Mr. Speaker, economic anxiety is rising across the country and Canadians are deeply concerned. Unemployment is at the highest level in a decade. This summer alone, 100,000 workers lost their jobs, with thousands more announced this week. Folks across our country are facing excessive costs for groceries, housing and utilities, and Trump's trade war threatens more damage. We must meet this moment with vision and resolve.
Yesterday, I met with the Prime Minister and made it clear that now is not the time for an austerity budget. Instead, Canada needs investment, not cuts. That means building infrastructure to strengthen communities, such as affordable non-market homes, clean energy and a strong public health care system. These are the kinds of nation-building projects New Democrats support, initiatives that create good, family-sustaining jobs and improve lives.
Now is our opportunity to deliver real results and lay the foundation for a prosperous and independent Canada for generations to come.