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The Economy

The debate focused on the cost of living and the economy, with members discussing increasing demand for food assistance across Canada. Conservatives argued that Liberal policies have contributed to record food bank visits and high costs, noting that working-class Canadians and seniors are increasingly struggling. Liberals responded by citing government initiatives such as the groceries and essentials benefit, Canada child benefit, and the permanent school food program as evidence of active support for families facing economic challenges. The opposition countered that these social support programs should be supported by all parties rather than opposed by specific Members of Parliament.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

10 statements

Scot Davidson

Conservative

Linked statement

“Food banks in my area and across Canada are running out of food because prices are too high. I want the Prime Minister to change the policies that are driving up the cost of food.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is heartbreaking. Right now, in Bradford and in towns and cities across Canada, every shelf in the food bank is bare. Despite the continued generosity of the community, food banks cannot keep up with demand. This is the consequence of Liberal failures that have seen food prices keep soaring, far outpacing what everyday Canadians can afford. People should not have to rely on government or charity just to put a meal on the table. When will the Prime Minister reverse his inflationary policies so that Canadians can afford to eat again?

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Leslie Church

Liberal
“The Conservatives should support our programs to help Canadians. We help people buy groceries, support families with children, and feed kids at school. Even though schools in the member's community serve this food, he keeps voting against it.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 8 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, those same Canadians are asking when the Conservatives are going to change their approach. When are they going to start standing up and supporting the government when we put forward initiatives like the groceries and essentials benefit and the Canada child benefit? We stand up and support a national school food program that serves food in the member’s communities, but he still stands up and votes against it time and time again, against the very Canadians who benefit from the support the government is working to deliver.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative
“Liberal programs are not working. A record 2.35 million people visit food banks each month, and nearly one in five of them has a job. Government policies made life so expensive that a full-time job is no longer enough to feed a family.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals can pretend that their expensive programs are working, but the record numbers of Canadians lined up at food banks can tell us that they are not. Food bank usage in Canada has a record 2.35 million visits in a month, and nearly one in five clients is employed. These are working Canadians who used to make ends meet and now cannot because of the government’s failed policy. If the Prime Minister thinks life is so affordable, why is a full-time job not enough to feed a family?

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Leslie Church

Liberal
“Canadians are having a hard time with the cost of food and housing. Our government is working to lower housing costs and renewing child care deals to save families money. We are also investing in students, job training, and the skilled trades to help our economy grow.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 26 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 4 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

    “We are making massive investments in housing.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since June 5.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadians are facing challenges right now. Food is the beginning, but this also extends to the work we are doing to bring down the cost of renting or buying a home, one of the highest expenses that we know Canadians face. We have renewed our child care deals to keep building a program that is saving families thousands of dollars a year. We are making massive investments in students, in training and in the skilled trades. We are investing in the things that are going to build prosperity and build a bright future for all Canadians.

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Jagsharan Singh Mahal

Conservative
“The Liberal government is costing Canadians more. Food bank visits in Alberta went up 9% this year, to more than 230,000. I want the Liberals to admit that relying on food banks has become normal for Canadians.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is costing Canadians more. In 2026, food banks in Alberta have seen more than 230,000 visits. This represents a staggering 9% increase from last year alone. These numbers should alarm every Canadian. Will the Liberals acknowledge that relying on food banks is now the new normal for Canadians, or are they totally out of touch?

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Maninder Sidhu

Liberal
“Our government is helping people across Canada through hard times. We are giving them around $1,890 this year for groceries and essentials, along with help for child care and dental care.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “That is how we build Canada strong.”

    Said 20 times by 14 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when times are uncertain, our government shows up. It is why residents in the member’s riding and those across Canada are receiving the groceries and essentials benefit, receiving close to $1,890 this year. That is not all. We are leaning in. We are supporting them with child care and supporting them with dental care. We are investing in Canadians, and that is how we build Canada strong.

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Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“More working families need food banks now. The food bank in Quebec City served 35,000 people six years ago, and now it serves 84,000. I want the Minister of Finance to explain why Canadians are struggling so much after 11 years of Liberal rule.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the face of poverty is changing, and not for the better. People who were donating to food banks a few years ago are now in need of help themselves. Working individuals and dual-income families are being forced to seek food assistance. Six years ago, the Moisson Québec food bank in Quebec City was serving 35,000 people. Now it is serving 84,000 and 35% of them are children. The Minister of Finance is preparing the budget that he is going to table in a few days. Could he rise and explain to Canadians why they are having such a hard time making ends meet after 11 years of Liberal governance?

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Anna Gainey

Liberal
“We made our school food program permanent. It feeds 400,000 more children, and 80% of public schools take part. We will keep funding it, but the Conservatives keep voting against it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this year, we made the school food and nutrition program permanent for children across the country. We achieved a participation rate of 80% of public schools across the country, and we are serving meals to 400,000 more children. This investment will continue in the coming years, but every time there is a vote in the House to support this program, the members opposite vote against this investment in children’s nutrition.

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Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“Three million Quebeckers need food help. In my riding, a local charity is seeing more seniors who worked all their lives needing food banks. I want the finance minister to explain why seniors are struggling after 11 years of Liberal government.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, more than three million Quebeckers need help and food assistance, among other things. In my region, in my riding, the charitable organization Amélie et Frédérick has seen a 50% increase in demand over the past three years. I received a message from this organization just a few minutes ago, saying that it is getting more and more requests from people aged 75 plus and even 80 plus. These are people who have worked their entire lives and contributed to our society, but who now have to ask for food assistance so they can get enough to eat. Once again, can the Minister of Finance explain why, after 11 years of Liberal management, seniors are still struggling to get by?

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Anna Gainey

Liberal
“Our programs help over 12,000 families and 20,000 dental patients in the opposition member's area. The opposition keeps voting against this help. I want them to support these programs instead.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 19 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Canada child benefit is helping 12,700 families in my colleague’s riding. The members opposite vote against that program every single budget. In addition, more than 20,000 people in my colleague’s riding are receiving dental care, but he votes against this investment in dental care for children. We are here for families and for Canadians. We are helping those who need it. It would be nice if the members opposite would stand with us and support us in these measures.

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