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Finance

During question period on finance, members debated government spending, borrowing, and the cost of living. Conservative members said the government is borrowing hundreds of billions more than promised, driving up debt, interest rates, and the cost of food, fuel, and homes, and they called for lower spending and taxes. Liberal members said the government is investing in jobs, wages, housing, and cost relief such as tax cuts and school food programs, and one pointed to the Bank of Canada’s finding that inflation is driven by global energy prices, along with job growth in Alberta.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Chak Au

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to spend less, but the government plans to borrow hundreds of billions more. This debt is making life too expensive for Canadians. I want the government to stop this deficit spending and use the Conservative plan to lower costs.”

  • A repeated line

    “The Prime Minister promised to spend less.”

    Said 5 times by 5 members since April 28.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to spend less. Instead, the PBO projects another $730 billion in borrowing over five years. By 2031, the federal debt will approach $40,000 per Canadian, with annual interest equivalent to $8,000 per family. Canadians are paying more, getting less and falling further behind. Will the Liberal government finally cut deficit spending and adopt our Conservative plan to lower costs for all Canadians?

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal

Linked statement

“Our government is using Canada's financial strength to invest in future jobs, higher wages, and economic growth. We have also helped people by cutting taxes, funding school food programs, and helping with the cost of groceries and essentials. We are doing this work to build a stronger Canada and support Canadians.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 42 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

    Clarity 49 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, every single day, this government works our hardest to leverage the fiscal strength that Canada has to invest in the things that Canadians need: jobs for the future, wages that outpace inflation, and higher productivity and growth in the economy. While doing that, we have also enhanced our social safety net with things like the groceries and essentials benefit, tax cuts and the national school food program. We continue to do that work every day because we know that is what builds a stronger Canada. Canadians need a government that supports them.

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Dane Lloyd

Conservative
“The Bank of Canada just raised interest rates, making it harder for struggling families to pay their mortgages and debts. Costs for fuel, food, and homes keep rising because of the government's deficit spending. The Prime Minister needs to stop the spending and taxes that are driving up costs.”

  • A repeated line

    “The Bank of Canada raised its interest rate for the first time in three years.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since October 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Bank of Canada just raised its interest rate for the first time in three years, hitting Canadians with higher mortgage and borrowing costs at a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet. The cost of fuel, food and homes keeps rising. Families are already going further into debt each month just to make ends meet, and now they have to pay higher interest. We know that inflation and interest are rising due to the Liberal government’s massive deficit spending. Why will the Prime Minister not stop his inflationary spending and his taxes that are driving up the cost for struggling Canadians?

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Jennifer McKelvie

Liberal
“We care about making housing affordable. We are working with the provinces to build the infrastructure needed for new homes, which lowers costs for buyers. We also have 19,000 homes being built across the country for renters and buyers.”

  • 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, we care deeply about housing affordability, and that is why we are working with the provinces to build infrastructure that allows them to build new homes. That drives down the cost to purchase for new homeowners. However, we are not stopping there. We are working with Build Canada Homes. We have 19,000 units under way across the country, and this is ensuring that whether people rent or buy, there is a home for them.

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Dane Lloyd

Conservative
“Government spending and taxes are driving up the cost of living and making debt more expensive for Canadians. I want the Prime Minister to get government spending under control so people can afford to pay their bills.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Reasoning 33 of 100

    This statement drew 3 conclusions, but gave no reasons for 2 of them.

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  • A repeated line

    “Canadian families are the most indebted in the world.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since June 8.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the gap in this country between the haves and the have-nots is growing wider and wider. Liberal inflationary spending and taxes are driving up the cost of living for those who are struggling and padding the pockets of the wealthiest. Canadian families are already the most indebted in the G7. With rising inflation and interest rates, they will now have to pay more for their mortgage, car payments and line of credit. Every single dollar that the Liberal government borrows makes every dollar that Canadians have to borrow more expensive. When will the Prime Minister finally get his spending under control so that Canadians can afford to pay their bills?

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Corey Hogan

Liberal
“That is not how it works. The Bank of Canada says high prices come from world energy costs. In Alberta, we have 67,000 new jobs this year and record oil, gas, and diesel production. That is how we make life affordable and make Canada strong.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, of course, that is not how any of that works. If we look at the Bank of Canada’s report, it says the inflation is driven by global energy prices. It is undeniable. However, there is good news in my home province of Alberta. There are 67,000 new jobs since the start of the year. We are seeing record production of oil and gas. We are seeing record diesel production up 16%. That is how we tackle affordability. We are making Alberta strong. We are making Canada strong.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

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