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Finance

During question period on finance, Conservatives raised the cost of living, citing food bank use, fast-rising food prices, and what they called government overspending, and asked the government to cut spending and reduce debt. Liberals responded that their government has lowered taxes and provides direct help such as grocery rebates, dental care, and child benefits, and said the Conservative members had voted against those measures. They also pointed to building major projects like ports, mines, and high-speed rail to grow the economy.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“Too many Canadians, including many children, are using food banks because food prices are rising so fast. I blame the government's spending for this. I want the Prime Minister to stop his costly budgets so people 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

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more important than having enough to eat. Unfortunately, Canadian families are struggling. Every month, 2.2 million Canadians are visiting food banks, one-third of them children. Food prices are rising twice as fast as inflation, and Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7. That is the result of 10 years of Liberal management. Will the Prime Minister finally put an end to his costly budgets so that Canadians can make ends meet?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal

Linked statement

“Canadians are struggling with costs, but the opposition member keeps voting against help for them. He voted against grocery rebates, dental care for his own voters, and child benefits.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 30 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “Is it the Canadian dental care plan?”

    Said 4 times by 3 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the opposition member is right in saying that some Canadians are struggling to make ends meet. What is difficult to explain is why this member votes against measures to help Canadians every chance he gets. Take, for example, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. On June 5, 12 million Canadians will get a cheque to help them with the cost of groceries. Another example is the Canadian dental care plan, which helps 20,000 people in the member’s riding. He voted against that plan. Finally, I will mention a flagship measure, the Canada child benefit. The member voted against $73 million in his riding—

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Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“Canadians cannot afford food, housing, or gas after 10 years of this government. I want the Prime Minister to realize that his overspending causes inflation and debt for our children.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if all of these wonderful promises had worked, then Canadians would not be having such a hard time putting food on the table. That is what is happening after 10 years of rhetoric. The Liberals say nice things and claim that everything is fine, when Canadians are experiencing the exact opposite. One in four families is experiencing food insecurity. The cost of basics is rising for Canadian families. The price of housing has reached record highs. The cost of gas jumped 29%. That is what Canadians are experiencing every day. Will the Prime Minister understand that spending money that we do not have racks up debt for our children and fuels inflation?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“The opposition member always votes against programs that help people. We support helping people directly and building major projects like ports, mines, and high-speed trains to grow the economy.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 25 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I just listed the programs that provide direct assistance to the people in the riding of Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk. The member voted against these measures every chance he got over the past 10 years. We will not take lessons from him on how to help the most vulnerable Canadians and Quebeckers. What sets us apart on this side of the House is that, yes, we believe that we need social programs and direct assistance for Canadians, but we also have a vision for the future that involves building major projects. Take, for example, the announcement regarding the Port of Québec, which will become the sixth international container port. There is also the Contrecoeur project, the Nouveau Monde Graphite mine, the high-speed train and training for young trades workers across the country. That is this government’s vision for building a strong economy.

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Jason Groleau

Conservative
“The government is spending too much money and taxing families too much. Canada is now $1 trillion in debt. When will the Prime Minister stop spending so much?”

  • A repeated line

    “The Prime Minister is just another Liberal.”

    Said 22 times by 14 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the story never changes with this Liberal government: more costs, more taxes, more spending and most of all, less money in the pockets of Canadian families. Today, the Liberals’ inflationary deficits have landed us in $1 trillion worth of debt. This Prime Minister is just another spendthrift Liberal. My question is simple: When is the Prime Minister going to stop blowing up the deficit and maxing out the credit card of people living in Beauce?

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Anna Gainey

Liberal
“Our government lowered taxes for 22 million Canadians. We are also helping 12 million people pay for groceries. The member opposite voted against child benefits and dental care, even though tens of thousands of people in his own riding use those programs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 23 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that the first thing we did as a government was to lower taxes for 22 million Canadians. Help with groceries is also on the way for 12 million Canadians and will lower their weekly costs. I do not believe that my colleague supported the Canada child benefit, even though it is helping 11,400 families in his riding. Another 29,000 constituents of the Beauce community are also receiving dental care, a program that my colleague voted against.

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