Debates of June 9th, 2025

Opposition Motion—Food Inflation and Budgetary Policy

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague from Québec Centre, who did an incredible job with the Canadian dental care plan. I want to ask him a question about affordability.

Over the past few years, our government has implemented a number of programs to help families. I would like my colleague to talk more specifically about how the Canadian dental care plan has changed the lives of families in Canada and Quebec.

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is always such a pleasure to hear my colleague from Acadia speak. Whenever she and I talk, I can sense the enthusiasm and dedication that she demonstrated in a few words just now.

Yes, the Canadian dental care plan is making people's lives a lot better. I believe some 15,000 seniors and children in my colleague's riding have already benefited from it, and another 15,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 64 will soon qualify for this life-changing plan. It puts more money in their pockets and, above all, it gives them the tools they need to take care of their oral health, which is extremely important, because then they can focus on the other aspects of their health.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech indicates that the government is going to cap spending, the rate of increase of 9%, at 2%, so that is a 7% reduction. In light of the government's commitment to raising military spending to 2% of NATO, that is a $20-billion gap that needs to be made up, so my question to the member is this: Is he at all concerned that there will be service cuts to Canadians, many of whom are vulnerable, from vulnerable populations, who rely on government services?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is correct. We have to protect the living standards, the well-being, of Canadians, and in particular those Canadians who rely on the benefits and services of the Government of Canada. That is why we have been clear, the Prime Minister has been very clear, that there will not be cuts to transfers to essential programs like child care, pharmacare and dental care, all these programs being essential to the ability of families to make ends meet.

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora—Kiiwetinoong, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the motion we are dealing with today is very straightforward, recognizing that families in Canada are going to have to pay an extra $800 for groceries this year. This is a direct result of 10 years of the tired Liberal government's policies. The motion is simply calling for a fiscally responsible budget.

The government has refused to bring forward a fiscally responsible budget. Is that because it has no budget to plan for or because it knows that it is not going to be fiscally responsible in that plan?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Québec Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the budget has to be fiscally responsible as well as socially and economically responsible. There will be a budget in the fall of 2025.

Between now and then, we have important questions to settle. One of them is whether the member will support the important investments in the armed forces that we announced just this morning. This is an issue that I look forward to hearing about from the member.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise and participate in today's debate, and hopefully make some contributions to the discussion this afternoon.

I think we can all agree that on the tail of the last election, where our government presented a fully costed platform to Canadians, we were returned to this side of the House, under new leadership, granted, but it is not as if Canadians had no idea what the plan for the government was. We have been relentlessly pursuing the objectives of that plan by our actions since the House came back, which has been only about 10 or 11 sitting days, and we have made huge strides towards realizing that plan.

We should all agree that there is absolutely no value in trying to rush through a budget within a very narrow window. A budget document involves detailed analysis, policy checks and meticulous preparation. It would be challenging to prepare and present a spring budget with the remaining time left in the House calendar. In fact we feel it would be unwise and unfair to Canadians to rush through a major fiscal document in just a few weeks.

Rather, the government intends to deliver a fall budget which will outline its fiscal priorities and provide a more detailed financial road map for the country. In the meantime, we have announced plans to support Canadians by boosting affordability and economic growth. It is those plans I am very excited to share a little more about today.

Our government is taking immediate action to address the affordability crisis. Key to that plan is bringing down the costs that everyday Canadians experience, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned paycheque and to spend it where it matters most to them.

The government will eliminate the goods and services tax for first-time homebuyers on new homes at or under $1 million and lower the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. This tax cut will save Canadians up to $50,000, allowing more young people and families, in my riding of Whitby, for example, to enter the housing market and realize their dream of home ownership. By our eliminating the GST, Canadians will face lower upfront housing costs and keep more money in their pocket. Eliminating the GST will also have a dynamic effect on increasing supply, spurring the construction of new homes across the country in the segments of the housing market where we need more affordable homes built.

We are delivering a middle-class tax cut, which I am very excited will provide relief for nearly 22 million Canadians and save dual-income families up to $840 a year. Canadians will start seeing these tax savings on their paycheque as early as July 1, when the rate is reduced. We are also now formalizing the cancellation of the consumer carbon price, which took effect on April 1.

With these measures, we are delivering change to cut taxes, bring down costs and put money back in the pockets of Canadians. The measures send a strong and clear message to Canadians that they are and will remain our government's top priority as we build a strong, united economy for all.

In addition to the measures I just mentioned, we are dedicated to protecting and strengthening the programs that have already been saving families thousands of dollars every year. First, we are dedicated to protecting and strengthening the child care program that we have introduced across Canada. Today approximately 900,000 children are getting high-quality early learning opportunities, setting them up for lifelong success. In only a few short years, the program has become a core part of Canada's social infrastructure and fabric, and we will not let it be taken away or weakened by Conservatives; we know they would cut the program down if they ever got to this side of the House, just like they would with the Canadian dental care plan.

In its first year, the Canadian dental care plan significantly improved access to affordable dental care. More than 3.4 million Canadians were approved to be part of the plan, while 1.7 million have already received care. In my riding of Whitby, I have heard seniors and many other community members, including children under 12, families and parents, tell me how much the dental coverage means to them and their family. In March of this year, the government announced that all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 would be able to apply for the plan in May 2025, with coverage starting as early as June 1, 2025. The newly expanded program will cover about eight million Canadians, saving the average person more than $800 per year.

As outlined in the Speech from the Throne, our government has a bold and ambitious plan for the future. The key to that plan is bringing down costs so Canadians can keep more of their hard-earned paycheques to spend where it matters most. We will do this while making the best use of our talented public service and new technologies to save money. We remain focused on outcomes for Canadians and making sure they get what they expect from their government.

It is time for Canada to have a government focused on maximizing investments that drive growth and delivering results. We plan to balance the operating budget by budget 2028, ensuring responsible fiscal management while making wise, long-term investments to build for Canada's prosperity in the future.

A federal budget is a critically important financial and democratic document. That is why budget 2025 must be delivered in a logical sequence that takes both national and international priorities into account. As we all know, there is economic uncertainty on the international stage. As Canada forges a new relationship with the United States based on respect and common interests, it must stay hyperfocused on reinforcing Canada's strength here at home while safeguarding our workers and businesses and defending their interests here and abroad.

These discussions are ongoing, and they are vitally important to our shared future. These uncertainties in U.S. trade policies and upcoming international events, such as the NATO summit in June, present broader challenges and opportunities. We want to take time to address defence spending and trade relationships in a more comprehensive fall budget.

In conclusion, our government has a strong mandate from the people of Canada to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build a stronger economy, to reduce the cost of living and to keep our communities safe. A comprehensive fall budget will allow our government to deliver a thoughtful, strategic financial plan for Canadians, a plan that is delivered within a timeline that is prudent, well calculated and not rushed, as the Conservatives would have us do.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to express how disingenuous it is for Canadians to believe that Conservatives do not support tax cuts. Conservatives support tax cuts all the time and everywhere. The issue is always that the Liberal government never goes far enough. There is always a poison pill in the legislation, and we just cannot let these things pass. The Liberals have been very voracious with announcements of their spending promises, but there is just no verifiability without a budget.

How is the government planning to fund these expenditures? How is the government going to support this without tabling a budget?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the question. It gives me the opportunity to point out that if there is any disingenuousness felt, it is on this side of the House with having witnessed time and again the Conservatives stand up and vote against affordability measures that will save Canadians literally thousands of dollars.

In this case, we encourage them to support our income tax cut and waiving GST on new home purchases. Obviously, reducing the consumer carbon price is something that they advocated for. We have listened to Canadians and responded in kind, and we hope that we will get the support of Conservatives this time around, but we are not that hopeful or surprised when they continue their long track record of voting against Canadians.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague how, considering our job description, we are supposed to be able do our work when the government is so lacking in transparency when it comes to being accountable.

Before the election, he gave the Minister of Finance a mandate to prepare a budget. Before and during the election, it was ready. There was no issue. Now, after the election, the government is not sure it will be able to table a budget. However, the Prime Minister put on a big show during a meeting, and now it seems tax cuts will be rolled out by edict, as if that is how things work in Canada. The House of Commons must take a stand on this. This is not the Oval Office in the White House.

No one is going to turn down apple pie, but how can we do our job, question the government and demand accountability regarding these tax cuts when we have no idea what the budgetary framework is?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish my French-language speaking skills were a bit better, and I am working on that to answer in French in the future.

I do want to say that Parliament is in session. We are debating key pieces of legislation that would enhance our economy and make life more affordable. We have advanced, in just 11 sitting days, three or four major pieces of legislation and the ways and means motion. We are cutting taxes. We are making our communities safer and strengthening our borders. We are creating one Canadian economy by eliminating those internal trade barriers, which is so important for us to boost the economy, ensure that there are jobs and ensure affordability for future generations. I think Parliament is working well together, and I hope the member opposite will support our work.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, our colleagues have been talking about a budget. We have estimates before the House here. I had the opportunity to review some of them. I think the member for Whitby actually talked about the fact that MPs have the ability to look through the expenditures of government that are being proposed.

He talked about housing. I think that is really important. We are proposing to not only remove the GST for first-time homebuyers, up to $1 million, but the difference is that we still have supply-side programs. The Conservatives, in the election, proposed to fund that commitment through taking away supply-side programs.

Could the member opposite comment on how that actually would have been a really restrictive policy that would not have allowed more Canadians to benefit from the GST measure we are proposing?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as usual, my colleague poses excellent questions in this House. I very much appreciate his pointing to the fact that we need a dual-pronged strategy to address the housing challenges in this country. Obviously, we can do things to help young families and new homeowners get into the housing market. If that is all we do, I think that our strategy would be lacking. In fact, we need to increase supply and increase supply of deeply affordable units. That is exactly what we are going to do. It is what we have done in the past, but we are going to do even more.

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Newmarket—Aurora.

It is with deep humility and great pride that I rise in this chamber for the first time as the newly elected member of Parliament for Windsor West, a place I have lived in, served and raised my family in and now have the honour to represent right here in Ottawa. Windsor West is a riding with powerful identity shaped by immigration, industry, grit and community pride. We are a city of makers and movers. We do not just punch above our weight; we carry the ring.

Before I go further, I want to begin with a few thank yous. I thank all of the volunteers who walked endless streets, made thousands of calls, hammered signs in the ground and occasionally fed the whole campaign team like it was a Punjabi wedding. I thank my beautiful wife, Michelle, who is the calm behind this storm. Her strength and endless belief in me kept me grounded. I thank my children, Aviana and Rohan, for their love, their patience and especially their hard work during the campaign.

My campaign was powered by the people of Windsor-Essex, neighbours, friends and even strangers, who believed it was time for change. I thank those who stood with me through the campaign, people like Mahadev Puri, Jagjit Varraich, Harinder and Gurmehar Randhawa, Navdeep Bhogal, Tony Bajwa, Bina Taylor, John Elliott, Sam Nizzer and Tony Francis, and their loving families. I thank campaign managers Maurizio and Sukhdeep, our CFO Gurpreet, comms lead Al Teshuba, and our sign warriors Adrien Bezaire, Rob and Mary Soucie, Rob Cheshire, Pierre Lacasse, who likes to call himself Pierre for Pierre, Dino and Linda for showing up, rain or shine.

Thanks also to to our office team, Patsy Copus, Guneet Baath and Elton Robinson, and to our community supporters: Manvinder Deol, Don Miller, Surjeet Gill, Sukhjot Singh, Harvinder Sran, Anil Sharma, Harmail Gill, Harry Sidhu, Mr. Chandi, Mr. Chohan, Mukhtiar Singh, Asim, Rafat, Arvind and Raminder, Dr. Aleem of the Ahmadiyya community, Rahul from the BAPS community, Panditji of the Windsor Hindu temple, Rohitbhai, Dhavalbhai, Mr. Grewal, Mr. Virk and the many members of the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh diaspora communities of Windsor. With their amazing energy, belief and action, they showed me what community in motion really looks like.

Like many Canadians, my journey began far from here. I was born in Gujarat, India, and raised by my late parents, Didar Singh Gill and Surinder Kaur Gill, who instilled in me the values of hard work, service and sacrifice. Those values were further shaped by my teachers at Rosary High School and MS University in Baroda. My uncles Hargurdev and Kultar Singh Randhawa and my aunt Satwant Kaur Randhawa, who immigrated to Canada in the late 1960s and 1970s, sponsored me. Their families did not just open their hearts and their doors; they opened my future.

When I landed in Canada in 1988 and came to Windsor, it felt like home. The people, the grit and the values all clicked. I am especially grateful to friends like Shawn Hand, Peter Ste. Marie, Viktor Burany and many others who welcomed me and helped me adapt. I went to study at St. Clair College and the University of Windsor and then served 29 years as a police officer in Toronto and LaSalle. Frontline service teaches two things: how to solve problems and how to spot people who are just pretending to. On the front lines of public safety, I witnessed this country's challenges but also its best traits: resilience, compassion and, yes, even some dark humour during tough moments.

Windsor has always punched above its weight. It has been a transportation and manufacturing powerhouse central to Canada's auto sector. When Windsor succeeds, so does Canada. Over 9,000 trucks cross the Windsor-Detroit border daily, carrying more than $600 million in goods. A full third of our trade with the U.S. flows through Windsor. We are the beating heart of North America's just-in-time supply chain.

For us, infrastructure is not an abstract; it is essential. That is why the Gordie Howe international bridge matters. Initiated under Prime Minister Harper and the previous Conservative government, it was a vision of nation building, yet the Liberals took three extra years to break ground. Had they acted with urgency, the bridge would likely be up and running today, cutting congestion, boosting trade and fuelling economic growth.

We are also home to a major piece of Canada's EV future. A critical piece of the national EV supply chain is being built in our region, a project whose full potential will depend on delivery, not just announcements. Let us be clear: This battery plant is not a political trophy; it is a strategic necessity for Canada's future and competitiveness. Our auto workers, engineers and suppliers will make it succeed, but they need infrastructure, skilled labour and long-term planning to match that ambition. That starts with Ottawa finally treating Windsor not like an afterthought, but like the economic linchpin it is.

The people of Windsor are hard-working and hopeful, but they are feeling the squeeze. Food bank usage is at record highs. Shoplifting is up not just due to gangs, but because people are trying to get basic items like food, diapers and toothpaste. Rents are out of reach. Grocery bills are growing. I had to respond to calls at grocery stores where loss prevention officers had seniors in custody for shoplifting food. Those seniors told me they were stretching one meal into three and did not have the money to buy food. Small business owners are wondering if next month will be their last month in business.

This is not just a cost of living crisis; this is a crisis of dignity. Let me be clear. It is not the people who have failed. It is policies brought forth by the Liberal government that have failed.

This week, the Prime Minister introduced his first major spending bill, the 2025-26 main estimates. After taking over a bloated government, Prime Minister Carney promised to spend less. Instead, he has increased spending by 8%, nearly three times the combined rate of inflation and population growth. Worse still, there is no budget. The government is asking Parliament to approve over half a trillion dollars in spending without a budget. It is the first time in over 60 years outside of COVID. If single moms, seniors and small businesses have to budget before they spend, a banker must do the same. The Prime Minister said he had a plan, but this is not planning; it is reckless spending. We have a phrase in policing: fail to plan, plan to fail.

Let us not forget that Parliament voted just a week ago to demand a full budget this spring. The Liberal government has ignored the will of the House. This bill defies not just math; it defies democracy.

To my colleagues in the Liberal government, I say this respectfully. Get to work for regular Canadians. Be bold. Do not just talk about a hinge moment. Turn the handle. Open the door. If plans are not working, take ours. Canadians do not care who gets the credit. They want results.

We believe in policies that reflect lived experiences, whether it is fixing gaps in public safety or reforming taxes that will hit working families the hardest. If members want to know what matters to Windsorites most, all they have to do is tune into AM 800 for Mike and Meg, catch Ms. Maluske on the evening news or listen to Mayor Dilkens or any of the many independent journalists on social media. Windsorites want affordability, they want accountability, they want results and, more than anything else, they want to be heard.

Windsor is a tough city. We have weathered border uncertainty, plant closures and more than a few broken promises from politicians, yet we always rise. We have union workers and entrepreneurs, new Canadians and fourth-generation families, and skilled tradespeople and students all trying to make it and make it matter, because they give a damn about their city and their country.

To me, being Canadian means working hard, believing in fairness, helping a neighbour, saying sorry when someone else bumps into us and standing up for what is right, even when it is difficult. This House, as we know, is the beating heart of our democracy. I am here to serve with respect, humility and dignity.

I thank the people of Windsor West for sending me up here. They welcomed a young man from distant shores, gave him the opportunity to serve and protect, and now have given him a seat in Parliament. I will honour their trust. I look forward to working with every member in this Parliament.

[The Deputy Speaker, Tom Kmiec]

Before I go to questions and comments, I will just remind members, especially new members, that we cannot use the last name of the Prime Minister in the House. We can only refer to him by his title. That applies to ministers as well.

The parliamentary secretary to the government House leader.

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

Mr. Speaker, the issue of affordability was raised a great deal during the election and even prior to the election. We have a new Prime Minister and a new government, and I believe the Prime Minister has been very clear on that particular issue. That is one of the reasons we have Bill C-4, which would provide tax relief in different ways. Twenty-two million Canadians would benefit by it, such as first-time homebuyers from the building of new homes. It would also put into law dealing with the consumer carbon tax, getting rid of it. It would make life more affordable for Canadians.

I am wondering if the member can be very clear in indicating not only that he supports this piece of legislation, but that he would like to see it pass before the House rises.

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I support any genuine effort to leave more money in the pockets of hard-working Canadians, but the devil is always in the details. A tax cut helps, but when people are skipping meals or having to shoplift to feed their kids, they need more than incremental changes. They need leadership that fixes the root causes: inflation, broken supply chains, unaffordable housing and unsafe streets.

This tax cut is a start. Now let us see if the government has the courage to go further.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am not a banker like the Prime Minister, but something is not working. On the one hand, we are being told that the government will balance the budget in three years. On the other hand, the government is cutting taxes and abolishing the retaliatory measures that would have helped workers and businesses, even though it knows that it will also have to help them.

What is wrong with this reasoning?

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to find logic, but let us talk about trade and tariffs, as the member pointed out.

We understand our geography better than most. Windsor sits right across from Detroit. Our economies do not just neighbour each other; they depend on each other. We cannot wish that away, nor should we want to. We share roads, railways, rivers and generations of family. We are related by blood, actually. Businesses and labourers cross the border daily.

Partnerships require respect, not just handshakes and photo ops. That means standing up for our industries when they are under threat. It means negotiating from strength, not just sentiment. Canada must approach the United States with the full awareness that while we are the smaller partner in size, we are not small in value, principle or purpose. We are seriously talking about building a 21st-century North American economy, whether with EVs, energy or steel. It is time we acted like real partners, not pushovers.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member for Windsor West on an excellent speech today and on his advocacy.

My heart goes out to his community, because I noted in Friday's release from Statistics Canada on labour market numbers that there is sadly a very high unemployment rate in Windsor. Numbers are high throughout southern Ontario. Unemployment is 7% nationally and 8.8% in Toronto but 10.8% in Windsor. Windsor has really borne the brunt of Liberal economic failures. At a time when the whole country, and particularly his city, is dealing with such high unemployment, what a disaster that the Liberals cannot even present a budget. They have no plan and no budget.

I wonder if the member could share what the response has been in his riding to the high levels of unemployment and the failure of the Liberals to present a budget.

[Harb Gill, Conservative, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of anxiety in my riding, in the entire city, in fact.

I ran for office not because I had a lifelong ambition to sit in this chamber, although I am truly honoured to be here, but because I believe that Canada can do better and that Windsor deserves better. We deserve policies that do not pit the environment against the economy. We deserve border infrastructure that actually serves our community. We deserve a federal government that listens before it announces something. Above all, we deserve to be seen, not just on a map, but as a force in this country's future.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is said that inflation is cooling, but families are not feeling it. That is because the real cost of living is not measured on spreadsheets. It is measured at the grocery store, the gas station and the dinner table.

Everywhere I go, I hear about it. The price of groceries has soared. Homes are out of reach. Mortgage renewals have doubled. Rents are breaking records. Families are living with constant anxiety, counting dollars, skipping meals and giving up on dreams. These are not statistics. These are real people with real struggles.

During the election last month, a man in my community said he had never cared about politics, but this election was different for him because he needed a break. He felt like he was treading water and needed something to change. He is not alone. According to H&R Block Canada, 85% of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque. That is up from 60% just a year ago. That is not just economic pressure; that is a national emergency.

This is what happens when a government spends without discipline, borrows without limits and governs without a plan. The legacy of Liberal policy is not progress. It is the slow undoing of a family’s dignity. This year alone, the average Canadian family will pay $800 more to buy the same amount of food. It is not better food or more food, but just the same. Food costs continue to outpace inflation, and every grocery trip feels more painful.

When I visited the Newmarket Food Pantry, I saw the shelves were being emptied just as fast as they were being restocked. The beautiful thing was that there were a lot of donations from the community, but when I was speaking to the staff, they shared that they do their record keeping at month-end, and every month is a record month. That is the trend.

It is not just the people we might expect using the food pantry. It is families, seniors and young people. In fact, young people are disproportionately represented among those using the Newmarket Food Pantry because they cannot afford food. It has revealed a quiet crisis gripping Newmarket—Aurora and other communities across the country. People from all walks of life are facing food insecurity. The Newmarket community has responded with generosity, but the demand keeps growing. The reality is that kindness is not enough.

Affordability is the number one concern I hear about from my neighbours, and we must urgently bring down food costs, not make them worse through inflationary spending. When a government floods the economy with borrowed money, it weakens our dollar. When our dollar is weak, everything is more expensive, including food. It is basic economics, and Canadians are paying the price every day at the checkout lines.

What have the Liberals done? They have refused to table a budget. They have refused to show a path forward. Now they are asking Parliament to approve even more spending than the last government, with more spending announcements expected in the months ahead. Today, for example, there was another announcement for an increase in military spending, with no budget and without a single plan to balance the books. Let us call this what it is: It is not just mismanagement; it is economic negligence. The government has gone from saying the budget will balance itself to the budget will not be balanced to there will be no budget at all.

By refusing to present a budget until the fall, the Liberals will have gone over a full year without a federal budget, which would be the longest stretch since the 1960s, outside of the pandemic. What makes this even more insulting is that, while Canadian families are being crushed by an affordability and housing crisis, and communities are facing rising crime, the Liberal government sees no problem shutting the government down for the summer and walking away while Canadian families continue to struggle.

There was once a time, under both Liberal and Conservative governments, when fiscal responsibility was a shared national value. It was on that consensus that Canada built its prosperity. However, under Justin Trudeau, that consensus was shredded, and this Liberal government is taking it one step further. It is now not only continuing with the spending but also refusing to deliver a budget.

Yes, it is nice to see the Liberals, the NDP, the Bloc and the Greens finally catch up to ideas that Pierre Poilievre put forward years ago, such as lowering income taxes, eliminating the carbon tax and removing the GST on homebuilding, but let us be honest. The Liberals are showing up late and going only halfway. Pierre did not just talk about affordability, he also led with bold proposals. Therefore, if the Liberals now agree with Pierre, why have they not gone all the way? Why are Canadians still being crushed by a crisis the Liberals now admit exists but still refuse to address?

It is a moment for leadership, and leadership starts with a plan backed by numbers. It is called a budget. We must renew the generational contract, the idea that, if people work hard, play by the rules and give back, they can still get ahead. We cannot settle for timid consensus. We cannot govern with what makes the best headlines. We must act boldly and lead with principle.

The Liberals must do the right thing and deliver a budget, not in the fall, and not after another spending spree, but now. Let us build a Canada where no one fears the future, where food is affordable, where Canadian families can breathe again and where hope is not a luxury but a lived reality. I urge the government to stop the excuses, stop the delays and table a budget now.

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

Mr. Speaker, Pierre Poilievre had a 100-day plan. In that 100-day plan, he did not commit to presenting a budget. He said that within that first 100 days, there was no commitment to a budget.

We have a Prime Minister who has been really focused on the issue of affordability. All one needs to do is look at the legislation that we have introduced, which would give tax breaks to support Canadians with respect to affordability. Can the member explain why Pierre Poilievre would not have had to produce a budget? We have a new Prime Minister and a new government actually providing tax relief that would come into effect on July 1. Does the member support that?

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the government stole three platform points from Pierre Poilievre's plan, one of which was cutting income taxes by 1%. We are talking about the budget here. Let us talk about numbers. This tax cut would save Canadians $800, but the Liberals' inflationary spending is increasing the cost of food by $800 a year. The simple math is that $800 less $800 equals zero. How are Canadian families going to be better off under the government and its plans?

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I was listening to my colleague's speech. I agree with a lot of the things she said.

I listened to what our colleague from Winnipeg North said. He seemed to be staunchly defending Pierre Poilievre for not tabling figures, for not critiquing or looking at budgets, for believing that it would be all right to spend tens or hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars without drafting a budget or making any calculations ahead of time, and for telling voters that even though he wanted to lower taxes and increase spending, everything would balance out. That seems a bit strange to me.

I remember the first thing I taught my children when they were very young. When they wanted to spend money on chewing gum or toys, the first thing I would ask them was how much money they had before they decided to spend it. I made them count their money.

I encourage our Prime Minister and all Liberal Party members to do the same.