“Higher interest rates are making life harder for people with loans and mortgages, and for anyone trying to buy a home. The government's spending is causing inflation and driving these costs up. I want the government to stop this spending. I want a real plan to lower the cost of food and gas and make housing affordable for young people.”

“Mr. Speaker, yesterday’s Bank of Canada interest rate adds to the gut-wrenching anxiety Canadians are feeling. Borrowing costs are going up right away for people with truck loans, variable rate mortgages and lines of credit. Those with fixed-rate mortgages facing renewal are wondering how big a hole this is going to blow in budgets that are already shot. The mountain that first-time homebuyers have to climb got steeper, while the costs of everything else keep going up. Higher costs are not going to do anything to help bring down the cost of rent. The Bank of Canada says it acted because of high inflation. Well, the people of Nanaimo—Ladysmith will be watching the budget closely to see whether the government finally stops its inflationary spending. People are sick of having to put off necessary repairs, delay investments and put their lives on hold. We expect to see a credible plan to bring down the cost of food and gas and to make housing more attainable for our youth, not more announcements and promises that do not—”