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Finance

Debate participants discussed the state of national finances and government spending. Conservatives alleged that the government is hiding the true size of the national deficit and debt through creative accounting practices, arguing that the government’s financial management is opaque. The government responded that it is prepared to answer questions at the finance committee while noting that the Conservatives are criticizing the economy despite external global factors. Government members defended fiscal policy by citing tax cuts, investment attraction, and measures designed to help Canadians manage the cost of living. Liberal members also challenged the Conservatives to specifically define which government expenditures they mean when discussing inflationary spending.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is hiding the real size of the deficit across different accounts. Past prime ministers agreed to speak to committees. I want the Prime Minister to support our motion and answer questions about his spending at the finance committee.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can see that the Prime Minister is using creative accounting to manage the country’s finances. He is dividing a monumental deficit across three different credit cards: one for current expenditures, another misleadingly labelled “investments”, and a third hidden within Crown corporations. Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau never hesitated to appear before parliamentary committees. Will the Prime Minister support the Conservative motion and come explain his creative accounting practices before the Standing Committee on Finance?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We are ready to answer the committee's questions. But the Conservatives keep talking down our economy. Canada has the second-fastest growth rate in the G7, and international groups know outside events are affecting us. Conservatives should support our workers and industries instead of criticizing them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are always prepared to answer questions before the Standing Committee on Finance. What is strange is to see the Conservatives talk down the Canadian economy in every one of their questions, even though international institutions and the Bank of Canada recognize that there are external factors at play. The good news is that Canada has the second-fastest growth rate in the G7. One would think the Conservatives would celebrate our workers, our industries and Canada. If they do not want to do that, we will always be here on this side of the House to stand up for our workers and our industries.

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative

Linked statement

“Our deficits and debt have doubled. The government is hiding spending, and even the budget officer cannot understand its finances. I want the Prime Minister to accept our motion and answer questions at the finance committee.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that we need to hear the truth. The truth is that deficits have doubled and the debt has doubled. Even the Parliamentary Budget Officer is struggling to understand the creative way in which this government and this new Prime Minister are managing the country’s finances. We are seeing staggering expenditures hidden across different credit cards. We just want him to come and explain himself before the finance committee. Will he accept our motion today and appear before the Standing Committee on Finance, yes or no?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Conservatives talk about government spending causing high prices, but they never say which spending they mean. Do they mean child benefits, money sent to the provinces, or military funding? I want them to explain what spending they are talking about.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “Is it the Canada child benefit?”

    Said 7 times by 3 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, occasionally, we like to rise in the House to remind the Conservatives that they have never defined what they mean by inflationary spending. Is it the Canada child benefit? Is it equalization? Is it our military spending that has increased and will continue to increase to reach 5% of GDP? What does my Conservative friend consider to be inflationary spending?

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Danielle Martin

Liberal
“The people in my riding want solutions to high living costs, not politicians putting down our economy and workers. What is the government doing to make life more affordable in Toronto and across Canada?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we live in an era when global events have local impacts. The people of University—Rosedale understand that there are forces affecting our economy that are beyond our control. They do not want to hear parliamentarians talk down our economy, our businesses and our workers. They want us to address affordability by building on our strengths and our shared values. Can the Secretary of State for the CRA and Financial Institutions tell us about the work under way to make life more affordable for people in Toronto and across this great country?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“We are building a strong economy. We are bringing in outside investment, cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, and giving families $1,900 for groceries and essentials. We will keep helping Canadians with the cost of living.”

  • 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 want to thank the member for University—Rosedale for her strong advocacy on the disability tax credit and automatic federal benefits. We are going to build a strong, resilient economy for all Canadians. We are attracting outside investment. We are going to build Canada strong. We are cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. The groceries and essentials benefit is offering $1,900 for families. We will continue to focus on and deliver on affordability measures for Canadians. On this side of the House, Canadians know who stands with them. It is our side.

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