Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

Finance

Question period focused on government spending, debt, and the cost of living ahead of an upcoming federal fiscal update. Conservative members said the government was adding $90 billion in net new spending, that debt interest costs have reached $55 billion a year, and that this spending was driving up the price of housing, rent, and groceries; they asked whether the government would keep spending in its next update. Liberal ministers replied by citing the International Monetary Fund’s view that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7 and its second-fastest projected growth, and repeatedly asked the Conservatives to list which programs, such as dental care, the Canada child benefit, or old age security increases, they would cut to pay for their plans.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Larry Brock

Conservative
“The government is spending too much money and adding to our debt. We now spend $55 billion a year just on debt interest. Will the government keep spending like this in the next fiscal update?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with these Liberals, it is more spending, more debt, more inflation and more of the same. They tell Canadians that things are under control, but this Prime Minister doubled Trudeau’s deficit, adding $90 billion in net new spending. Now debt interest costs Canadians $55 billion a year, more than we spend on health transfers. The C.D. Howe Institute says, “Fiscal excess has...undermined economic growth and living standards.” Translation: Reckless Liberal spending is making Canadians poor. Next week, this government tables its fiscal update. Will it doom Canadians to more of the same?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The International Monetary Fund says Canada has the strongest government finances in the G7. It also says our economy will grow second fastest among those countries.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 38 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We have the second-fastest growth in the G7.”

    Said 12 times by 5 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know it is Friday, but it seems that my colleague has the wrong QP card. Let me help him, because I think he might want to have some of the facts to send to his constituents. Just last week, the International Monetary Fund said that Canada has the strongest fiscal position of the G7. That is great news that I hope he is going to bring to his constituents. More than that, Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7. This is extraordinary. We are going to build this country strong with all Canadians.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C View analysis

Larry Brock

Conservative
“The government is wasting billions of dollars on consultants, train projects, and gun buybacks. This spending makes life more expensive and drives up food prices. I want the Prime Minister to cut this wasteful spending.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, hot air and no results, more of the same is exactly what Canadians are getting: reckless spending that never stops, billions on consultants, billions on their failed gun grab, billions on high-speed rail and more waste, inflation and pressure on Canadians. When the Prime Minister says that affordability has never been better, is that what he calls record prices and the worst food inflation in the G7? Will the Prime Minister cut the waste and bring down his out-of-control spending or is he just another Liberal?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C– View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Our work is getting results. The International Monetary Fund says Canada's economy will grow the second-fastest in the G7.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 23 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am just another Liberal fighting for Canadians every day, like all my colleagues. It is astonishing. I know it is Friday and things are light because there is sunshine in Ottawa, but no results? Just look at what the International Monetary Fund said last week. It said that Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7. I would like to look at his scorecard. On this side of the House, we know what matters: fighting for Canadians every day, helping Canadians in need and building Canada strong together.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade D– View analysis

Luc Berthold

Conservative
“Canadians are paying more than ever for housing, food, and travel because of the government's high spending and debt interest. Will the Prime Minister add even more spending and debt next week, driving costs up further?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister claims that affordability is the best it has been in 10 years. However, with $90 billion in new spending and $55 billion in annual interest payments, Canadians are paying more than ever for housing, food and transportation. Even the C.D. Howe Institute says we are living in a “fiscal fantasy”. Next week, will the Liberal Prime Minister condemn Canadians to even more spending, more deficits and a rising cost of living for families?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Canada's economy is strong. The IMF says our growth will be the second fastest in the G7.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 26 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “I have a great deal of respect for my colleague.”

    Said 7 times by 6 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague. I know it is Friday, but I think he is asking the wrong question. The real question today is: How does Canada compare with the other G7 countries? Last week, the IMF told us that Canada will have the second-fastest growth in the G7. These are facts. I know that my colleague knows deep down in his heart that this is the truth, and I am sure he will go and share the good news with all his constituents. Canada is in a strong position. Together, we will build a strong Canada.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade F View analysis

Luc Berthold

Conservative
“Canadians are losing jobs and cannot afford groceries. I want the finance minister to care about families before adding more debt and higher costs.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 21 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will not ask the finance minister to guess what is in my heart. What is in my heart is the worker I met last week who lost his job. What is in my heart is the family I see at the grocery store forced to choose what to put in their cart. What is in my heart is concern that Canadians are getting poorer, that Canada is changing and that this government is making things worse day after day. Yes, it is Friday. Can this minister show a little compassion and think about the Canadian families he is going to burden with debt while creating even more costs for everyone? That is what is in my heart.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade D+ View analysis

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal

Linked statement

“The member voted against dental care, school food, and more money for seniors and families with children. I want the Conservatives to share a list of the cuts they plan to make.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 37 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know that my colleague has a big heart. That is why we were a bit surprised that he voted against the OAS increase, the dental care program, the school food program and the Canada child benefit. He voted against all that, despite his big heart. We have challenged the Conservatives to tell us what cuts they are proposing. Will my colleague table in the House of Commons a list of the cuts the Conservative Party is proposing?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade F View analysis

Kelly Block

Conservative
“The government is spending too much money. We now spend more on debt interest than on health care, costing each family $3,300 a year. What will the government tell Canadians in its next money update?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have made grand promises of spending less and investing more, yet we heard from Finance Canada that their savings plan was not about spending less at all. With net new spending at $90 billion and interest on our nation’s debt totalling more than we spend on health care transfers, Canadians are footing the bill in the amount of $3,300 a year per family. What are the Liberals going to tell Canadians next week when they release their fiscal update? Will it doom Canadians to more of the same?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Conservatives say government spending causes inflation. I want them to tell us if they would cut child benefits, dental care, pensions, or student loans.”

  • A repeated line

    “Is it the Canada child benefit?”

    Said 7 times by 3 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that my colleague, the Minister of Finance will bring in an exciting update that will tell Canadians about the major progress that we are making in building Canada strong. Yesterday, I asked Conservatives to table a detailed list of spending cuts they propose, because they talk about inflationary spending. I hope my hon. colleague can help me. Is the Canada child benefit inflationary spending? Is the dental care plan inflationary spending? Is old age security inflationary spending? Are Canada student loans inflationary spending? Could the member tell us—

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C View analysis

Kelly Block

Conservative
“The government's spending has doubled the cost of housing and rent, making life unaffordable for Canadians. When will the government stop spending so much money?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, after running a decade of deficits, the Liberals have doubled the cost of housing, doubled the cost of rent and now doubled the deficit from Justin Trudeau. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians who are struggling to afford groceries, pay their rent and fill up their tanks with gas. When will the Liberals finally admit they have gotten it wrong, change course and get their spending under control so Canadians can afford to live again?

View on ourcommons.ca View analysis

Adam van Koeverden

Liberal
“I want the Conservatives to say which programs they would cut. Our government gives families money for groceries, child care, and dental care. The Conservatives would cut these supports.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the question again, just as the government House leader did. The Conservatives talk a big game, but they do not want to get specific about what vital programs they would cut in order to pay for their irresponsible plans. We have the Canada child benefit and the Canadian dental care plan. Just recently we brought forward the Canada groceries and essentials benefit that will deliver over $1,800 per lower-income family in that member’s riding. She would deny them child care, she would deny them dental and she would lower their Canada child benefit. Not on this side; we have got Canadians’ backs.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 110

All 38 items ·
  1. Government Orders Strong and Free Elections Act 24 statements
  2. Oral Questions Finance 12 statements
  3. Oral Questions Natural Resources 6 statements
  4. Oral Questions Finance 6 statements
  5. Oral Questions Ethics 2 statements
  6. Oral Questions Public Services and Procurement 4 statements
  7. Oral Questions Labour 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 4 statements
  9. Oral Questions Health 4 statements
  10. Oral Questions International Trade 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions Taxation 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions International Trade 18 statements
  13. Oral Questions Foreign Affairs 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  16. Oral Questions The Environment 2 statements
  17. Oral Questions Steel and Aluminum Industry 5 statements
  18. Government Orders Strong and Free Elections Act 41 statements
  19. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  20. Private Members' Business Jury Duty Appreciation Week Act 13 statements
  21. Oral Questions International Trade 4 statements