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The Budget

The House debated the government’s 2026 budget. Liberal members said the budget invests in the economy while meeting its fiscal targets, pointing to lower taxes for businesses that invest, a separation of operating and capital spending, funding for clean electricity, heat pump rebates, electric vehicle chargers and marine conservation, and a deficit lower than forecast. Conservatives said the budget adds too much debt, lacks a credible plan to balance the books, raises interest costs, and leaves the country less prepared for future crises, and urged members to vote against it. Bloc Québécois members objected that the budget supports fossil fuels and questioned whether natural resources would be processed in Canada, while the NDP criticized what it called unfair ferry funding for British Columbia compared with Atlantic Canada.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

1 statement

Gord Johns

NDP
“The budget gives $1.2 billion for ferries in Atlantic Canada, but BC Ferries only gets a loan. Atlantic Canada gets $125 per person for ferry costs, while our region gets only $6. I want the government to invest fairly in Vancouver Island instead of ignoring us.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am really glad that my colleague talked about transportation. We saw, in the budget, $1.2 billion for Marine Atlantic, for Atlantic Canadian ferry infrastructure, which is critical, as I know, from coastal communities. It is our marine highway and we support that. When it comes to Vancouver Island and coastal communities, BC Ferries got nothing. In fact, we got a loan. We got an interest-bearing loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank instead. This inequity is not nation-building. In fact, we get $6 per capita for operating costs. Atlantic Canadians get $125. When is the government going to stand up and invest in Vancouver Islanders and stop abandoning us? They elected two Liberal members. They have not done anything for us. They have abandoned Vancouver Islanders.

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