The Economy

MPs questioned the government about the economy and the cost of living. Conservative members said everyday expenses such as fuel and groceries are too hard for many families to afford, citing constituents working multiple jobs or relying on food banks; they called on the government to cancel an industrial gas tax, stop spending on consultants, and adopt the Conservative plan they say would cut billions in waste and save families money. Liberal ministers responded that the government knows affordability is a concern and pointed to programs such as school food funding, grocery benefits for families, affordable housing, and a $5-million investment in a food bank in one member’s riding, while arguing Conservative members had voted against such supports. A portion of the exchanges was taken up with remarks about the Saskatchewan Conservatives’ seating positions in the House.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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8 statements

Rosemarie Falk, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford everyday life, while the government wastes billions of dollars. The Conservative plan would cut over $150 billion in waste and save families nearly $10,000 each. I want the government to adopt our plan.”
  • A repeated line

    “Will the Liberals adopt our plan?”

    Said 5 times by 4 members since September 22.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying more for everything. Glen has shared with me that he is working three jobs just to stay afloat, and Leonard is struggling to afford to travel to see his grandchildren. These are real Canadians who are being forced to make difficult decisions just to get by. While families are cutting back, these Liberals keep spending billions on wasteful bureaucracy, consultants and corporate welfare. Our Conservative economic plan has identified over $150 billion in wasteful spending and nearly $10,000 in savings per family. Will the Liberals adopt our plan?

Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)

Liberal
“The Conservatives moved their Saskatchewan members to the back rows because their party does not care about Saskatchewan. They do not believe in hard work, and they have done nothing for over ten years.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as I viewed the new seating arrangement of the Conservatives’ opposite, I kind of lost my Saskatchewan MPs. Then I looked farther back in the backbenches to where they have been relegated. There is where they ended up. They got demoted by their own party. Why? It is because the Conservatives do not believe in Saskatchewan. They do not believe that there is a new government in Ottawa. They do not believe in hard work. For 10 years, and now 11 years, they have not delivered anything.

Rosemarie Falk, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake

Conservative
“Life is still too expensive for Canadians. The government's industrial gas tax makes it cost more to make and move goods. I want the government to cancel this tax, lower fuel prices, and adopt the Conservative economic plan.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, just because the out-of-touch Prime Minister says affordability is the best it has been in a decade does not make it true. It does not fill Leonard’s fuel tank to visit his grandkids, and it does not afford Glen a day off. Canadians are still facing high costs every single day, and the Liberal industrial gas tax makes it more expensive to produce and move the goods Canadians rely on. Canadians need action on affordability right now. Will the Liberals scrap the industrial gas tax, lower fuel costs and adopt our Conservative economic action plan instead of sitting there and making personal attacks?

Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)

Liberal
“Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan voted against helping people. They voted against benefits for children, workers, seniors, and people with disabilities. They also voted against school food, dental care, student loans, and new homes. They need to do their jobs better.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let us see what the Conservatives from Saskatchewan voted against. The Canada child benefit they voted against. The national school food program they voted against. The Canada disability benefit they voted against. The Canada groceries and essentials benefit they voted against. The Canada workers benefit they voted against. The Canadian dental care plan they voted against. The old age security program they voted against. Canada student loans and grants they voted against. Record starts in housing in Saskatchewan they voted against. You guys have to learn how to do your job better.

Tamara Kronis, Nanaimo—Ladysmith

Conservative
“More people in my riding need food banks because life is getting harder. The government has failed to help them. I want the government to stop giving money to consultants and insiders and help everyday Canadians instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, over the summer, I spent time at local food banks, and I can tell everyone that it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet for laid-off workers, full-time employees, working families, people with disabilities, single parents, seniors and kids. I saw real poverty lining up alongside people on the cusp of it. These people know that the Liberal government is all talk and no results for them. The volunteers doing the work that government has walked away from know it too. I want to know: When is the government going to listen to Conservatives, stop spending our money on consultants and Liberal insiders, and really take care of Canadians?

Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Liberal

Linked statement

“I know life is expensive right now. Our government is helping Canadians by funding school food programs, giving families up to $1,900 a year for groceries, and building more affordable homes.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadians are facing hard times right now. We know that affordability is top of mind for them. That is why our government is taking steps to support Canadians. That is why we are investing in making the national school nutrition program permanent. That is why we have introduced the groceries and essentials benefit to help families with up to $1,900 per year, and that is why we are building more housing and getting housing starts going so we can make affordable housing available. We are standing with Canadians.

Tamara Kronis, Nanaimo—Ladysmith

Conservative
“People in my riding cannot find jobs, afford their homes, or afford to live. The government needs to adopt Conservative policies to help them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that out-of-touch thoughts and prayers answer is not going to help the man who sent me his résumé and asked if I could help him find a job, or the couple who came into my office with their bank account statements and their household budget and asked me how they are going to keep a roof over their heads. It is not going to help the woman who shouted at me from a place of extreme fear that she had eight to 10 months before she has to consider medical assistance in dying because she cannot afford to live. I join them in wanting to know when the Liberal government will truly see the people who are struggling and adopt the policies Conservatives have proposed to restore the promise of Canada.

Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors)

Liberal
“Our government gave $5 million to a local food bank in the member's area to help people get healthy food. The member should tell her voters about the good programs we fund instead of just complaining here.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have spent time over the summer and the spring talking to constituents in the member’s riding. What did I hear from them? I heard back from them that we, as a government, invested $5 million in the Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo. This is a new food distribution facility on Vancouver Island. It improves year-round access to nutritious food. I wish the member would tell her constituents about the things available in her riding that are being funded and that they can count on, instead of just collecting stories for the House of Commons.

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