Debates of Nov. 6th, 2025

Financial Statement of Minister of Finance

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. To hear her talk, unicorns are descending on Ottawa, and this budget will solve all of our problems.

What I particularly liked about my colleague's speech was that she really highlighted who this budget is intended to help, namely the economic elite, the Prime Minister's friends. In her speech, she talked about numerous meetings. The people the Prime Minister wants to help are his friends, his buddies, the bankers and multinationals who are already filthy rich, not the real people who need money—seniors, young families and people who struggle daily to pay their bills, buy groceries and clothes and secure housing. She was clear about that.

Now she is telling us that this budget will take care of everyone, but the fact is that it will take care of the oil and gas companies by offering them $100 billion in tax credits until 2040. Will that meet her constituents' needs? I very much doubt it. This former mayor also talked about infrastructure. Investing $9 billion in infrastructure is peanuts. It is a drop in the bucket. She will never convince me that this is going to solve Canada's infrastructure problems.

I would like my colleague to explain to me how, given what I just said, she thinks this budget will really help the people who are struggling in her riding.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell my colleague about the Union culturelle des Franco-Ontariennes, a group of women who are actively involved in the communities of New Liskeard, Earlton and Belle Vallée in my riding.

They sent me a petition signed by nearly 100 people. What is important for them is that the budget does not make any cuts to the program offered by the Department for Women and Gender Equality. This is an example of how our government listens and responds to needs.

Today, I am pleased to be able to say that the government is listening and that the budget confirms $600 million over five years to ensure services for women in our country.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleague to tell me what the government is doing in its 2025 budget for language minorities, such as francophones outside Quebec.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to live in a community in northeastern Ontario where nearly one-third of the population is francophone or speaks French.

Federal government support is very important for us. It greatly improves things for minority communities outside Quebec. The federal government plays a key role, and this budget ensures important services for our community.

I mentioned services that are offered by Radio-Canada. Our community's cultural life is important. That is just one example of what our government is doing for the French-speaking population outside Quebec.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to speak to budget 2025, which was tabled by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue this week. My goal is to make my constituents aware of the benefits of this budget for the people of the Lower Laurentians and Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles.

This budget is a vision for a strong, responsible and ambitious Canada, a Canada that continues to invest in people while carefully managing public finances. We chose Canada. We want to invest in our country. That is our future. We want to build Canada strong.

We are in a period of global economic, social and technological transition. Canada and Quebec in particular must seize this moment to position themselves among the leaders of tomorrow. Budget 2025 offers them a smart way to do so. It invests more, but it spends more wisely. It is focused on what delivers real results: health, families, youth, seniors, businesses and local communities.

It does so without cutting programs that make a difference. All of our major federal programs have been maintained, which is important. All social programs have been maintained; they continue to help people, and many have even been improved. This budget is about progress, stability and confidence building.

If there is one measure that perfectly illustrates the philosophy behind this budget, it is the Canadian dental care plan. This program is transforming the lives of thousands of families across the country, including in my riding of Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles. The riding of Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles includes the municipalities of Deux‑Montagnes, Saint‑Eustache, Boisbriand and Rosemère in the suburbs north of Montreal. This budget is all about giving people back their dignity, their health and their smiles. This program is an investment in public health and social justice. It will help keep people out of emergency rooms, prevent complications and improve people's quality of life. I have said it before and will say it again: this budget does not cut any programs. On the contrary, it maintains and strengthens all the programs that support families, seniors and youth. This is proof that it is possible to invest and manage responsibly at the same time.

This budget provides concrete support to those who keep our health care system running. The new tax credit for personal support workers recognizes the essential contribution made by frontline workers. These are the folks who take care of our parents, our neighbours and our most vulnerable loved ones. Often working behind the scenes, they do exceptional work. I really admire these individuals. If it were not for them, I would not be here today. It is very important to emphasize that frontline workers are helping our seniors.

In Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles, this support will directly benefit the long-term care facilities, or CHSLDs, as well as seniors' homes and home care organizations. They deserve more than just our gratitude. They deserve meaningful support. This budget gives them that.

In my riding, seniors play a central role. They are the backbone of our families, our institutions and our values. The New Horizons for Seniors program, which was renewed in this budget, is a good example of that. It funds local projects that have a direct impact on the well-being of our seniors. This program is being carried out in every single riding. In Deux‑Montagnes, in my riding, the program helped renovate the roof of the Heritage Club, a community centre for seniors. The program also helped support and renovate the Lions Club, which also supports our community. These projects tell the stories of the people and the places where they gather, where they can break their isolation and stay active in community life. It strengthens the heart of our communities. It is part of our social fabric. In this budget, seniors are at the core of our vision for an inclusive and compassionate Canada.

While we recognize the contribution of seniors, we are also thinking about the next generation. Budget 2025 strengthens the Canada summer jobs program, a program that I am very familiar with and that is making a real difference in our communities. With nearly $600 million over two years, this program will create 100,000 summer jobs in 2026. For our young people, this is their first work experience, a source of pride and a gateway to the job market. In Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, young people are working for day camps, community organizations, small businesses and municipalities. This program is a game changer for families, because when there are affordable day camps that reduce costs, families can send their children there and continue to focus on their work. By giving our young people opportunities, we are building a stronger economy and a more confident country.

I also want to highlight the measures in the budget that support our entrepreneurs and SMEs. Before becoming an MP, I was an entrepreneur. I also had the honour of serving as the president of the Regroupement des gens d'affaires de Boisbriand. I am well aware that SMEs are the backbone of our economy. I also know how important it is to buy local. The renewed commitment to our buy Canadian policy is great news. Every time the federal government makes an investment, Canadian workers and Canadian businesses should be the first to benefit. Buying Canadian promotes our expertise, maintains our jobs and encourages regional economic growth. Entrepreneurs at industrial parks in Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, Boisbriand, Saint-Eustache and Deux-Montagnes are innovating every day. They are creating jobs, training apprentices, exporting their products and bolstering our collective pride. This budget sends them a clear message: The government believes in them.

Quebec is also an engine for innovation and for the future. Quebec has secured a win in this budget. Investments in artificial intelligence and in the aeronautics and aerospace industries will strengthen our leadership on the global stage. We have a huge number of great businesses in the aerospace sector in the Lower Laurentians, including L3Harris, Airbus, Bell Textron, and Safran. We also have great businesses in the transportation sector, including Nova Bus, which is building electric buses, and Paccar, which is building electric trucks. Sustained support is crucial to drive these businesses toward continued growth. I am also thinking of Kinova, a Boisbriand business that designs robotic solutions for the medical and mobility sectors. Kinova exemplifies the story of Quebec's talent in Boisbriand; it is a story of innovation and perseverance. Actually, I would like to take this opportunity to salute the people who work at Kinova. The measures in this budget will help businesses like Kinova continue to expand, create quality jobs, and showcase our skills around the world. These investments affirm Quebec's position as an economic partner and a driving force for Canada's transformation.

The budget also focuses on sustainable mobility and modern infrastructure. The high-speed rail project between Quebec City and Toronto will go through the north shore of Montreal and probably through Laval. This is a very exciting project and it will lower greenhouse gas emissions. One can envision the volume of vehicles travelling between the two cities that pass through Montreal. It is a great project, and it is now at the design stage. It is a visionary project that combines economic development and environmental responsibility.

I would also like to commend the government for its commitment to protecting the francophonie and linguistic minorities. French is not just a language. It is a culture, a way of looking at the world, and a common bond between communities. Budget 2025 has confirmed investments in culture and French-language media, including Radio-Canada. Preserving and promoting the French language also means standing up for our identity and our diversity. It also means doing more to preserve history across generations.

In conclusion, budget 2025 is a confidence-building budget. It supports families, workers, young people, and seniors. It promotes innovation, training, and job creation. It supports entrepreneurs and communities. We are choosing Canada. We are investing in our country. This is about our future. Let us build Canada strong together.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague a fairly specific question.

I represent a riding where many people fish for a living, and I am the Bloc's fisheries critic. One of the big surprises in this budget is that there is nothing to renew the fisheries fund.

The fisheries fund is approximately $40 million. The Government of Quebec provides 30% of that, while the Government of Canada provides 70%. This fund encourages innovation. It pays for scientific projects. Ultimately, it allows the fishing industry to modernize and to be more productive and grounded in science.

There is nothing in the budget about this fund. Why is that?

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to answer the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles‑de‑la‑Madeleine—Listuguj's question. In the spring, the Liberal Party won 44 out of 78 seats in Quebec, its best showing in that province since 1980.

The member should know that the budget provides for a very important renovation. Money will be invested in the Magdalen Islands airport. I would hope that the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles‑de‑la‑Madeleine—Listuguj will support our 2025 budget.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Quebec for bringing up the fisheries.

A lot of my constituents have been reaching out since the budget was released, specifically with respect to the Atlantic fisheries fund. I am wondering if my colleague across the way could speak to it and to whether or not it is something that would continue. It is very important to Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives never miss an opportunity to talk down the Canadian economy and Canadian workers. Budget 2025 reflects Canada's strengths and ambitions.

I would like to know whether the members opposite will support our budget.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as my friend and colleague has made reference to, there is so much within the budget to support our seniors.

I was really pleased to hear the degree to which the member advocates consistently, whether on women's issues or for seniors. She is very much a powerful advocate, let there be no doubt.

I was hoping the member would provide some additional comments as to why it is so important that government be there to support our seniors, young people and women in Canada. Could she add some value to that?

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our budget addresses a number of realities, including the French language, youth and seniors. It also addresses the importance of ensuring that women can access the measures designed for them and of ensuring gender equality. Our budget includes funding to support frontline organizations working to combat gender-based violence. Money will be available. The budget includes $660 million over five years, and all the groups that represent and support women were thrilled with that announcement.

I am also delighted to know that the New Horizons for Seniors program will be maintained, because it is having a tremendously positive impact in our communities.

The Canada summer jobs program is a resource for young people. It helps them find that first job and get work experience.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, earlier, my colleague from Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj asked my colleague from Rivière-des-Mille-Îles a very respectful question. He spoke to her about the fisheries fund, which is an issue of great concern to the people of Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands. He asked her why the fisheries fund was not included in the budget, given how important it is to the industry.

My colleague across the way responded somewhat aggressively, referring to the spring election that brought 44 Liberal members to power in Quebec, and she saw fit to respond with something about the airport in the Magdalen Islands.

My colleague's question was about the fisheries fund. Why is it not included in the budget? Can my colleague give a respectful answer to a respectful question?

[Linda Lapointe, Liberal, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the fisheries are very important.

I am fortunate to sit on the Standing Committee on International Trade, and we are actively seeking new markets to export lobster and all our fish products. This issue is certainly being considered, and I thank my colleague for raising it. We are doing everything we can to open up our markets so that we are less vulnerable to the economy south of the border.

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Long Range Mountains.

Everyone is depressed. Why? It is because everyone is broke. We are more broke than we think. Do others remember the old Scotiabank commercial, “You're richer than you think”? We are Canadians in the 11th year of a Liberal government who are more broke than we think. Two days ago, the government tabled a 400-page budget with a $78-billion deficit. The Prime Minister, who lectures us about economics and caused record inflation in England, is now going to repeat the same in Canada by spending more money that we do not have.

What happened to our country? There are more than two million people visiting a food bank, more than 700,000 of them children. There are 700,000 Canadian children who are starving, and the Prime Minister and the finance minister are pretending everything is fine. I have spoken to hundreds, maybe thousands of people. No matter where they are on the economic ladder, everyone is worse off, worse than they were six months ago, five years ago and definitely 10 years ago.

The Liberals sit here in question period and pretend that criticizing our economy is unpatriotic. It is the opposite. Standing up for our country when it is in trouble is the most patriotic thing one could do. I will do that because I remember what it was like a decade ago. In 2014, The New York Times came out with a study, which found that Canada's middle class was better than its U.S. counterpart. Ten years ago, Canada had the wealthiest middle class in the world. That is what I remember. When Conservatives were in government, we had more money in our pocket and more ability to put our kid in hockey or music lessons. We had the ability to travel and to go out for dinner with our loved ones. We slept better at night because we had money.

Then came Justin Trudeau, who promised to invest more. He said we needed an economy that worked for everyone and that to do this, he would run a few small deficits. Now, a decade later, we are broke. Now the current Prime Minister and the same old Liberal government are promising to do the same. When the Liberals say they will invest more, what they really mean is they will spend more.

As I was sitting here two days ago, the page handed me the budget book, and I opened it. I do not care what the finance minister has to say, because I could not believe my eyes. There is a $78-billion deficit. To put that into perspective, that is $5,400 for every Canadian family. Just like that, they will owe $5,400 more to the banks and the bondholders, or he will print it on them, flooding the economy with more money to chase nearly the same amount of goods because we do not have any growth. That will raise, or inflate, the price of everything we buy.

Can members believe that we have $55 billion in interest payments alone next year? That is more than $1 billion a week in interest. That is more than the federal government collects in GST from all Canadians. Let us think about that. The next time we see the GST on our receipt, or the HST, which lumps in the GST, all of it goes to service the interest on our debt. At the end of the year, our debt will be $1,347,000,000,000. Over the next five years, the Liberal government is projecting to add another $320 billion in debt. Over the next five years, Canada will pay close to $330 billion in interest alone to foreigners, to banks and to the Prime Minister's cronies.

To be clear, government has no money. It is our money. It either takes it from us in taxes or it prints it. Canadians are some of the highest-taxed people in the world already. An average Canadian family spends over 42% of its income on tax, on income tax, payroll tax, sales tax, fuel tax, alcohol tax. Everywhere there is a tax. What do we have to show for it? Do we have good health care? Do we have good infrastructure? No. We have a Prime Minister whose deficit is double that of Justin's. Justin is out there partying with Katy Perry, but we are all screwed.

We should be the wealthiest country in the world because we are blessed with the greatest natural resources in the world. We have some of the world's highest-proven oil reserves and natural gas, which could satisfy the insatiable demand the world is experiencing for electricity. We have the rare earth minerals everyone is chasing.

We should be living like Saudi princes. We should be like the Qataris. There are 400 pages in this budget, but surprise, there is no pipeline. We are shooting ourselves in the foot. Why do we not just get out of our own way? Why does the government not get out of our way and allow us to drill for energy, export natural gas and use this blessing of our natural resources to put more money in Canadians' pockets?

We are actually importing oil from Russia. Members should think about how crazy that is. Other petroleum producers will not stop, but they pollute the environment. Canada has some of the best environmental practices in the world. Those who are passionate about the environment should want more Canadian oil instead of dirty oil from the Middle East.

To free Canada's natural resources and Canada's oil and gas would mean a richer middle class. It would mean less people at the food bank and a better life. We need to lower taxes for real. The finance minister grandstands every day and yells at us about how he is making life more affordable for 22 million Canadians. The Liberals' income tax cut works out to $20 a month per family. An average family gets $280 a year; that is it.

I could never imagine a budget that spends so much and does so little. What is the government building? It is building a couple of thousand shoeboxes for apartments, which comes to $3 million per apartment when we factor in the cost of the bureaucracy.

The government is trying to fool us by separating the deficit into two. The Prime Minister is telling us that the actual deficit is not $78 billion, no, because $40 billion of it is capital investment, so the deficit is only $38 billion. The Prime Minister is living by his own accounting rules: Abracadabra, the deficit is not $78 billion; it is $38 billion. I say shame on the Liberals for the budget and for making Canadians broke.

I was at the grocery store not too long ago, and there was a very kind lady in front of me. She had a small basket of groceries, among which was an English cucumber. I love cucumber. She asked the lady at the cash register how much the English cucumber would cost. The lady at the cash register told her the price, and the shopper said that she would not need it and returned it. The sales clerk politely smiled at her. I can imagine how many times a day this person sees this, when Canadians come from the grocery aisle to check out, but they have to leave items behind because they cannot afford them.

How dare the government members be proud of the budget? With the endless taxes and inflation, they are making Canadians broke. I say shame on them.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the far-right member spoke about Canada's middle class and compared it to when Stephen Harper was in power. I just did a quick Google search. Interestingly, I found a story that says, “For decades, the United States boasted the honor of having the richest middle-class. However, since 2019, Canada has the wealthiest middle class of any country in the world.”

The member talks about the deficit. Back in 2009 and 2010, which is when his leader sat in government, in a real dollars sense, the Conservatives actually had a higher deficit than the current budget being proposed. Does the member think the leader of the Conservative Party was irresponsible back then for putting such a deficit on Canadians?

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the member is saying. In 2008 and 2009, we had a global financial crisis that the former Conservative government handled with flying colours. That is what happened in 2008 and 2009. Just 10 years ago, Canada had the wealthiest middle class. This is according to The New York Times.

Ten years ago the Liberals came into power, and now we have two million people at food banks and 700,000 of them are children. Shame on you.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I want to remind members that we speak through the Chair, not at the Chair. However, I will take the admonition in stride.

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Drummond.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure you want even the insults to go through the Chair. It would be nice if people could show a little restraint.

I listened with interest to my Conservative colleague's speech. He said something that brought a question to mind. He said we import oil from Russia. I am not sure whether that is true.

I know that there has been a ban on Russian oil imports since 2022 and that we have not imported any since 2019. If it is true that we are still importing petroleum products from Russia, then I would like my colleague to back up that statement with some figures.

What exactly are we importing from Russia? That is illegal in Canada.

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last year, we imported oil from Russia. We are importing oil from Kazakhstan and Venezuela. We have some of the highest proven oil reserves in the world. We should be the wealthiest country in the world instead of relying on other countries for energy.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his passion; it resonates with me.

When the government responds on affordability with the programs it is offering, what is the reality of that in terms of the member's constituents and the impacts of these programs?

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the Liberals are trying to address problems they created, but they never address the actual problem. Instead, all they do with their proposed programs is create more bureaucracy.

We can think about what they have done to date. They proposed to build more homes, but instead of doing that out of the Ministry of Housing, they created a new agency, Build Canada Homes. They proposed to build more projects; they talk about four pre-existing projects out of the first five, and, instead of running them out of the PMO, they built a new agency called the Major Projects Office. They talked about helping Canadians with defence procurement, and, instead of doing that out of the Department of Defence, they created a new agency for defence procurement led by someone who has no military experience whatsoever. This is lunacy.

We need to give Canadians more of their money back instead of building bureaucracies.

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member was duly elected to the provincial legislative assembly, but this party, federally, does not reflect progressive values.

Premier Ford, at that time, called the member's comments “irresponsible”. He said, “By spreading misinformation he is undermining the tireless efforts of our frontline health-care workers at this critical time”. Premier Ford also said, “I will not jeopardize a single Ontarian's life by ignoring public health advice.”

I agree that taxpayers work hard, and the member has put his name on ballots multiple times and is funded by the public purse. I ask the member, based on his comments today about the public purse, does he not have regard for the fact that he is employed by the public purse and the government has—

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

I have to interrupt the member to give a chance for the member for York Centre to respond.

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of my political career. I am proud of my career in the provincial legislature of Ontario. I am proud for standing up for millions of Canadians who did not have a voice, and I am proud of the Leader of the Opposition for welcoming me into this party and Parliament and also of the people of York Centre for bringing me back to represent them.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Liberals released their 10th budget, with the costliest deficit outside COVID and double what the previous Liberal government left behind.

Canadians are paying more and are getting less. This budget drives up the cost of living for every Canadian on food, on homes and on everything that families buy.

For people back home in Newfoundland and Labrador, the cost feels heavier than ever. We face the highest unemployment in the country and the fastest net out-migration rate relative to our population. We have the oldest demographic and some of the highest food prices in Canada. When Ottawa overspends, we feel it. Our premier said yesterday, “[The] federal budget...raises far more questions than answers when it comes to whether or not it will benefit Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.” I could not agree more.

The Prime Minister broke every promise he made just months ago. He promised a $62-billion deficit but delivered a $78-billion deficit instead. He promised to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio, yet he raised it. He promised to spend less but is spending $90 billion more. To put it into perspective, that is $5,400 in inflationary spending for every household. He promised more investment, yet his own budget shows it is collapsing quarter after quarter.

The budget and the government are especially ignoring the realities faced by rural Canadians. As a member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, I hear directly from the people being left behind. The committee heard testimony today regarding the EV mandates, from a business owner and employer living in a rural community. His message could not have been clearer.

The witness warned, “If you continue down this road, you will harm and destroy the auto industry and ruin the lives of a whole lot of people in rural towns all across the country. My store won't be profitable enough to survive if these mandates are enforced. ‘A family business put out of business after 45 years by the government’ will be the headline.” Despite these warnings, the government will not commit to removing the mandates, which do not work for rural Canada. They could have been removed in this budget, but they were not.

In regions where winter temperatures plunge, distances are vast and charging stations are few and far between, keeping these mandates only makes life more expensive. From transportation to groceries and home heating, costs are climbing, and it is everyday Canadians who are paying the price for the out-of-touch government. People are trying to make ends meet; they work and pay their taxes but still come up short because Ottawa keeps spending more but delivering less.

Families in Port aux Basques, Stephenville and Deer Lake are working hard. They are doing everything right, yet they are falling further behind. One senior from Brig Bay told my office that every month the decisions get harder: eat or heat, and buy groceries or pay the power bill.

Greta Gillingham from Trout River told me her survivor’s allowance was cut by almost $300 a month, leaving her struggling to pay for the basics while the cost of everything continues to rise. Catherine Alexander from Stephenville Crossing said she now buys only what is on sale and grows her own vegetables to offset grocery costs. She told me she does not buy fruit at full price anymore and cannot go out to eat because she simply cannot afford to.

These are not isolated stories; they are a mirror of what is happening right across Canada. Nationally, food bank use has doubled since 2019. That should be shocking to every member of the House. Recently, a report from my province told this story clearly. Food bank volunteers say families who used to come once a month now come every two weeks, and many parents are deliberately skipping meals so their children can eat.

The Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and Labrador shared one case where a mother was so hungry she ate food cold in her car because it was the only meal she had that day. Food First NL says 40% of children in Newfoundland and Labrador now live in food-insecure households. That is one of the highest rates in the country.

When parents are going hungry so kids can eat, it is not economic progress; it is a sign of a government that has lost touch with reality.

These are hard-working people who want a government that understands what life costs in Newfoundland and Labrador; a government that knows that one cannot fight inflation by spending more; a government that realizes that when the cost of fuel rises, the cost of everything else rises; and a government that realizes that baked-in, hidden food taxes raise the price of food.

In our province, many of our goods and services are shipped to us. Shipping costs, fuel surcharges and inflation pile one on top of the other. That is why food prices in Newfoundland and Labrador are among the highest in the country, and that is why families are cutting back on essentials.

While families are paying more, this budget makes life even more expensive. In a province already struggling with out-migration, it makes it harder for young people to stay and build their future at home. We are losing far too many of our young people to the mainland because they cannot make it at home. If a paycheque cannot cover food, fuel and rent, families end up leaving the place they love.

Ernest Snooks returned to the province in 2015 from Alberta, and his goal was to build a future in Newfoundland and Labrador. He returned to school, and he did everything right to get ahead, but he is barely getting by. The cost of everything keeps going higher and higher. His everyday bills are piling up, and he is worried about his health because healthy food is priced out of his budget.

Every dollar the government spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians. Statistics Canada confirmed again this month that food inflation is still rising. According to the food professor, Canada is the only G7 country where food inflation has risen for four months in a row. Between March and September 2025, strawberries went up 25%; beef, 25% and coffee, 20%. Families are paying more for every staple.

Conservatives brought forward a plan to bring food costs down, end the food packaging tax, remove the clean fuel regulation that adds 17¢ a litre to gas and diesel, and stop inflationary deficits, but Liberals voted it down. Only Conservatives will stop the hidden taxes on food and restore common sense to affordability.

Conservatives want an affordable budget for an affordable life. On behalf of the Canadians whom the Liberals have priced out of food, homes and hope, we oppose this costly deficit budget that gambles away Canada’s future.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business called this budget “a missed opportunity to provide meaningful tax relief”. The Large Urban Centre Alliance said that it “relies on backward-looking data” that hides the housing crisis. Economist Mike Moffatt said he had “inadequately prepared [himself] for how disappointed [he] would be.”

Even the people who wanted to believe in the government’s promises are losing faith.

Wherever Newfoundlanders and Labradorians go, whether it is Alberta, Ontario or anywhere in between, we always find a way to gather together, to share stories and to stay connected, because we have a pride of place and a love that never leaves us. They ask for very little: only a fair shot at building a life where they were born. They deserve a government that recognizes their struggle and respects their effort. They deserve a budget that makes it possible to stay, raise their children and hope again.

When a government spends recklessly and drives up inflation, it is rural Canadians who pay the price the worst, and when the same government turns a blind eye to the cost of living in places like mine, it risks losing the very communities that built this country. It is not compassion to spend what we do not have and leave the bill to those who can least afford it. It is not fairness when rural families pay more simply for wanting to live where they were born.

We call on the Prime Minister to work with us to build a positive, hopeful and affordable future, one where families in the Long Range Mountains can look at their grocery bill, their oil delivery and their tax statement and say that they can breathe easier, they can stay and they can build in Newfoundland and Labrador.