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The Economy

During question period on the economy, Conservatives cited constituents struggling with the cost of living, saying seniors on fixed incomes cannot afford rent, groceries and medication, and that high diesel prices are hurting tradespeople. They called on the government to adopt the Conservative plan to bring down inflation and lower fuel costs, and said Alberta companies trying to produce cheaper diesel from natural gas lack government support. The Liberals replied that job creation, including nuclear projects in Durham creating tens of thousands of jobs, is the best way to improve affordability, and pointed to housing measures such as Build Canada Homes, a higher GST rebate for new housing, and local infrastructure funding.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Rhonda Kirkland

Conservative
“Seniors on fixed incomes cannot afford rent, groceries, or medicine because of high costs. I want the government to adopt the Conservative economic plan to bring down inflation.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Clifford is a senior from Oshawa who called my office this week to share his struggles. He is on a fixed income and is having difficulty paying for rent, buying his groceries and even affording the medication he needs to survive. These are life’s necessities, not luxuries. The Conservatives have a plan that would actually work to lower inflation and save Canadians money on all of life’s essentials. Will the Liberals adopt our Conservative economic action plan so Canadians like Clifford and other Oshawa seniors can finally afford their rent, groceries and medication?

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal
“Our government is helping the economy by creating jobs. Nuclear projects in Pickering and Darlington are bringing over 50,000 good jobs to Durham. These jobs help young people and auto workers who need work, and good pay is the best way to make life more affordable.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know that all of Durham region is benefiting from the work our government is doing to create a stronger economy in Canada, while supporting a strong social safety net that we take pride in protecting. We are creating jobs because good-paying jobs are the best way to address affordability. In our region alone, the Pickering nuclear plant refurbishment is over 30,000 jobs, and the new nuclear project at Darlington makes that number over 50,000 good-paying jobs in Durham region. That is jobs for our youth and for workers coming out of our auto plants who may need new work. That is good news.

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Arnold Viersen

Conservative
“Diesel fuel costs too much for workers in my riding. Alberta companies want to make cheaper diesel from natural gas, but the government does not support them. I want the government to adopt the Conservative plan so diesel is affordable.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Steve Van Raalte in my riding texted me. He is a heavy-duty mechanic who is frustrated with the price of diesel. It has been cutting into his bottom line. The Liberals are out of touch, and Canadians like Steve are out of money. There are at least two companies in Alberta that are working to develop diesel fuel out of natural gas, and this would reduce our reliance on American diesel fuel, yet because of the Liberals’ lost decade, banks will not fund them, insurance companies do not insure them and there is zero support from the Liberals. Will the Liberal government adopt our Conservative action plan so Steve can finally afford diesel fuel?

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Jennifer McKelvie

Liberal
“We are working to make housing more affordable. We are helping build more homes, lowering taxes on new housing, and paying for local projects that lower building costs. We will keep doing this to help renters and buyers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is stories like Steve’s that have compelled us to act on housing affordability in this country. That is why we have launched Build Canada Homes to build affordable housing at scale across the country. That is why we have increased our rebate for the GST, working in provinces like Ontario and others to bring those costs down. That is why we are investing in infrastructure, housing-enabling infrastructure, that reduces development charges. This is about ensuring that, whether someone rents, buys or pays a mortgage, affordability is improving, and we are going to continue in this regard.

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