François-Philippe Champagne

In response to a question from Elizabeth May

“The world is changing how it gets energy, and other countries want to work with Canada because we are stable. Canada is a leader in traditional, renewable, and nuclear energy. Our tax credits help make us one of the best countries for investing in clean energy.”

“Mr. Chair, my colleague is a very close colleague in the House, and I am delighted and honoured that she is staying so late to participate in this debate. I did, in fact, meet with Fatih Birol. I had dinner with him when he came here to receive a prize. In fact, what he said to us and also to the G7, and I will give members a preview, is that the world energy infrastructure is being redesigned and that countries are looking at countries like Canada, which offer stability, predictability and opportunity over the long term. That is why we said that Canada is an energy superpower. We can play a big role in conventional, renewable and also nuclear energy. I think more and more we will see countries wanting Canada to be their partner of choice, whether in Asia or in Europe. However, I want to reassure her that with respect to the investment tax credit, I think Canada stands out as one of the countries among the G7 that support more investment into renewable energy.”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“When I was the industry minister, we gave more money and power to the Competition Bureau so it can protect Canadians.”

“Mr. Chair, the member will remember that when I was the industry minister we made historic investments to increase the resources and the enforcement capabilities of the Competition Bureau of Canada. I know that it will do its work to protect—”

In response to a question from Don Davies

“We found $60 billion in savings when we reviewed government spending. We made sure to protect funding for departments like Indigenous services.”

“Mr. Chair, my colleague will remember that when we did the comprehensive expenditure review, we identified $60 billion in savings. We were very careful in doing that to protect a number of departments, including those that relate to indigenous services.”

In response to a question from Don Davies

“We must protect our land, our northern areas, and our communities. Canada is doing its part in NATO, and we are spending record amounts of money to defend our country.”

“Mr. Chair, I think Canadians understand the world is changing and that we as Canadians need to ensure the sovereignty of our territory. We need to protect our north. We need to protect our communities. Canada as a NATO member is willing to do its part, and we have made record investments to protect our country.”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“We are spending about $56 billion over the next few years to build the homes Canadians need.”

“Mr. Chair, we have made generational investments in housing. In fact, if we look at the cost of housing measures from 2026 through to 2030‑31, we are looking at about $56 billion in investments to make sure that we build the homes that Canadians need in this country.”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“We have already created many programs to help Canadians in hard times, including money for families, school meals, and support for people with disabilities.”

“Mr. Chair, my colleague knows very well that we have a suite of measures to help Canadians in times of need. We have introduced landmark programs such as the Canada child benefit, the national school food program, the Canada disability benefit—”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“Canadians can trust our government to protect the programs they need. We have always helped people with the cost of living, and we will keep doing it.”

“Mr. Chair, Canadians know that they can always trust the government to protect programs that are key to Canadians. I think that, in terms of national affordability benefits for Canadians, we have always been there to support Canadians in times of need. We will continue to do so.”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“I respect my colleague and enjoy working with him. He will see what we are doing in the new economic plan.”

“Mr. Chair, as I said to my hon. colleague, for whom I have enormous respect, I work with him very well. By the way, I want to thank him for his contribution over the years. We have done many things together. What he is going to find in this spring economic update is in fact that we are—”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“We make decisions that help Canadians. We want to improve services and invest in more public projects across the country.”

“Mr. Chair, we are always making sure that every decision we make will be in the best interest of Canadians. We want to improve services to make sure that we, as a government and as Canadians, can invest in more infrastructure in this country. That is why we have made general—”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“We are collecting information from airport authorities to make the best choices for Canadians. We need to modernize how we build and run public infrastructure.”

“Mr. Chair, what we said in the spring economic update was that we would gather the relevant information from airport authorities so that we can do the proper due diligence and assess what is best for Canadians. I think Canadians understand that we need to modernize the way that we build, operate and maintain public infrastructure in this country.”

In response to a question from Don Davies

“The world is facing its worst energy crisis ever. This is why gas prices are going up in Canada.”

“Mr. Chair, my colleague is right. If we take it in the words of the executive director of the International Energy Agency, we are going to “the most severe energy crisis” that we have ever seen, so obviously the price at the pump in Canada is affected by global events, but we are happy—”

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In response to a question from Don Davies

“Suspending the federal gas tax is helping Canadians across the country. Most of what people pay for gas comes from the price of crude oil.”

“Mr. Chair, I am delighted that my colleague would refer to the suspension of the federal fuel excise tax. Indeed, this is a measure that is helping Canadians across the country. My colleague would well note that the biggest proportion of what we see at the pump is obviously the price of crude, and we have seen—”

In response to a question from Don Davies

“We told government workers to return to the office. We did this in a fair, caring way that matches how other workplaces do it.”

“Mr. Chair, we have taken measures to have civil servants return to the office. I think these measures are in line with the best practices seen in the industry. We have done that in a compassionate and reasonable way to make sure that people—”

In response to a question from Gabriel Hardy

“Canada manages its money well. Compared to the size of our economy, we have the lowest debt among all G7 countries.”

“Mr. Chair, I will once again reassure my colleague this evening. Canada has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, at 10.2%. By way of comparison, Germany’s ratio is 47.2%, the U.K.’s ratio is 93.8%, the United States’ ratio is 96.7%, and France’s ratio is 108%. This shows how well we are managing our public finances. Our debt-to-GDP ratio is the lowest among all G7 countries.”

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• Echo ×17

  A repeated line

  “We have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7.”

  Said 17 times by 13 members since April 29.

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In response to a question from Gabriel Hardy

“We focused on lowering the deficit. In 2025, it was $11 billion lower than expected, and our debt will go down next year. We are managing public money responsibly.”

“Mr. Chair, our first instinct was to reduce the deficit. My colleague should celebrate the fact that our deficit is $11 billion lower than projected in 2025. He will realize that even the 2025-26 debt will be lower in 2026-27. What we are demonstrating to Canadians is that we are managing the public purse responsibly and soundly. I am sure that this is what his constituents want to see.”

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In response to a question from Gabriel Hardy

“The Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that our government is on track to meet its financial goals. He said that Canada's spending plan is sustainable.”

“Mr. Chair, I am once again pleased that my colleague quoted the Parliamentary Budget Officer because he confirmed the following himself. I will quote him in English. The Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed “that the government is on track to [meet] its two fiscal anchors”, a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio and balanced operating spending by 2028-29. The PBO assesses current fiscal policy as sustainable. Those are the words of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who said that Canada’s fiscal position is clearly sustainable—”

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In response to a question from Gabriel Hardy

“Our deficit is $11 billion lower than expected. The International Monetary Fund says Canada's finances are the strongest in the G7.”

“Mr. Chair, I am so glad to hear such an excellent question from my colleague. He will be happy to hear that the deficit happens to be $11 billion lower than anticipated in budget 2025. We restored fiscal discipline in this country. I will even help the hon. member out, because he will need a clip for that. He can ask the IMF, which is independent. The IMF does not need a clip to explain that to his constituents. The IMF says that Canada’s fiscal position is the strongest in the G7. I think that is what my colleague should tell his constituents.”

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In response to a question from Eric Lefebvre

“I want to connect the member with the Canadian Space Agency. Canada needs the ability to launch into space for our security.”

“Mr. Chair, I want to help my colleague. I think so highly of him that I want to introduce him to the people at the Canadian Space Agency so that he understands how important it is for Canada to have space launch capabilities. It is a matter of security. It is important for Canada—”

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In response to a question from Eric Lefebvre

“Housing prices across Canada have gone down for 19 months in a row. Also, being able to launch spacecraft from Canada is good for our national security. Canso, Nova Scotia, is a great place to launch from, and the member should support our investments in space.”

“Mr. Chair, I would like to add a few points. I would like to give him a precise answer. For 19 consecutive months, we have seen a decline in housing prices nationwide. Regarding the issue of space launches, I think my colleague needs to take a step back and consider the benefits of being able to launch spacecraft from Canada. This is a matter of national security. I can tell him that I would be happy to introduce him to astronauts and arrange for him to speak with people on the American side. He will understand that Canso, Nova Scotia, is one of the few locations from which one can reach geostationary orbit. This is an issue of national security for the country. He should be pleased to see that we are investing in the space sector.”