The Budget

During Question Period on the budget, Conservatives said the government’s spending plan will add large deficits and debt, arguing that Canada had a balanced budget and lower federal debt in 2015 and asking when the deficit spending will end. Liberals responded that the economy is performing well, citing job growth in Alberta, low debt-servicing costs by international standards, and a deficit they described as the second lowest in the G7, with financial targets to be met a year early. A Liberal member also highlighted budget funding to end homelessness, including among veterans, and asked for the budget’s passage.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

4 statements

Mike Lake, Leduc—Wetaskiwin

Conservative
“The Liberals ignore basic economics and pretend they are heroes. They used to say budgets balance themselves. Now the finance minister is trying to hide huge deficits from the public. They cannot tell fantasy from reality.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have fittingly titled their new fiscal approach as though it is the next instalment of the Marvel universe. For over a decade now, Liberals have self-identified as heroes, unbound by the laws of physics or economics, and nothing is real. A former Liberal hero once made the fantastical claim that budgets would balance themselves. Now, in this fourth instalment, “masters of deception”, the Liberals’ newest star, surrounded by the same old supporting cast, is using his cloaking superpower to render his gargantuan deficits invisible to the common eye. Can anyone over there distinguish fantasy from reality anymore?

Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Liberal

Linked statement

“The facts show our economy is doing well. Alberta has added 40,000 jobs since the start of the year. Our debt costs are low compared to other countries. Our deficit is the second lowest in the G7 at 2.5%, compared to 8.5% in the U.S. We will also reach our financial targets a year early.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for that tour through the Conservative cinematic universe, but let us get back to the facts here. The reality is we have seen in our home province of Alberta an increase of 40,000 jobs since the start of the year. We are seeing debt servicing at low levels internationally. Our deficit is the second lowest in the G7, 2.5% compared to the U.S.’s 8.5%. We are on track to meet the targets we said we were going to meet a year ahead of schedule, in fact.

Mike Lake, Leduc—Wetaskiwin

Conservative
“In 2015, Canada had a balanced budget and debt of $616 billion. The government's new budget will add more debt in five years than Canada took on in 148 years. When will this out-of-control deficit spending end?”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Clarity 35 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, back in the real world, in 2015, Canada had a balanced budget and the richest middle class in the world. After a global economic meltdown, Canada’s federal debt was $616 billion. Yesterday, we found out that after a decade of mismanagement, the Liberals’ costly credit card budget would add more debt in the next five years than our country accumulated in 148 years. The Liberals have a predictable and increasingly tiresome response, an almost trance-like repetition of all the new things they are spending on in, entirely fuelled by massively out-of-control debt. When will this unconstrained explosion of deficit spending end?

Sophie Chatel, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Liberal
“I want the House to pass this budget. It spends $6.5 billion over 10 years to help end homelessness, including for veterans.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 27 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is speaking about heroes, but we are all wearing the poppy, and about the spending for our veterans. Here is what the budget would do. Veterans were always there for Canada, and we will be there for them. Our government is committed to ending veteran homelessness. That is what budget 2026 would do. It proposes $6.5 billion over 10 years to renew Reaching Home and the veteran homelessness program, supporting community-led initiatives to prevent and address homelessness. Those who serve our country deserve a safe place to—

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 164

  1. Government Orders The Budget 27 statements
  2. Oral Questions Finance 4 statements
  3. Oral Questions Public Services and Procurement 4 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Budget 10 statements
  5. Oral Questions Finance 4 statements
  6. Oral Questions The Budget 6 statements
  7. Oral Questions Public Services and Procurement 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions Climate Change 4 statements
  9. Oral Questions Rail Transportation 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Canadian Heritage 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions Finance 14 statements
  12. Oral Questions Employment 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Aviation Industry 2 statements
  16. Oral Questions Points of Order 9 statements
  17. Oral Questions The Budget 4 statements
  18. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 4 statements
  19. Oral Questions Canadian Identity and Culture 2 statements
  20. Oral Questions News Media Industry 4 statements
  21. Oral Questions The Budget 2 statements
  22. Private Members' Business Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada Act 16 statements
  23. Oral Questions Employment 4 statements
  24. Government Orders The Budget 36 statements