Mr. Speaker, today we are debating a motion that, under the guise of legitimate concerns about the cost of living and food security, unfortunately proposes a vision that I would describe as simplistic and disconnected from Canada's economic and social reality.
This motion ignores the global economic context. It also ignores the tangible, meaningful and responsible efforts our new government is making to make life more affordable, protect families, support workers and build a sustainable future. This is not an abstract debate, but one about the well-being of millions of Canadians who rely on smart, thoughtful, balanced and forward-looking public policies.
In the last election, Canadians chose to elect a Liberal government that has a clear, responsible and ambitious plan to protect and grow our economy. They gave us a clear mandate: to build a stronger, more resilient economy.
In response to concerns about the cost of living, our government has taken decisive action by implementing concrete measures to ease the tax burden on Canadians. We have lowered taxes for nearly 22 million people. This means that millions of families now have more money in their pockets, a measure that has a direct impact on their daily lives.
We removed the GST for first-time home buyers. Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments a family will make. By removing the goods and services tax on homes worth up to $1 million purchased by first-time buyers, we are making it easier for many families to buy a home and helping them build their future. We also got rid of the consumer carbon tax, again demonstrating our commitment to reducing its direct cost to households.
These concrete, practical measures clearly demonstrate that our government is paying attention to Canadian families and taking action to improve their daily lives. The Conservatives, on the other hand, have consistently voted against measures designed to make life more affordable, whether in terms of expanding dental care, pharmacare or historic child care funding agreements.
The Liberals introduced affordable child care. Since 2021, more than 900,000 children have benefited from quality child care services. On average, this saves families thousands of dollars a year. By protecting and strengthening this program, we are enabling many parents, especially mothers, to balance work and family life, thereby strengthening the workforce and the national economy. Our Conservative colleagues voted against that. We know that when families are strong, the economy is strong, and we are making Canada strong.
The Liberals also introduced the Canada child benefit, which helps families provide for their children. Since its introduction in 2016, nearly 650,000 children have been lifted out of poverty. For example, more than $40 million per year is paid out to families in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche.
In addition, we have expanded eligibility for the Canadian dental care plan to all age groups in order to help families cope with the cost of living. Now, approximately 8 million Canadians can benefit from affordable dental care, saving them an average of more than $800 per year. This is another meaningful step forward in improving the health and well-being of our constituents.
We cannot talk about affordability without talking about food security. Our government has implemented concrete programs to combat food insecurity. For example, we invested $1 billion over five years in a national school food program that will help another 400,000 children get nutritious meals at school. This program ensures that children do not have to get through their school day on an empty stomach.
We have reached agreements with every province and territory. For example, in my home province of New Brunswick, we will invest over $11 million to expand access to school meal programs, which will help more than 57,000 additional children.
The official opposition leader has been against school meals since day one, just like he is against affordable child care. Cynically, he says that the school food program is being used to feed bureaucracy instead of children, but we can confidently say that hundreds of thousands of children are benefiting from healthy meals at school.
Because we recognize the critical importance of food security, we will also be introducing more measures in the coming months. We are going to invest in greenhouses. Hydroponics and other agricultural activities in a controlled environment enable us to grow more types of food here in Canada.
We are going to improve the resilience of food supply chains and support innovation. We are going to change the mandates of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to ensure that food safety and the cost of food factor into all of their regulatory decisions, without compromising health and safety.
We are also determined to maintain Canada's commitment to supply management and the sectors it covers, including dairy, poultry and eggs. This system protects Canadian jobs and ensures the stability of our food supply in the face of fluctuating production costs, while guaranteeing farmers a minimum price for their products. The supply management system is especially important in my riding, where poultry farms play a critical role in Upper Madawaska's economy. As a matter of fact, I represent Saint‑François‑de‑Madawaska in the House; it is known as the chicken capital.
Contrary to what the motion suggests, our government takes its fiscal responsibility very seriously. We have been very clear that our new government is focused on fiscal discipline. Over the next three years, we will balance operating expenses while reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio. Canada maintains a AAA credit rating, an international rating that reflects investor confidence in our economy. This confidence is crucial to attracting the investments needed for our growth.
Our approach is based on a comprehensive review of departmental spending to eliminate inefficiencies and duplication, while maintaining transfers to provinces and individuals. This responsible management aims to reduce day-to-day operating expenses, while investing more in the priorities that will build the economy of tomorrow.
Budget 2025, which we will present on November 4, embodies this clear vision. Our aim is to transform our economy through ambitious investments, but also through rigorous discipline. This budget will support affordable housing, modern infrastructure, government modernization and public-private partnerships to catalyze significant investments.
With this budget, we will address the real concerns of Canadians. For example, this summer, many citizens and municipal officials from across my riding told me about the housing needs in their communities. We have heard that message. Thanks to our new government's ambitious housing plan, which will be delivered through “build Canada homes”, housing starts will accelerate across the country, leveraging Canadian technology, Canadian workers and Canadian softwood lumber.
Our objective is clear: to build the strongest economy in the G7, to ensure the prosperity of Canadians and to protect our planet. On that note, I would also like to remind my opposition colleagues that fighting climate change is not only a moral imperative, but also an economic imperative. Global demand for low-carbon technologies, sustainable resources and climate-resilient infrastructure is growing rapidly. Canadian businesses are already leading the way on implementing these solutions. By incorporating climate considerations into our economic planning, we drive innovation, open new markets and position Canadian businesses as global leaders. This is how we secure a sustainable future for our children while seizing new economic opportunities.
Our government has made courageous and responsible decisions that balance the urgency of making life more affordable against the need to prepare for a sustainable future. We have lowered taxes for the middle class, supported families, strengthened food security, and we are investing in innovation. I am proud of our new government. It understands the importance of a strong economy to make life more affordable and it is guided by the principle that the economy can only be strong if it works for everyone.
Canada elected us to build a stronger country, and that is exactly what we will do.