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Business of Supply

This was a Business of Supply debate taking place during consideration of the government’s recent economic update legislation. Conservatives pressed the Finance Minister on deficit spending, asking when the budget would be balanced, how many homes are being built, the costs of a planned sovereign wealth fund, and details of specific spending items such as a spaceport lease, while repeatedly saying the minister was not answering their questions. Liberals defended the government’s record, saying the economy is strong, the deficit is lower than expected, and housing prices and rents have come down. The Bloc Québécois asked about the exemption of American companies from the global minimum tax in Bill C-31 and about wage subsidies for workers affected by tariffs, and the NDP asked why the government is not taxing oil company excess profits or banning surveillance pricing. Some members also raised local matters such as support for regional media.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

366 statements

Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“The deficit has grown to $68 billion. Cutting the fuel tax is a good first step, but it is not enough for families. The government should cut more taxes.”

  • Question or comment in debate

    Respect 85 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “what a shame that the minister seems to have such a selective memory”.

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, what a shame that the minister seems to have such a selective memory. Just 15 months ago, his predecessor said the deficit would be $31 billion. What is the deficit now? It is $68 billion. However, the good news is that the minister has eliminated the excise tax. That is a good thing. On the other hand, we wanted more. I can understand that, for a Liberal, eliminating a tax is a giant leap forward. For Canadian families, however, these are small steps. What we want is to go further. Why did the government put the brakes on tax cuts when it was off to a good start? We would have liked the government to follow our plan.

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We used most of our extra seven billion dollars to help Canadians. We know people are worried about the cost of housing, food, and gas. We are taking action to make all three cheaper.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, my colleague is an experienced member of Parliament for whom I have the utmost respect, and he knows it. Two-thirds of the $7 billion in additional revenue we have received has been allocated to help Canadians. Like him, I know that the primary concern for Canadians is affordability. It is the cost of housing, the cost of food and the cost of gas. He will be pleased to announce to his constituents in Quebec City that we have taken action on all three fronts to make life more affordable for Canadians.

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Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“GST money is being used to pay interest on the national debt instead of services. Also, I want to know when the government will provide the promised money for the Quebec City tramway.”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, I would like to say to everyone listening to us right now that not every cent they are paying in GST is going to federal services. It is paying down the interest on the debt that the man with a trillion-dollar debt has racked up over the last 10 years. I have one final question about the Quebec City region. When will the federal government provide the funding promised for the tramway?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The Prime Minister and the finance minister lowered this year's deficit by 11 billion dollars. Our spending is careful and responsible, and Canadians can trust our plan.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, I am pleased to tell everyone in Quebec City who is listening that this Minister of Finance, together with the Prime Minister, has managed to reduce the deficit by $11 billion for the current year. I think people understand that we have adopted a fiscal stance that is reasonable, disciplined and as rigorous as the current situation demands. This should give confidence to all Canadians, including, of course, the people of Quebec City.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The finance minister promised 965 days ago that food prices would drop quickly. Food costs 20% more now instead. Why?”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, it has been 965 days since the finance minister said that the price of food would go down within weeks. It has gone up 20% since then. Why?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal

Linked statement

“Supply chain problems and a major energy crisis are driving up food prices in Canada and around the world.”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, the member is a very experienced member of this House. He would probably know that there have been a number of challenges with respect to the supply chain and that we are living through the most important energy crisis we have seen. Therefore, we have seen inflation, not only in Canada, in food prices, but—

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“Does the minister understand that government fuel rules and carbon taxes make food cost more, yes or no?”

  • A repeated line

    “Including the industrial carbon tax and the clean fuel standard.”

    Said 10 times by 9 members since April 28.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, it was three years ago that the finance minister himself promised that. Does the minister understand that Liberal taxes, including the industrial carbon tax and the clean fuel standard, make the cost of food go up, yes or no?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I want the member to vote for this bill. It gives 12 million Canadians money for groceries and essentials. Families need this help.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, my colleague will be happy to report to his constituents that on June 5 the Canada groceries and essentials benefit will be helping 12 million Canadians. I am sure that among these 12 million Canadians there are constituents of my colleague’s. This is the kind of boost that families need, and I expect my colleague will vote for Bill C-30 to put that measure in place.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“I want the minister to admit that taxes on fuel make food more expensive for everyday shoppers.”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, does the minister understand that Liberal taxes put onto the cost of fuel, including on the trucker, the farmer and the people who sell the food, end up getting paid by the person buying the food, yes or no?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We temporarily paused fuel taxes, cutting 10 cents on gas and four cents on diesel. We did this to help people save money.”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, my colleague would understand that this is exactly why we suspended the excise fuel tax of 10¢, and four cents for diesel. We understand, obviously, that this is going to have an impact for consumers. That is the kind of measure that the International Monetary Fund has been calling very targeted and time-limited in the way that we have proposed it.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The minister agrees that cutting the fuel tax lowers food prices. Will he agree that getting rid of the clean fuel standard and the carbon tax on big polluters will lower food prices too?”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, the minister acknowledges that removing the excise tax makes the cost of fuel and food go down. Would he agree that removing the clean fuel standard and the industrial carbon tax would also make the cost of food go down, yes or no?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I expect the member to vote for this bill. It temporarily removes the federal fuel tax to help Canadians this summer.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, I assume the member will be very happy to vote for Bill C-30. For those who are watching, this is the bill that will, in effect, put in law the suspension of the excise fuel tax, which is going to be very relevant for Canadians across the country as we walk into summer.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The Liberals promised to build 500,000 homes this year, but their own agency says they will only build 280,000. When will they build the 500,000 homes?”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, the Liberals promised to build 500,000 homes this year. Their own housing agency says they will only build 280,000 homes. When will they build 500,000 homes?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We have spent a lot of money on housing, especially affordable housing. We also set up an agency to build more homes so families can afford them.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, my colleague will be happy to hear that we have made generational investments in housing, and in particular with respect to affordable housing. He will know about Build Canada Homes. This is the agency that is going to build more affordable homes in this country, and that is going to be a key pillar of affordability for families.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The budget watchdog says the government's plan will build only 5,200 homes a year. Will it meet the promise to build 500,000 homes, yes or no?”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, the PBO says that Build Canada Homes will only build 5,200 homes per year. Is that close to the 500,000 homes they promised, yes or no?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We created a new agency to build all the affordable homes Canada needs. We are spending a lot of money to make housing affordable.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 48 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, my colleague will be happy to hear that Build Canada Homes, this new agency, has been tasked to build all the affordable homes that are going to be needed in this country. This is a game-changer for Canadians. It is a pillar of affordability, and we have made generational investments in housing.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The government's own housing agency says we need 480,000 new homes a year to make housing affordable, but fewer homes are being built. The Liberals promised 500,000 homes a year. When will they actually build that many?”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, the minister’s own housing agency says that 480,000 homes need to be built per year, over the next few years, to restore home affordability. The Liberals promised 500,000 homes per year. Their own housing agency says that home starts will decrease over the next few years, with a max of 280,000 homes per year. When will the Liberals build 500,000 homes per year?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We are spending 56 billion dollars on housing between 2026 and 2031. It will help families by making living costs more affordable.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 48 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, the member will be happy to hear that the housing measures from 2026 to 2030‑31 will total $56 billion. This is probably one of the largest investments in housing that we have seen in this country. This is going to help families, because we know that housing is a pillar of affordability.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The minister is not answering my questions. The Liberals promised to build 500,000 homes a year. I want to know the exact date they will reach that goal.”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, the minister has not answered a single question tonight. The Liberals promised 500,000 homes per year. When will they deliver 500,000 homes per year, just the date?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Housing is a priority for our government. We are spending $56 billion to support housing and make life more affordable.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, my colleague may not like my answer, but I know Canadians would like to know that housing is a priority for the government. We have made generational investments, and $56 billion will be invested during this fiscal framework to support housing in this country. As we understand, it is a pillar of affordability.

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