Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

The Economy

Question period on the economy and the cost of living. Conservatives said government spending on consultants and programs is driving up the cost of housing, food, and fuel, and argued their plan would save over $150 billion — about $10,000 per family — and should be adopted, including removing carbon taxes. Liberals said Canada’s economy grew 3.3% last quarter, the fastest in the G7, that rents have fallen for 23 straight months, and pointed to measures such as the groceries benefit, the GST break for first-time homebuyers, and a bill to extend the fuel tax pause, inviting Conservative support. Members on both sides cited letters and stories from constituents about affordability.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government is wasting billions on outside consultants, corporate handouts, and costly projects. Conservatives found over $150 billion in savings to lower debt and cut taxes. I want the government to stop this wasteful spending, cancel the carbon tax, and adopt our plan.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, while the Liberals are spending billions of dollars on consultations, corporate subsidies and costly projects, we Conservatives have identified over $150 billion in savings. That is nearly $10,000 per family to help shrink the debt, reduce taxes and save Canadians money. Will the government cut spending on consultants and corporate subsidies, eliminate the industrial carbon tax and adopt the Conservative economic action plan?

View on ourcommons.ca View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Our economy grew by 3.3% last quarter, the most of any G7 country. I want the Conservatives to support our economic plan.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build Canada strong.”

    Said 33 times by 14 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know it’s Tuesday and my colleague needs some good news. Let us talk about economic growth: 1.6%, 1.5%, 1.4%, 1.2%, 0.8%. Those are the the other G7 countries’ second-quarter growth rates. Canada’s was 3.3%, the highest in the G7. Together, we are going to build Canada strong. Together, we will build the strongest economy in the G7. I hope the Conservatives will get on board with our plan to build Canada strong together.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“Canadians are paying more for housing, food, and travel because of government spending. The Conservative plan would save them money on homes, gas, groceries, and cars. The government should stop defending its taxes and help people save money instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when I hear the Minister of Finance rhyme off numbers like that, I see how completely disconnected they are from reality. The everyday reality for Canadians is that, after years of Liberal spending, they are paying more for housing, food and transportation. The Conservative plan will save them money on housing, gas, groceries and Canadian-made cars. Why do the Liberals insist on defending their taxes and spending instead of helping Canadians save money?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I introduced a bill today to keep pausing the federal tax on gasoline. Our government is taking action to lower the costs of gas, food, and housing. I want the Conservatives to support this bill to help Canadians.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have the right answer for the Conservatives, and it is called “C-38”. Today, they have a chance to show Canadians they know that the number one issue is affordability, the cost of gas, the cost of food and the cost of housing. The good news is that we have taken action on all three. Today, I had the pleasure of introducing Bill C‑38, which extends the temporary suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline. People at home are watching. Will the Conservatives do the right thing to help Canadians?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“The government has done nothing to help with the high cost of rent, housing, and food. Canadians are paying more in taxes than for the things they need. I want the government to adopt the Conservative plan to lower debt, cut taxes, and bring down the cost of living.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is a day into the session, and there is nothing from the government to fix the affordability crisis on rent, on mortgages and on groceries. This is at a time when Canadians pay more in taxes than they do for bare essentials: Canadians such Olesya, who told me that she is going into credit card debt just to cover rent and food for her family, or Ariella, a student who wonders if she will ever be able to live independently and own a home. Will the government commit today to adopting our Conservative economic plan to save Olesya and Ariella money by lowering debt, taxes and the cost of living for both of them?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We are working to lower the cost of rent, food, and fuel. The Conservatives should stop with their talking points and vote with us to pause the fuel tax.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 49 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We will take no lessons from the Conservatives.”

    Said 9 times by 4 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. There is no way we will take lessons from them. Canadians know better. They know that we have been acting on the price of rent, on the price of food, and on the price of fuel. The question that people are asking today is whether, instead of using talking points, the Conservatives will do the right thing and support us to suspend the fuel tax. That is what they want to see. On this side of the House, Canadians know we have their back today and every day.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C View analysis

Melissa Lantsman

Conservative
“The government talks a lot but does not help people with high costs. Money belongs to the people who earned it, not the government. We found 150 billion dollars in wasteful government spending on consultants, foreign aid, and bureaucracy. That equals about 10,000 dollars for each family. The minister needs to listen to struggling Canadians.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, again, we get all talk and no results. The minister does not need to take lessons from us, but he should take lessons from or at least listen to Olesya and Ariella. We believe that money belongs in the hands of the people who earned it instead of in the hands of the government that continues to tax it. We have identified $150 billion in irresponsible spending here in Ottawa on things such as consultants, foreign aid and bureaucracy. That is nearly $10,000 for families such as theirs. If the minister does not take lessons from them, will he at least listen to Canadians who are struggling out there?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Our government always supports Canadians. The Conservatives voted against money for groceries, tax cuts for 22 million people, ending the consumer carbon tax, and tax relief for first-time homebuyers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 16 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 42 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, if there is one thing Canadians, and those who are watching, know, it is that we are always going to be there for them. One question is this: Why, when it was time to vote, did the Conservatives vote against the Canada groceries and essentials benefit? Why did they vote against cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians? Why did they vote against cancelling the consumer carbon tax? Why did they vote against providing GST relief for first-time homebuyers? At every step of the way, Conservatives voted against supporting Canadians. On this side, we know what to do, which is always to be there for Canadians.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade D View analysis

John Brassard

Conservative
“Food and rent cost too much for regular Canadians. We want to get rid of the industrial carbon tax to help people and businesses save money. Will the government adopt our plan?”

  • A repeated line

    “Will the Liberals adopt our plan?”

    Said 5 times by 4 members since September 22.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, lower food costs and lower rent so their children do not have to live with their 80-year-old grandmother, says S from Innisfil. This is just one of thousands of responses I received over the summer about how these past 11 years of failed economic policies have impacted average Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet. However, if we ask the finance minister or one of the Prime Minister’s well-connected business buddies, times have never been better, while Canadian families and businesses are struggling just to make ends meet. Conservatives are proposing to eliminate the industrial carbon tax to help Canadians and businesses save money. Will the Liberals adopt our plan?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“Housing is becoming more affordable. Average rents in Canada have gone down for 23 straight months because our loan program is helping build tens of thousands of new rental homes. I want the Conservatives to support our work.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep flagging affordability concerns with respect to housing. We have great news to share on that. Average rents have come down for 23 straight months across Canada. That is a sign of success. Talk to developers across Canada right now. The apartment construction loan program is financing tens of thousands of rental homes. This is the biggest rental housing boom we have had in generations, and that is delivering affordable rents. We are making progress. We expect support from the other side of the House to get this done.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

John Brassard

Conservative
“The government's grocery benefit was only $16.75 for a struggling worker in my riding. That does not cover high food costs. I want the Prime Minister to say when regular Canadians will do as well as his rich friends.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing but talk and little action. Michelle from Barrie wrote to me and said that she is a single person, making barely $60,000 a year, having to put a roof over her head and needing a car to drive to work, but, more importantly, she needs to eat. She said she has just received her groceries benefit: $16.75. She asks how that is supposed to support paying for more groceries. According to the finance minister, Michelle has never had it so good, but the truth is that the only ones doing well are the well-connected club of Liberal insiders and business buddies of the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister tell Michelle when she can expect to do as well as his corporate buddies or to at least pay for the necessities of life?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“We are helping people with the cost of living. We give families money for groceries, rents are going down, and first-time homebuyers do not pay GST. We are also lowering gas prices while the opposition only complains.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member’s highlighting the fact that the Canada groceries and essentials benefit is providing up to $1,900 to a family of four, which is very significant. Just as we are seeing rents come down, we are providing the opportunity for young Canadians to not pay GST on first-time home purchases. Whether it is housing, whether it is groceries or whether it is the price of gas, we are taking action. We hear nothing but complaining from the other side.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 141

All 43 items ·
  1. Government Orders Canadian Fuel Affordability Act 92 statements
  2. Oral Questions The Economy 12 statements
  3. Government Orders Canadian Fuel Affordability Act 10 statements
  4. Oral Questions Government Priorities 6 statements
  5. Oral Questions The Economy 4 statements
  6. Oral Questions Forestry Industry 4 statements
  7. Oral Questions Housing 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Canadian Identity and Culture 4 statements
  10. Oral Questions Housing 4 statements
  11. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  12. Oral Questions Public Safety 4 statements
  13. Oral Questions Justice 4 statements
  14. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  15. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  16. Oral Questions Justice 4 statements
  17. Oral Questions Taxation 2 statements
  18. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  19. Oral Questions Labour 6 statements
  20. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 2 statements
  21. Government Orders Canadian Fuel Affordability Act 65 statements
  22. Oral Questions Justice 2 statements
  23. Private Members' Business Jury Duty Appreciation Week Act 6 statements
  24. Government Orders Canadian Fuel Affordability Act 182 statements
  25. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  26. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements