Mr. Speaker, this narrative coming from the Conservatives has absolutely no basis in reality. I will read a quote from The Economist. Kevin Milligan from the University of British Columbia said, “Any notion that the ‘fiscal cupboard is bare’ is irrefutably, absolutely, 100%, 180 degrees wrong.”
If we want to talk about cupboards being bare, let us talk about the cupboards of one million Canadians who were living in poverty with bare cupboards a few years ago. Let us talk about the cupboards that were bare of 300,000 Canadian children who were living in poverty a few years ago. Let us talk about the cupboards that were bare of 1.2 million Canadians who did not have jobs a few years ago and are working today.
The measures we are putting in place are growing the economy, creating jobs and making sure that Canadians who need help are receiving the help they need.