Mr. Speaker, obviously I have a difference of opinion with the member opposite. I know that food bank usage is something that has increased, but I also know that the members opposite have a horrible track record when it comes to actually standing up to support Canadians. They voted against feeding 400,000 hungry children with the national school food program, an investment of $1 billion over five years to feed kids across the country, and I do not understand how Conservative members can stand up in the House to complain about food bank usage and then simultaneously, as those words come out of their mouths, on the same day get up to vote against feeding 400,000 hungry kids. It just does not make any sense.
Our government firmly believes that the measures we are taking will build the strongest economy in the G7 and bring down the cost of living. We heard that from the Governor of the Bank of Canada last week, who said that the government is on the right track and that we will boost productivity and real wages. The investments we are making to make everything more affordable are the only way.
Since we were elected in 2025, we have been focusing on delivering a plan to address the cost of living challenges that have eroded Canadians' quality of life. That means change that will put more money in the pockets of Canadians and change that builds a more affordable Canada.
The government is well aware of the affordability challenges, and our hearts go out to people who are challenged and are struggling to make ends meet at the end of every month. That is exactly why we are doing the things we have been doing.
Rents have gone up. House prices have gone up. An entire generation of young Canadians has been questioning for some time how they can afford a place to live today and whether they will be able to afford a home of their own in the future. That is exactly why our government is taking immediate action to address this crisis. Key to the plan that we have put forward is bringing down costs so Canadians can keep more of their hard-earned paycheques and can spend them on what matters most to them.
We believe that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone, but we know that many Canadians are struggling to get ahead. That is why we have delivered a middle-class tax cut for 22 million Canadians. Math is math, and I know that opposition member has a hard time with it sometimes, but two-income families will save $840 per year. That is not insignificant. I know members opposite balk at that and say it is only this amount per month, but families that are truly struggling actually need that $840 back in their pockets.
We are also cutting GST for first-time homebuyers on homes under $1 million. We know, from committee testimony this week, that 97% of new homes are under $1 million. That is $50,000 back in the pockets of first-time homebuyers that they do not have to spend to purchase their first homes. That enables families in my riding of Whitby, and families all across the country, that want to get into the housing market to make it that much easier.
Yes, we know it is hard, but that is exactly why are putting in place measures that will help them. These are just a few measures. Obviously, this measure will continue to spur on more construction of new homes across Canada, which is key.
We have also obviously eliminated the consumer carbon price, a price that members opposite said, for over two years in the House, was responsible for food inflation. I do not know how they explain food inflation continuing to rise, when they said forever that that was the only cause of it.