Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of Canadians who are deeply concerned about the government's manipulation of our national books. These citizens are calling on the government to restore integrity and transparency in fiscal reporting and to stop redefining what counts as capital investment simply to make the deficit look smaller.
The petitioners note that under this new definition, even subsidies, tax breaks and corporate handouts are being rebranded as investments, despite building nothing that the Canadian government owns. Furthermore, the petitioners observe that it is always risky for an entity to change its accounting definitions, let alone when deficits are ballooning, economic conditions are deteriorating and fiscal anchors are being abandoned. Canadians deserve a government that manages its finances, not one that manipulates them.
The petitioners conclude by noting that a change in definition does not improve our economic condition. A government that cannot live within its means will never make life affordable for people who need to live within theirs.
I thank these citizens for bringing this critical issue before the House of Commons at a critical time, and I hope the government will stop manipulating the budget to serve its own political agenda.