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Government Priorities

During Question Period on government priorities, Conservative MP Sandra Cobena raised the roughly $195,000 in in-flight catering costs billed for the Prime Minister’s three trips, and argued the Prime Minister should show fiscal restraint while Canadians face rising costs for food, gas, and hydro. Liberal ministers Steven MacKinnon and Mélanie Joly replied that the Prime Minister’s travel brings back jobs, investment, trade opportunities, and benefits for Indigenous communities, with Joly citing job creation since last fall.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Sandra Cobena

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister spent $195,000 of taxpayers' money on fancy meals during three trips. I want him to stop spending so much money on expensive food so Canadians can afford to buy their own food.”

  • A repeated line

    “More debt and more on the national credit card.”

    Said 12 times by 11 members since May 4.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians were billed $195,000 for inflight catering for the Prime Minister for three trips: Scottish salmon fillet, sautéed beef with world-famous creamy sauce and, for dessert, luxury Normandy butter cups. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends on his elite palate was first taken from a hard-working Canadian. This Prime Minister means more costs, more taxes, more debt and more on the national credit card. Will he cut out his fine dining and rein in his inflationary spending, so Canadians can afford to eat?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“When the Prime Minister travels, he brings jobs, investment, and new technology to Canada. He also brings business opportunities for Indigenous people.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister travels, does the member know what happens? He brings back jobs. He brings back investment. He brings back opportunity for indigenous people to participate with equity in projects. He brings back technology. He brings back expertise. He brings back military and industrial benefits to Canada. The Prime Minister travels. Oh yes, he does, and do members know what he does? He brings back jobs, investment and energy to Canada.

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Sandra Cobena

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to pay for food, gas, and power. The Prime Minister should pay for his own expensive food and wine instead of using public money.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, is the member saying that $195,000 for steak and fine wine is necessary for the Prime Minister to do his job? That is shameful. In April alone in Canada, Canadians saw gas rise 28%, food rise 3% and hydro rise 20%. At a time like this, Canadians expect fiscal restraint because, for them, the cost of food and shelter is more than 125% of their income. If the Prime Minister really wants luxury Normandy butter cups, can he just put them on his own credit card instead of on the backs of Canadians?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The Prime Minister travels the world to bring jobs and investments to Canada, even during hard times. Our work has created more than 70,000 jobs since last fall, and we will keep creating more.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 35 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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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we can be proud to have a Prime Minister who not only is travelling across the world to bring back investment and jobs but also is working in a very difficult environment across the world as the international rules order is shifting. That is what Canadians expect. We were able to create jobs across this country. We have been able to create more than 70,000 jobs since last fall, and we will continue to do so.

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