with Disabilities)

Liberal
“The federal deficit will be 11.5 billion dollars lower than expected next year. The economy is doing better and bringing in more money. We are managing government spending carefully while still investing to help Canadians.”
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    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the spring economic update shows that the projected deficit is actually $11.5 billion lower in 2025-26 than forecast in budget 2025. This improvement is possible because of stronger-than-expected economic performance and higher revenues. We are concentrating on what we can control, such as maintaining fiscal sustainability while making targeted, high-impact investments for Canadians right across the country. This means eliminating the operating deficit over time, ensuring a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio and ensuring that every dollar spent on behalf of Canadians supports growth and resilience and improves the well-being of Canadians. That is what a fiscally responsible government looks like, and that is how we are building Canada strong for all. By making these adjustments now, we are making it possible to make generational investments that protect and transform Canada’s industries, strengthen our economy and empower Canadians.

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