Debates of Nov. 7th, 2025

The Budget

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister broke every promise he made. He promised to keep the deficit at $62 billion, a level the Parliamentary Budget Officer had already called “unsustainable”, yet it will now balloon to nearly $80 billion. He said he would lower the debt-to-GDP ratio, but both debt and inflation are rising. He promised to spend less, but added $90 billion more. That is $5,400 in extra inflationary spending per household.

Families in London are paying the price. Groceries, gas, rent and mortgages keep climbing while paycheques fall further behind. Canadians already spend more on debt interest than on health care. The budget at this time is simply irresponsible.

Conservatives stand for an affordable budget for an affordable life. Londoners deserve hope, homes and a future they can afford.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Dieppe, NB]

Mr. Speaker, all children deserve a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads, but for some families, a bed for each child is a luxury they simply cannot afford.

Since 2018, Sleep in Heavenly Peace Canada has put out a motion for change, as volunteers donate material and their time to help build beds and distribute them in communities across the country. Our local Moncton chapter was founded just this past June and has already built and delivered 52 beds. Nationwide, the objective is to deliver 3,000 beds by the end of this year.

My husband, Brock, and I recently accepted an invitation to join local leaders at Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Jim Merzetti and Marie-Claire Pierce, and helped build some beds with a group of local volunteers.

I thank Jim and Marie-Claire for their invitation and for their tireless devotion to this cause. I encourage all Canadians to look for their nearest chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace or even to start a chapter in their area to support this wonderful charity.

The Economy

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the current Liberal government is the most expensive in Canadian history. The more it spends, the more things cost. Its so-called generational budget is nothing more than generational debt, mortgaging away our children’s future. Massive Liberal deficits feed inflation. Inflation fuels unaffordability.

Our seniors can barely buy groceries, our families are stretched thin, and our workers are falling behind, yet the Prime Minister still wants them to make more sacrifices. Can the Prime Minister tell us what more is left for Canadians to sacrifice?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, this morning brings the outstanding news of tens of thousands, in fact, 69,000, new jobs in Canada, in the second straight month of employment growth in this country.

What is happening, as the Minister of Natural Resources informed us yesterday, is that investors are piling into Canada. They are expressing confidence in our country. The entrepreneurs, the tech sector and young people are getting energized about this positive economic momentum.

We are going to keep it going with this budget. I hope the Conservatives support us in it.

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this Brookfield budget has the largest deficit in history outside of COVID. The interest payments are topping $55 billion, more than what we spend on health care transfers. This means less for doctors, less for nurses and less for our hospitals, but more for bondholders and Liberal insiders. The only thing that is getting healthy under the government is the bankers’ profits. They keep getting rich while Canadians foot the price.

Can the Prime Minister tell us why he is so hell-bent on making sure his banker buddies get rich while Canadians suffer?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I think, as it is Friday, it is worth repeating. The economy has added 67,000 new jobs. Even the Conservatives are happy this morning, on a Friday. We can look at their faces. They are smiling because they are going back home and they have good news, and not only on the budget. There are hundreds of pages of good news. Also, this morning they can say that the plan of the government will build Canada strong, because of what? Because we believe in Canada.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, only a bunch of Liberals would stand up and applaud an unemployment rate of 7% when the United States' unemployment rate is 4.2%.

This is the most expensive government in Canadian history. In 10 years, the Liberals doubled the debt, and now they are going to pile on another $78 billion. Meanwhile, 2.2 million Canadians are going to the food bank. The softwood lumber industry is being devastated. The auto industry is being devastated.

Is there a Liberal over there who can stand up and explain how the government has spent so much money to accomplish so little?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, 67,000 is how many new jobs were created last month. Twenty thousand of these jobs were for young Canadians, a clear sign that our plan is working.

In Canada, one in five jobs is related to trade. From small businesses to major exporters, Canadians are driving growth and creating opportunities.

In budget 2025, we have a plan to support our entrepreneurs, our workers and our exporters as we build the strongest economy in the G7.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, once again, how do the Liberals stand up and applaud an unemployment rate of 7% when the United States' unemployment rate is 4.2%? It is actually like we are living in some kind of dystopian universe where they do this.

The facts are these. Our softwood lumber industry is being hollowed out, 2.2 million Canadians are using the food bank, the auto industry is on its knees, and the Liberals stand and applaud a 7.1% unemployment rate.

They have spent more money than all governments combined in the history of Canada. How can they applaud when they have spent so much to actually accomplish so little?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, here is something to applaud about. We created 67,000 new jobs last month. That is right. This is about building an affordable nation for a nation of builders. This budget does just that.

We are building affordable housing for young people. We are creating 100,000 new summer jobs. We are investing in the tech sector. At 800,000 workers, it is the fastest-growing job sector in the economy, with many for young people.

I hope the Conservatives, and many of them do, support this budget.

Finance

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have tabled the costliest budget with the biggest deficit in Canadian history, excluding the pandemic. The deficit is nearly $80 billion. A deficit is what happens when we live beyond our means. A deficit is a bill that we send to our children and our grandchildren. A deficit pours fuel on the fire of inflation.

Why is the Prime Minister breaking his promise by recklessly spending more and pouring fuel on the inflationary fire?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to inform my colleague that the Canadian economy added 67,000 jobs in the past month, and that is just the start. If the Conservatives help us pass budget 2025, we will unleash the power of the Canadian economy by building major projects such as the one in Contrecoeur or the container project at the port of Quebec, which my colleague's leader was praising yesterday in Quebec City.

I hope the Conservatives will support the budget to build the strongest economy in the G7.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I am not at all proud of the figure that I am about to share: 2.2 million Canadians are visiting food banks every month. That is the Liberal track record after 10 years. Of these 2.2 million Canadians, one in three is a child. That means that 700,000 children in Canada are relying on food banks to eat. I am sorry, but I love Canada too much to watch this happen.

Why is the government continuing to rack up chronic deficits?

The deficit is $80 billion, and we know that a deficit is a debt that we pass on to our children and grandchildren. Canadians deserve better than that.

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, this budget is a budget that invests in our children. It takes money to invest so that we can create jobs and give all Canadians back their purchasing power. That is what matters. That is what we are doing. That is what Canadians are hoping for, and I hope that our colleagues will support this budget that will give power back to all Canadians.

The Budget

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there would never have been a confidence vote on the budget today if the Liberals had worked in Quebec's best interests, but, unfortunately, here we are. We are here because they refused to negotiate in good faith despite their minority status. They rejected Quebec's demands on health care and infrastructure, just as they ignored the needs of seniors facing the cost of living crisis and the needs of young people hoping to become homeowners.

Why did they orchestrate this confidence vote instead of just responding to the needs of Quebeckers?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we are fully confident that Quebeckers have seen the investments this budget is making in culture. They have confidence in that. They have confidence in our investments in housing. They have confidence in our investments in the military sector to create jobs at Davie and in aerospace. They have confidence that the Liberal Party will protect our language, culture and Radio-Canada across Canada and invest in our language, our culture in Quebec and our unique Quebec identity.

Quebeckers have expressed confidence in this budget. The only question that remains is whether the Bloc Québécois will do the same.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers did not vote Conservative, but this is a Conservative budget, despite its Liberal deficits. Health care cuts, mass layoffs and climate capitulation are all Conservative ideas. The government House leader actually confirmed that in the House on Wednesday when he said that this is a budget that even Conservative voters can like. It must be working, since the Conservative ranks are in turmoil. They can identify with this budget.

Why did the Liberals decide to pander to the Conservatives instead of listening to Quebeckers' demands?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we are very proud to have 44 members from Quebec on this side of the House, which is the largest contingent of members from Quebec ever in this place. We are there to support Quebeckers.

Quebeckers asked us for money for health care. We delivered, with hospitals, emergency rooms and medical clinics. We also received support from Quebeckers for our French language and culture initiatives. We have made investments. In the end, what Quebeckers want is jobs, and this is a budget that is going to create jobs.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals used to draft budgets to please the NDP. Now they are drafting budgets to please the Conservatives. However, there are never any budgets to meet the needs of Quebeckers. What Quebeckers want is a health care system that works. They want to be able to age without losing their purchasing power. They want affordable housing. They want young people to be able to buy a home like the generations before them. That is what we are dealing with in Quebec.

Why are the Liberals threatening an election instead of meeting the needs of Quebeckers?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleague to actually read the budget.

He mentioned housing. There is a massive investment to build housing in Quebec. He mentioned health care. Quebeckers want high-quality health care infrastructure. There is money for that in the budget. Quebeckers want good jobs. Major projects are planned across Quebec to develop our resources and create opportunities for young people. My colleague mentioned purchasing power. There is a tax cut for 22 million Canadians that will save families an average of $800.

What do Quebeckers want? They want a budget that is responsible and ambitious, and that is exactly what we are delivering.

Finance

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister proposed the worst budget deficit in history outside of the COVID period. Every dollar he spends costs Canadians in taxes and through inflation. More spending by government means more sacrifices for Canadians, with more than one in four Canadians now living in financially insecure households.

Will the Prime Minister at least consider reducing his deficits to levels we saw under Justin Trudeau?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, what is remarkable about this budget is that it builds for the future but helps people today. This is a budget that cuts taxes for 22 million Canadians, saving families up to $800 a year. It makes the national school food program permanent, helping over half a million kids. It delivers automatic federal tax filing for five and a half million Canadians. It invests in housing, it invests in infrastructure and it lowers barriers to make the Canada disability benefit more accessible.

If the member opposite truly cares about affordability for families in Canada, he will come on over and vote for this budget.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I know it is difficult for some members of the Liberal caucus to understand, but parents would actually prefer to be able to afford to buy food themselves for their kids. They used to be able to before the Liberals took office.

The latest numbers today show that more than one in four people in Canada is living in a financially insecure household. That is the legacy of that party.

It was not this way before; it does not have to be this way again. When will the Liberals change course?

[Leslie Church, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives think they know best, but they are actually ignoring the experts. They are ignoring the Coalition for Healthy School Food, which calls this budget a “great step forward to support children and youth in Canada.” They are ignoring the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Breakfast Club of Canada, which also applaud our commitment to making the national school food program permanent.

The Conservatives need to listen to the experts, listen to Children First Canada, about why this program makes a difference and why half a million families across the country would benefit from it.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Leduc—Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, speaking of experts, according to Fitch Ratings just yesterday, “Canada's...proposed budget, announced in Parliament on Nov. 4, underscores the erosion of the federal government's finances...[and] persistent fiscal expansion and a rising debt burden have weakened its credit profile and could increase rating pressure over the medium term.”

This has happened before, with crushing impacts on Canadians. In the nineties, after similar rating pressure, the Liberal government of the day was forced to cut 32% from federal health and social transfers over just two years.

Does anyone over there understand the gravity of this situation?