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Finance

Question period focused on the cost of living and the federal government’s recent budget. Conservative members said federal borrowing and spending have made gas, groceries, and housing unaffordable, citing Statistics Canada data on food insecurity and a Dalhousie University report on grocery costs, and asked the government to reduce spending. Liberal members responded by listing tax cuts their government has made, saying Canada has the strongest fiscal position among G7 countries, and pointing to programs such as the national school food program, dental care, and grocery supports, which they said Conservatives vote against. Several questions and answers drew on members’ own constituencies and food bank use.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Leslyn Lewis

Conservative

Linked statement

“Canadians are struggling to pay for gas, groceries, and housing. I want the Prime Minister to stop borrowing and spending so much money.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, after a decade of costly spending, life has never been more expensive for Canadians. Families in this country pay more for gas, groceries and housing. These are costs that they can barely afford. The Prime Minister’s costly budget is just more of the same Liberal policies that have driven millions of Canadians to the food banks, with more government spending, more debt and more taxes. When will the Prime Minister finally end his costly borrowing so that Canadians can afford to live?

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal
“Our government has cut taxes more than 19 times to help lower costs for Canadians. We cut taxes on fuel, income, new homes, and for many businesses and workers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the member said, “more taxes.” From my count, our government has put in place over 19 tax cuts. We are singularly focused on bringing down costs for Canadians. We have paused the excise tax on fuel and cut the consumer carbon tax. We have cut income tax. We have cut GST on new homes. We have cut tax for mineral and critical mineral exploration. We have cut tax for businesses that invest in R and D, new machinery, equipment, IP protection and IT networks. We cut taxes for tradespeople who have to travel for work and for those who invest in clean tech—

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Leslyn Lewis

Conservative
“The Liberals want to borrow $25 billion for a new fund, but that just creates more debt and government waste. They need to admit they are only hiding their overspending.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the Liberals are just creating new packaging to hide the same old spending and record deficits. Now, they want to borrow $25 billion to create another bureaucracy that Canadians never asked for. Their so-called wealth fund has no wealth. It is borrowed money, built on the same failed Infrastructure Bank policies that lost money and rewarded only Liberal insiders. Why will the Liberals not admit that they are simply hiding their reckless spending with more deficit—

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal
“Our government cut taxes in many ways. We cut taxes for clean energy, for people selling small businesses to their workers, and for investments. We also made it easier to get disability tax help and to file taxes.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I had run out of time because there are so many tax cuts that our government has put in place that I just could not fit them in, so let me continue. We cut taxes for those who invest in clean technology, clean hydrogen and clean electricity, as well as for those who invest in carbon capture, utilization and storage. We cut taxes for employers who sell their small business to their employees. We cancelled the capital gains tax increase. We made it easier to access the disability tax credit. Canada has the most competitive tax rate in all of the G7, and we have made it easier for Canadians to file their taxes so they can take advantage of both tax deductions and federal—

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Carol Anstey

Conservative
“Nearly 10 million Canadians cannot afford enough food. The government's high spending is driving up the cost of living. I want the Prime Minister to stop this spending so food becomes affordable.”

  • A repeated line

    “The Prime Minister doubled Justin Trudeau's deficit.”

    Said 10 times by 10 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the latest Statistics Canada data is heartbreaking for our country. Nearly 10 million Canadians, including 2.4 million children, are now living in food-insecure households. At home, this means parents in Cow Head and Mainland are skipping meals so their kids can eat. It means seniors are choosing between heat and meat, yet this week’s budget shows the Liberals are still addicted to credit card spending, which drives up the cost of everything. The Prime Minister has doubled Trudeau’s deficit. How many more children in Newfoundland and Labrador have to go hungry before the Liberal Prime Minister stops his costly credit card spending and makes food affordable?

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Leslie Church

Liberal
“The Conservatives vote against school food, dental care, cheaper child care, and money for groceries and kids. They should support these programs to help Canadians.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, let us take a look at the record of those across the aisle and of all the programs that the Conservatives continue to vote against. They are voting against a national school food program. They are voting against dental care for Canadians. They are voting against the groceries and essentials benefit that, in five weeks’ time, on June 5, is going to be putting dollars into the pockets of families right across Canada. These Conservatives vote against affordable child care. They vote against the Canada child benefit. If the member wants to stand up to talk about making life more affordable for Canadians, she should come over here, get on board and vote for the programs that are supporting Canadians.

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Carol Anstey

Conservative
“One in three Canadians has to borrow money to buy groceries. The government spends too much and causes this high cost of food. When will the Prime Minister stop spending so families can afford to eat?”

  • A repeated line

    “Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7.”

    Said 10 times by 4 members since April 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, before the Liberals took power, children and families did not need school food programs to feed their families. Canada now has the highest food inflation in the G7. A new report from Dalhousie University confirms that one in three Canadians is now forced to borrow money just to buy groceries. Canadian families are being crushed by a decade of Liberal credit card budgeting. The Liberals keep spending more while Canadians get less. Why has the Liberal Prime Minister doubled the deficit? When will he stop his costly credit card spending so families can actually afford to eat?

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Leslie Church

Liberal
“Our government gave the House a responsible economic plan. Canada has the lowest debt and best job participation among the G7 countries. We also have strong economic growth and high investment. Growing the economy creates jobs and helps Canadian families.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • A repeated line

    “Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7.”

    Said 14 times by 7 members since May 1.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, fighting for Canadians means delivering a responsible economic plan, which is exactly what we did on Tuesday by delivering a copy to every member in the House. Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We have the lowest debt burden. We have the second-strongest GDP growth right now. We have the highest labour force participation in the G7. We have the highest per capita investment in the G7, more than double what is happening in the United States. Why does this matter for Canadian families? When we grow our economy, we create prosperity and we create jobs that are going to support Canadians now and into the—

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is spending too much money and adding billions to our debt. Food costs are rising and many people cannot afford to eat. When will he cut his spending so people can make ends meet?”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, this week’s economic update proves that the Liberal reflex is the same as ever: a credit card budget, more costs, more debt, more spending and more taxes. Nothing much has changed. We have a new Liberal big spender for a Prime Minister who has not only doubled this year’s deficit, but plans to keep doing the same thing for the next five years, putting us $55 billion in the hole year after year. In the meantime, Canadians are paying sky-high prices at the grocery store, and one in four is experiencing food insecurity. When is the Prime Minister going to rein in his spending so that Quebeckers can make ends meet?

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Caroline Desrochers

Liberal
“Canada has the best finances, the most investments, and the second-highest economic growth among G7 countries. Our government is managing the country responsibly while helping people with tax cuts, dental care, food support, and job training.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 37 of 100

    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

Madam Speaker, I know that members on the other side of the House have trouble with the facts, but I am going to remind them of a few. Canada’s fiscal position is the best in the G7. We are leading the G7 in investments. We have the second-strongest growth of the G7. On this side of the House, we are responding and adapting to a changing world. We are capable of imagining the future and making the necessary decisions. Our way of governing is responsible and ambitious, and most of all, we continue to be there for Canadians in need, with tax cuts, a dental plan, food assistance, a training program and the sovereign wealth fund. That is what building Canada strong for all Canadians means.

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford food, and more people are using food banks. The government is spending too much of their money. I want the government to spend less so families have some breathing room.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I want to talk facts. According to several recent studies, including a Dalhousie University report, Quebeckers and Canadians are now choosing their food not based on what they need, but on what they can afford. Demand at food banks is skyrocketing and families are struggling. In Montmorency—Charlevoix, families are tightening their belts while watching the Liberals spend their hard-earned money. How long will it take for the Liberal government to realize that Quebeckers and Canadians are not bottomless pits of money? When will the Liberals govern in a way that gives families some breathing room?

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Sophie Chatel

Liberal
“Life is expensive right now. Our school food program helps by giving lunch to kids who go to school hungry.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 37 of 100

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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, economic turmoil is making life more expensive for Canadians. That is why we can count on a Prime Minister who understands the gravity of the situation and is taking decisive action. In my constituency, as in my colleague’s, many children go to school on an empty stomach. However, thanks to our school food program, school children in my riding and in my colleague’s riding will be able to have a lunch. That is how we build a strong Canada, with both our heads and our hearts.

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