Public Accounts Committee on Feb. 25th, 2026

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

So, the 100 days have passed and you still haven't changed the criteria.

[Melanie Serjak]

It requires some planning. It requires some consultation with the union.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

My time is up. Thank you.

[Melanie Serjak]

The improvements are under way.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Thank you.

We now begin our second round, which will consist of five individuals for various times.

Ms. Kusie, you'll lead us off for five minutes.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Minister, we're voting on the BIA tonight. Your budget identified two fiscal anchors to balance operational spending by 2028-29 and maintain a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio. Do you maintain that these are still your anchors?

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

Yes, I do.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I ask because your budget introduced a $78-billion deficit and over $140 billion in new spending, and since then, the supplementary estimates have asked for an additional $5.4 billion. This includes $150 million—

[Kristina Tesser Derksen, Liberal, Milton East—Halton Hills South, ON]

On a point of order, we're talking about the CRA's 100-day plan during this meeting. I'm not sure why we're getting into budget discussions.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

As you know, I allow members wide latitude to question witnesses as they see fit. It's their time, and I allow them to use it as they like. I'm going to allow this questioning. I see the finance minister is eager to answer these questions, so I will turn things back over to Ms. Kusie.

You have about four and a half minutes left.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

I'd be embarrassed as well if my government was spending this much money, and I assure you it's relevant, because the more money your government spends, the more taxpayers have to pay.

As I was saying, this includes $150 million in new operational funding for the CBC and $1 billion for Canada Post. There is more spending still not included in either budget. There's $12 billion for your grocery benefit, which doesn't bring down the cost of groceries, as well as $6 billion for electric vehicle incentives.

In the PBO's analysis of the budget, he found there was just a 7.5% chance that your declining deficit-to-GDP anchor would actually be realized, and that analysis came before your government announced the billions in additional spending since the budget. Can you be honest with Canadians now and tell them exactly what the likelihood is, as a percentage, that your fiscal anchor will be met?

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

I'm glad, first of all, that you focused on the budget. I hope you've spent a lot of time reading it, because you would find that Canada is one of the very few countries in the world.... You don't need to take my word for this. Take the word of the International Monetary Fund, which says there are only two countries in the world that have the fiscal capacity to really help their people during this particular time. It mentioned Germany and Canada. Why? It's because we both have a AAA credit rating. It said countries that invest in infrastructure, housing, productivity and innovation are going to lead the way.

You mentioned the grocery benefit. Again, I would show a bit of humility. This is helping 12 million Canadians. It may not be much for you, but I can tell you that when I look at folks in my neck of the woods in my riding and across many regions, if you look at the numbers, it's going to help a lot of families. You don't need to take it from me. Take it from Food Banks Canada and others that have said we have given a boost and a bridge—

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Minister, 2.2 million Canadians have had to use a food bank as a result of your government's 11-year record on the budget. That includes the $78-billion deficit you just presented this year.

Why did your budget not include the additional billions you've announced since you put forward your budget?

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

What I was saying was that I think you should look at the groceries and essentials benefit as helping families. What we did when we looked at that—

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

When I go to the grocery store in my riding, Minister, I can see people filled with trepidation as they put items they had in their carts back in the aisles.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Ms. Kusie, I have a point of order.

Mr. McKinnon.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I would ask the member to let the minister answer when she asks a question.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Mr. McKinnon, as you know, the time is sacred. While I do value responses from witnesses and do allow witnesses to finish their answers even after the time has expired—I think that's unique in this committee—members have to have their elbows up to ensure they're heard in their time as well.

Do you have a point of order, Mr. Lemire?

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I would like to comment on this point of order. I think that the tone was, on the whole, respectful. We've seen much bigger outbursts in committees. I think that this comment wasn't warranted. The tone was, on the whole, respectful.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Williamson]

Ms. Kusie, you have two minutes.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you very much.

Did you deliberately mislead Canadians, when you made your budget announcements, by not including the billions of dollars that you have since spent?

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

We presented an investment budget to Canadians, a vision to 2030.

I'm surprised by the tone and nature of your question. With regard to the 12 million Canadians, would you suggest that we should not help Canadians at a time of need, with food and groceries?

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I would suggest that you could help Canadians—

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

I'm just trying to understand where you're going with that.