Finance

Question period on federal finances. Conservative members said the government will not meet its own fiscal targets, citing the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and raised concerns about deficits, debt held in Crown corporations, and rising interest costs, which they said would fall on younger generations; they asked how the debt would be repaid. Liberal ministers responded that the government has an economic plan, pointing to investment, foreign investment levels, exports, tax cuts for 22 million Canadians, and the national groceries and essentials benefit; one minister also criticized the Opposition leader’s record.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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8 statements

Adam Chambers, Simcoe North

Conservative
“The budget officer warned that the Prime Minister will not meet his own spending targets. He is breaking his promises. Did the Prime Minister personally approve running up the deficit?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has warned Canadians that the new finance minister and Prime Minister will not even meet their own fiscal targets and anchors. The Prime Minister, that is, refuses to meet the standards he has imposed on himself and promised. If the Prime Minister is continuing to break these promises, they are about as unreliable as previous prime minister Justin Trudeau’s fiscal promises. Will the Prime Minister confirm that he himself approved using the credit card to run up the deficit?

Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)

Liberal
“The Conservative leader has spent 8,100 days in Parliament with no plan, only negativity. Our government has a plan that is working. We brought in half a trillion dollars at our investment summit, foreign investment is at its highest level in decades, and exports outside the U.S. will double in the next ten years.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that member’s leader has been in the House for 8,100 days. He has produced nothing but negativity and divisiveness, and he never has a plan. When someone is a leader, they can throw their hands up and deny and blame everyone else. A real leader is going to get things done. What about half a trillion dollars through the Canada investment summit? What about non-U.S. exports doubling over the next decade? What about the highest level of foreign investment in our country in decades? On this side of the House, we have a plan. That leader can continue with empty parking lot press conferences and rhetoric.

Adam Chambers, Simcoe North

Conservative
“Long-serving MPs from all parties have made valuable contributions to Canada. The fastest-growing cost in this budget is interest on the debt. Soon, almost 14 cents of every government dollar will go to paying interest, up from just over 10 cents when this Prime Minister took office. This debt will burden young people. Why do the Liberals keep breaking their spending promises?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I happen to think the members of Parliament from multiple parties who have spent decades in this place have made valuable contributions to this country. The fastest-growing expense in this budget is interest on the debt. In fact, in just a few years, almost 14¢ of every dollar earned by the government will go to paying interest on the debt. When the Prime Minister came in, that number was just over 10¢. On behalf of all of the young people who will be saddled with the credit card-like spending and debts and deficits of the Liberal government, I ask, why do the Liberals keep breaking their fiscal promises?

Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)

Liberal
“The Conservative leader only built six affordable homes in 8,100 days, and he has never worked outside of politics. Our government has a plan to invest in big projects and create jobs. Canadians support us.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • Government answer in Question Period

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will say that in 8,100 days, the Leader of the Opposition did build six affordable houses. My riding’s hockey team, the Saint John Sea Dogs, has gone to almost as many Memorial Cups as that. On this side of the House, we have a plan to build our economy. We have a plan to direct investment in major projects and to increase jobs. We have a Prime Minister with world-class economic and business credentials. The Conservative leader has never worked one day outside this House. Canadians see it. Canadians know it. They stand with our side.

Sandra Cobena, Newmarket—Aurora

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is hiding the country's true debt, including 300 billion dollars in Crown corporations. Taxpayers have to pay all this borrowed money back. I want the Prime Minister to tell us how he plans to pay off this debt.”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 56 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “acting like a gambler hiding his debts from his family”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is acting like a gambler hiding his debts from his family. He hides $300 billion of debt in Crown corporations and call it an asset. He calls $19 billion in subsidies and tax credits an investment. He shreds the debt-to-GDP ratio and invents a new one. Every dollar the Liberal government borrows must ultimately be paid back, and it is paid back with dollars earned by and taken from hard-working Canadians. When will the Prime Minister stop playing accounting games and tell us how he is going to repay his credit card budget?

Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Liberal
“We are focused on helping Canadians afford things. We recently sent grocery money to 12 million people to help with daily costs. We have also cut taxes for 22 million people, and we will keep supporting them.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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  • A repeated line

    “We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians.”

    Said 17 times by 12 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on affordability. Just a few weeks ago, 12 million Canadians across the country received the additional deposit of the national groceries and essentials benefit. This is helping curb the cost of everyday essentials and groceries. We have also cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We are going to continue to be there to support them each and every day.

Sandra Cobena, Newmarket—Aurora

Conservative
“The government is creating too much debt, and my children will have to pay for it. The cost to pay the interest on this debt is growing faster than any other program. Paying it back would cost every family $14,000 more in taxes each year for ten years. The Prime Minister needs to explain how he will pay this debt back.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are building a mountain of debt. My generation and my children’s generation are going to be crushed under it and the Liberals do not seem to care. Interest is the fastest-growing expense in the government. It is not health care, infrastructure or defence; it is interest. The Prime Minister is mortgaging our country’s future but making the book so confusing that no Canadian can see what the bill actually is. Balancing the budget and repaying Liberal debt would cost each household another $14,000 in taxes each year for a decade. When will the Prime Minister explain how he is going to repay—

Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

Liberal

Linked statement

“Our groceries and essentials benefit has helped five million people in Ontario, including people in the member's riding. We will cut taxes, create good jobs, and keep supporting Canadians.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the national groceries and essentials benefit has helped benefit Canadians right across the country. In fact, in our province of Ontario, the national groceries and essentials benefit has helped five million Ontarians, including in the member’s riding. We are going to cut taxes for them. We are going to support them along the way, while creating good jobs and investing in Canadians as well. We will continue to be there to support them.

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