Finance Committee on Feb. 3rd, 2026

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

It's a simple question. You're the finance minister. Finance is based on numbers.

Will you be printing money, or will it go on the line of credit?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

What will you say to your constituents when you voted in favour but you're not willing to support Canadians? I think people will be confused. You should help them. We can help you.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Minister, please, just give me an answer.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

That's what I'm saying. How are you going to explain that to your constituents?

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

You must have thought this through. Do you know what you're going to do? Would you please just share that with Canadians?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Exactly, that's what I'm saying.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

How are you going to finance this?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I'm sure your constituents are confused. You voted in favour, and now you're saying you're not for the measures.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Minister, will you be printing money or using the line of credit?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Are you in favour of the measure or are you against?

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

You are running a deficit. How much will the deficit be then?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

As I said, this measure supports Canadians. You voted in favour of it. You should stand by your vote and say, yes, we favour this because it's going to support Canadians in a time of need.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Minister, will this be a capital investment or an operating expense? It's hard to tell with your broad definition now.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I would not say it's so broad. You should look at what the International Monetary Fund—

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Will it be an operating expense or a capital investment?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Madam Chair, do you want me to answer? I'm happy to listen to the questions.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Please answer. We're waiting for an answer.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

That's what I was saying. I was referring to the International Monetary Fund—

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

No, we're talking about Canada here.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I'm trying to help you. The International Monetary Fund said that other countries are looking at the definition Canada has adopted, and they praise the framework Canada has put forward.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

No, I'm not asking your opinion on the definition. I'm asking whether this program will be a capital investment or an operating expense. You must have thought this through.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

It's going to be an operating expense.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Excuse me?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

It's going to be an operating expense in the measure that supports Canadians.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Thank you.

For a family—