“The government helps powerful insiders while regular people cannot afford food. One in three Canadians is skipping meals because groceries cost too much. Half of young people are skipping meals, and half of all Canadians are using their savings to pay bills. Will the budget on Thursday save people money so they can afford to eat?”

“Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that corporate power brokers would simultaneously like to get a paycheque from a company and go work for the regulator that approves that company’s applications. It is too bad that kind of arrangement does not work out for single moms, seniors and small business owners who cannot afford to eat. One in three Canadians is skipping meals, according to the Salvation Army today, because they cannot afford groceries. Nearly half of young people fall into that category, and 50% of Canadians are digging into their savings to pay their bills. Will Canadians at least get a budget on Thursday that will save them money so they can afford to eat?”