Adjournment Proceedings

An adjournment debate followed up on a question from Conservative MP Warren Steinley about affordability, in which he said the government had not lowered grocery prices, had not reached a trade deal with the United States, and that its child care plan is not working for parents. Parliamentary Secretary Caroline Desrochers replied that global pressures are driving up costs and pointed to measures in the spring economic update, including a pause on the federal fuel excise tax until Labour Day, more money for groceries, and extra time for first-time homebuyers to repay Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawals. Steinley followed up that the gas tax change had not lowered prices and that home construction is down this year compared with last. Desrochers said the government’s plan is to build more affordable homes and infrastructure, lower costs, and help businesses grow.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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4 statements

Warren Steinley, Regina—Lewvan

Conservative
“The Liberals break their promises and fail at everything they do. They did not lower grocery prices, they did not make a trade deal with the United States, and their child care plan is failing parents. I want them to answer for these failures.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to take to my feet today to ask for a more substantive answer to a question I asked in question period about a month ago. I asked the Liberal finance minister if he should be held to his own words. I remember back in 2023 that minister had said he would have grocery prices under control by Thanksgiving 2023. Those are not the only comments we have heard about grocery prices over the last few years from the Liberal government members. We also heard the Prime Minister tell all Canadians that he should be judged by the prices they see at the grocery store. I think it is fair to hold people accountable to their own words. Even my kids know they are responsible for the words that come out of their mouths. I would expect the same from these Liberals when they say something. I would also ask about the fact that this Prime Minister was elected on a promise to Canadians that he would have a trade deal done with Donald Trump in the United States by July 1, 2025. That has long since passed, so I would ask the Canadian public to hold the Liberals accountable to the words they have actually spoken and the promises they have committed to. We have seen these Liberals cheerlead and pat themselves on the back because they are giving out tariff relief. If they had kept their word and gotten a trade deal with the U.S.A. and handled Donald Trump, as the Prime Minister said on the campaign trail, they would not have to be handing out tariff relief to companies. They would be able to make their own money, trade, do what they do best and make great Canadian products and sell them from coast to coast, to our neighbours to the south and around the world. I would like an answer on why the Liberals keep cheering for themselves when they have failed at every measurable thing they have committed to. They committed to lowering grocery prices. They failed. They committed to getting a trade deal done with the United States. They failed. They committed to child care. I know there is going to be an answer on this from whoever is going to answer over there that they do have child care, but, right now, the child care program has failed miserably. They promised 250,000 new spaces by the end of March. They are at 155,000 spaces, which is 62% of what they promised. Once again, the promise was made, but the promise was not kept by these Liberals. It is really a lie of the left. They commit to things, but they never follow through. We see the Desjardins report, which says, “the share of respondents mentioning the lack of available childcare spaces or long waitlists rose sharply over this period, from 1 in 15 [in 2019] to...1 in 5 [now].” It is harder and harder for parents to find child care spaces because the private ones could not compete. We saw this in the GTA also. Before the child care program, child care spaces were rising from 5% to 7% a year. Now, during some years, we have seen decreases in child care spaces. It is an abject failure of a program that we had questions about from the start, and parents are being burdened by the failures of the government. Whether it be child care spaces or food prices, it is a fail. Trade deals with the U.S.A. are a fail. Is there anything the government has succeeded at? Can it show us any segment of the Canadian population that is better off now than before the Liberals’ last 10 terrible years of government?

Caroline Desrochers, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure

Liberal

Linked statement

“Life is expensive right now because of events happening around the world. We are helping Canadians by pausing the federal tax on fuel until Labour Day, giving people more money for groceries, and giving first-time homebuyers more time to pay back money they took from their savings.”
  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 34 of 100

    None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

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  • A repeated line

    “We introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.”

    Said 29 times by 19 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the member keeps talking about getting a deal, any deal, with the American administration, but I do not think this is what Canadians want. At a time when Canadians are facing heightened affordability pressures from sources beyond our control, it is more important than ever— An hon. member: Oh, oh! Caroline Desrochers: Mr. Speaker, the member is saying it is not true. Yes, it is. It is more important than ever that we find opportunities for improvement that are within our control. We need to control what we can. We know that Canadians are feeling the pressure of everyday expenses right now, especially when it comes to the cost of fuel. Canadians and consumers around the world are facing higher prices at the pumps, creating uncertainty and pressure on household finances. This is stemming directly from the events that are unfolding in the Middle East right now. This is why, on April 14, the Prime Minister announced a temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels across Canada. The suspension started on April 20 and will remain in effect until Labour Day. We are expecting that this will reduce Canadians’ bill at the pumps by up to 10¢ per litre on gasoline and up to four cents per litre on diesel. This is adding to the 18¢ reduction from the carbon tax that we removed when we came into power last year. This is also in addition to the other measures we have put in place to support Canadians. We introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit to make everyday essentials like groceries more affordable. I know my colleagues across the aisle will mock this, but this measure builds on the GST credit and will provide additional support for more than 12 million Canadians. This is going to start with a one-time top-up next week, on June 5. Combined with a 25% increase in the benefit for five years as of July, a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year, and a single person up to $950 in 2026. This is money in the pockets of Canadians. This is money that can help families make ends meet at the end of the month. This is money that can provide relief. We also know that a big part of taking things into our own hands is making life more affordable for Canadians. That is why Bill C-30 is proposing to extend the grace period during which homeowners are not required to start repaying their homebuyers’ plan withdrawals from the RRSP from two years to five years. The homebuyers’ plan helps eligible homebuyers save for a down payment by allowing them to withdraw up to $60,000 from an RRSP to purchase or build their first home, something the Conservatives voted against, or a home for a specified disabled person, without having to pay tax on the withdrawal. This extended grace period already applies to withdrawals made between 2022 and 2025 and provides relief of up to $4,000 per individual per year for three years, over which they are not required to repay the amount into their RRSP. Everyone deserves a roof over their head. That is why our government is taking action and putting housing and home ownership within reach of more Canadians.

Warren Steinley, Regina—Lewvan

Conservative
“The government blames everyone else for high gas prices and housing problems. Their gas tax cut did not make gas cheaper because they did not remove all of it. Also, fewer homes are being built this year than last year.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if my kids gave me that answer when I asked them a question, I would be bitterly disappointed. It is always someone else’s fault with these Liberals. It is never their fault. Regarding gasoline prices, they say, “It is not our fault. We took the tax off.” However, there is not a place in the country where the price of gas is lower than it was before. They only went a third of the way. They could have taken off all the tax on all the gas for the year, but they did not. With respect to home prices, they say, “We are going to build homes at speeds never seen before, generational speeds.” Fewer houses are being built in Canada this year than were built last year. You are failing at everything, and it is always someone else’s fault. The parliamentary secretary could give me another answer, but I am guessing she will say the dog ate her homework.

Caroline Desrochers, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure

Liberal
“Our economic plan will build more affordable homes and major infrastructure, lower costs for people, and help businesses grow.”
  • Reply to a comment in debate

    Relevance 38 of 100

    None of this statement addressed the specific topic under debate.

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  • Reply to a comment in debate

    Clarity 26 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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  • A repeated line

    “More independent and resilient Canada for all.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since April 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the measures in the recent spring economic update are part of the next step in our plan to build a stronger, more independent and resilient Canada for all, because we do have a plan on this side of the House. It would advance our progress in building more affordable homes and the major infrastructure that transforms and connects our economy, while bringing down costs to help people get ahead. It would help businesses seize new opportunities and give families the confidence to plan their future. It would build a Canada that is not just strong, but good; not just prosperous, but fair.

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