House of Commons Hansard #148 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was seniors.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Criminal Code First reading of Bill C-292. The bill strengthens Criminal Code protections for human trafficking survivors by holding traffickers accountable, protecting vulnerable witnesses, addressing justice system gaps and improving survivors’ ability to be heard. 100 words.
Opposition Motion—Affordability Crisis Members debate a Conservative motion asking the House to recognize that the Liberals have governed for 11 years and Canada faces an affordability crisis. Conservatives cite rising costs for housing, food and fuel and call for spending restraint, tax relief and fewer barriers to development. Liberals acknowledge cost pressures but defend measures such as tax cuts, food and child-care programs, and housing investments, arguing the motion offers no solutions. Bloc and NDP members highlight seniors’ poverty, homelessness and workers’ wages. 47400 words, 5 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Alleged Premature Disclosure of Bill C-40 Members debate whether media reports disclosing details of Bill C-40 before MPs reviewed it breach parliamentary privilege, with the NDP supporting the opposition’s request for a Speaker’s ruling. 400 words.
Business of the House Members exchange Thanksgiving wishes and discuss affordability, with Conservatives criticizing taxes and energy legislation while Liberals cite benefit payments and fuel-tax relief; the House also sets upcoming business and approves an extended sitting to consider Bill C-38. 700 words.
Sergei Magnitsky International Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Act Report stage of Bill C-219. The bill modernizes Canada’s sanctions laws and human-rights framework, adding grounds to address transnational repression and other threats, requiring annual reporting on human-rights efforts, and setting timelines for the forfeiture of seized assets. Following committee amendments and cross-party support, it passes third reading. 7100 words, 1 hour.
Commissioner of Official LanguagesRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
It is my duty to lay before the House, pursuant to section 69 of the Official Languages Act, the report of the Commissioner of Official Languages for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), this report is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Official Languages.
Information CommissionerRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
It is my duty to lay before the House, pursuant to subsection 94(2) of the Access to Information Act and to subsection 72(2) of the Privacy Act, the reports of the Information Commissioner of Canada on the administration of these acts for the fiscal year ended March 31.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), these reports are deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-292, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (victim protection).
Mr. Speaker, I am please to rise to introduce my bill focused on strengthening protection for survivors of human trafficking and on addressing serious gaps in our justice system. The statistics are troubling, but behind every number is a person overlooked, a person whose experiences did not fit neatly within the protections of our existing laws. We have a responsibility to ensure that our laws respond to the realities too many of our most vulnerable people continue to face.
The legislation would strengthen Canada's response by holding traffickers accountable, removing barriers to justice and ensuring that traffickers' offences carry meaningful consequences. It would protect vulnerable witnesses, close gaps in our courts and give survivors a greater opportunity to have their voices heard. At its core, the bill is about ensuring that people who are targeted, exploited and silenced are seen, heard and protected.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is always an enormous honour to rise in this place that is so important to Canada's true democracy, but that is especially true today.
My constituents started this petition. Its subject is a specific human being, an extraordinary Canadian and one of my constituents, the renowned and much-loved artist Robert Bateman. It is e-petition 7456, and it has received over 9,000 names, close to 10,000.
The petitioners point out that the mandate of the National Gallery of Canada is to showcase artists who contribute significantly to Canadian culture and identity. Most Canadians, I think, could close their eyes and immediately visualize a Robert Bateman painting. Maybe they have a favourite one of a polar bear or one of his wonderful paintings from his experiences travelling across Africa with another constituent of mine, Bristol Foster.
The point of the petition, why some of the petitioners who spoke to me personally are incensed and concerned, is that the National Gallery of Canada has never once exhibited the works of Robert Bateman. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to urge the National Gallery to organize an exhibition of the works of Robert Bateman.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table two petitions.
First, I am pleased to table e-petition 7465, signed by over 700 Canadians who are concerned about cuts to Environment and Climate Change Canada's weather and climate services. The petitioners remind us that reliable forecasting, weather observation and public warning systems are essential to public safety, particularly in rural, remote and indigenous communities. This impacts lighthouse keepers and how they do their job.
Petitioners call on the government to reverse cuts affecting weather forecasting and climate science, restore and maintain weather radio, protect weather observation stations, ensure adequate staffing and long-term funding, and recognize weather forecasting and climate monitoring as essential public safety infrastructure.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Madam Speaker, it is also my privilege to table e-petition 7134, sponsored by former MP Peter Julian, who is a champion of protecting coastal B.C.
The petition is on behalf of Canadians concerned about proposals for a new pipeline and crude oil tanker route to British Columbia's northern coast. The petitioners point to the long-standing opposition of coastal communities and coastal first nations to crude oil tanker traffic and the importance of protecting the region's environment and conservation-based economy.
Finally, they call on the government to cancel the Canada-Alberta memorandum, uphold the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act and work with coastal communities and first nations to grow a sustainable and diverse economy and ensure their full participation in future coastal project negotiations.
Mel Arnold Conservative Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC
Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition. Lawful firearms owners in Canada continue to be under attack by the Liberal government. At the same time, the Liberal government lets criminals and gangs run free in our streets.
The petition is presented on behalf of residents across Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies. Petitioners call on the Government of Canada to end its assault on law-abiding firearms owners by scrapping the massively expensive and ineffective firearms confiscation program and to focus its attention and resources toward criminals and illegal firearms smuggling.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Opposition Motion—Affordability CrisisBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Battle River—Crowfoot Alberta
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
moved:
That the House officially recognize that:
(a) the Liberals have been in power for 11 years; and
(b) Canada is in an affordability crisis.
Madam Speaker, he just got here. Yesterday, in the House of Commons, I asked the Prime Minister why Canada has the highest number of people who believe they will never be able to buy a home. Of the 22 countries surveyed by Habitat for Humanity, why does Canada have the worst record when it comes to home ownership?
The Prime Minister said it is not his fault because he just got here. He has been Prime Minister for 18 months, a year and a half. What is more, he was an economic adviser to the Liberal government for five years. He has been here and has been part of the government for six and a half years, yet he says he just got here.
Apparently, young couples who cannot afford to buy a home and whose rent has doubled over the course of the Liberal reign should not be asking the Prime Minister any questions. It is not his fault; he just got here. Single mothers who now have to choose between paying the mortgage and buying groceries need to stop asking the poor Prime Minister questions, because he just got here.
According to the president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada:
Canada's housing crisis has become an opportunity crisis. When people are sacrificing food, savings, and peace of mind to afford housing, they can never get ahead. They can't build the futures they want for themselves and their children.
These children need to stop asking the Prime Minister questions. He just got here. It is not his fault. It is going to take many years and plenty of lofty promises, while prices keep going up for everyone.
Then there is the price of gas. I have already shown that the housing crisis has nothing to do with the global situation, because homes are built here, on Canadian soil, by Canadian workers, using Canadian materials, so it cannot be a global problem. The problem is here, in Canada, under the Liberal government.
The same goes for diesel. Yes, there are wars going on in Iran, Russia and Ukraine, but that does not explain why the price of diesel and gasoline is about 10% to 15% higher here in Canada than in the United States and other countries. As of October 5, diesel costs about 26¢ more per litre than the U.S. average and 23¢ more than the world average. According to Statistics Canada, in August 2026, the price of gasoline was up 23% year over year, while prices for heating oil and other fuels were up 44%. This latter category refers to heating fuel, not an inflation rate for diesel.
I will be sharing my time with the member for King—Vaughan. She will demonstrate that food affordability is worse than ever as we head into Thanksgiving. Since the Prime Minister took office last year, since he promised to be judged by the cost of a basket of groceries, we have seen a 10% increase in the cost of groceries and a Thanksgiving meal, but we are not supposed to blame him because he just got here.
According to PwC, 69% of Canadians expect to cut back on their Christmas spending. Santa Claus, who happens to be Canadian, will have to spend less because, after a year and a half of this Prime Minister, the groceries he buys for himself and his wife are too expensive. Santa and Mrs. Claus are spending too much on groceries under this Prime Minister, which means fewer gifts for the children.
According to the OECD, Canada has had the highest or second-highest food inflation in the G7 for 10 months straight. We cannot blame the rest of the world. We cannot simply scare people by spreading panic over foreign events when food prices here in Canada are far worse than in other countries.
A new survey released today by Second Harvest found that about one in three of the food banks or shelters in its network are having to turn away people in need due to limited resources.
We were told that food banks that do not have the resources to feed the hungry should stop asking the Prime Minister questions because he just got here.
That is not what leadership and taking responsibility is about. A prime minister needs to keep his promises and take action to lower the cost of living.
Our mission, as Conservatives, is to help people save money and to leave more money in their pockets for groceries and housing so that they can provide for their children and families. We have a plan to reduce government spending and lower the cost of living so that people can save money.
Before we can solve a problem, we have to recognize that it exists. That is why, today, the Conservatives are asking the Prime Minister to acknowledge that Canada is in an affordability crisis that is affecting all Canadians. He can either vote in favour of this motion and thus recognize that we are in an affordability crisis after 18 months under his leadership or he can show that he is completely out of touch with what Canadians are dealing with.
We, the Conservatives, will continue to fight to help people save money in Canada. That is our mission. We are going to restore the promise of Canada that anybody who works hard can aspire to a good life.
The Prime Minister just got here. That is what he told us yesterday when I asked him why Habitat for Humanity found that more Canadians have given up on home ownership than the people in the 22 countries who were polled by it. In other words, the dream of home ownership is further out of reach in Canada than in any other country of the 22 nations surveyed. I asked him why. He said he knew it was terrible, but he just got here. Habitat for Humanity has said that Canada's housing crisis has become an opportunity crisis. When people are sacrificing food, savings and peace of mind to afford housing, they can never get ahead. However, we must stop blaming the Prime Minister because he just got here. Housing is 100% a domestic sector that is not affected by tariffs, Trump or any other thing he wants to fearmonger over. I know he wants to talk about division and danger, but 100% of the land, 100% of the workers and 90% of the materials that go into homes are right here in Canada. It is Trump-proof, tariff-proof and a 100% homemade problem. That is why he could not use the foreign excuse he usually uses. Instead, he says that he just got here. It has been 18 months since he became the Prime Minister who was promising affordable homes. Most of his front bench cabinet have been here for 11 years, but they doubled housing costs and say that they just got here.
Then there are the gasoline prices. Yes, the world price has gone up, but not as much as it has here in Canada. We are paying 10% a litre more than the U.S. We are paying 26% more per litre than the U.S. when it comes to diesel and 23¢ more than the world average. Only the Prime Minister's beloved Europe is paying more for diesel than Canada. Stats Canada says that gasoline prices have increased 23% year over year. Much of that increase is being passed on in higher grocery prices, which brings me to Thanksgiving.
I wish members a happy Thanksgiving. However, I am afraid that, just like me, they are going to have a very unpleasant trip down the grocery aisle when they look at the prices of serving a beautiful Thanksgiving meal to their family. The cost is up 10% in one year since the member became the Prime Minister, but again, he just got here. It has been a year since he looked Canadians in the eye on his first day on the job and told them to judge him by the prices at the grocery store. The judgment is in and Canadians are cutting back. In fact, one in three food banks is turning people away because it has run out of food. One in four shelters is turning people back out on to the cold streets. Those people who are homeless and hungry and those empty food banks have to stop asking the Prime Minister questions because he just got here after all.
The Prime Minister is out of touch. Canadians are out of money. We are in this to save them money. That is why today we are calling on Parliament to recognize officially that Canada is in an affordability crisis. Will the government join us in that recognition or show that it is completely out of touch? It has to recognize a problem to fix a problem, and that fix is to save people money. Let us make Canada the most affordable country anywhere on earth.
Opposition Motion—Affordability CrisisBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, this motion is truly amazing, and I will have a chance to talk about it shortly.
The leader of the official opposition needs a reality check. The affordability issue is something the Prime Minister has been commenting on, and delivering on for Canadians since the last federal election.
The Prime Minister was first elected as a member of Parliament just over 500 days ago. Let us contrast that to the 8,000-plus days that the leader of the Conservative Party has been in the House. I have no problem at all doing a comparison between the things that this Prime Minister has done in 500 days and what the Leader of the Opposition has done in over 8,000 days.
Why does the leader of the Conservative Party continue to oppose Liberal Party initiatives on the issue of affordability?
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, we oppose them, because they have made everything more expensive. That is a very simple answer to a very foolish question.
Now, as for the Prime Minister, the member is right. He has been Prime Minister for 500 days. He has, in the words of the member, commented about affordability for 500 days. Has he ever commented. He has had five different grocery price affordability announcements. If Canadians could put announcements on their dinner table or fill their grocery cart with comments, then every stomach would be full in Canada.
We need food. We need affordability. That is what we are fighting for.
Mario Simard Bloc Jonquière, QC
Madam Speaker, I have occasionally spoken harshly of the leader of the official opposition in the past, but I am beginning to see him in a new light. I find what he has to say very interesting, and I quite like today's motion.
This government has indeed been in power for 11 years. The cost of living situation is atrocious, and so is access to home ownership, as the leader of the official opposition clearly demonstrated. Rising food prices are an issue.
What has the government done in the past 11 years? For starters, it bought the Trans Mountain pipeline for $34 billion. Now it wants spend $44 billion in public money to build another pipeline. The leader of the official opposition hit the nail on the head when he called these big oil companies corporate welfare recipients. That is why I am beginning to see him in a new light. I completely agree with him.
Can he speak to the Liberals' misguided plan to spend $44 billion on a pipeline when people are struggling to put a roof over their heads and food on the table?
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Madam Speaker, I find it unfortunate that, after 11 years of Liberal government, after all the anti-development laws and taxes the Liberals have created, it takes tax dollars to build anything.
Of course, pipelines and other oil and energy infrastructure are extremely profitable without any help from the government. The problem here in Canada is that there are so many obstacles put in place by the government that the state has to take over control from industry and fund the projects using tax dollars, which is a tragedy. That is the consequence of the Liberals' anti-development policies.
We do not want subsidies. We want a free market with speedy permitting, very low taxes and no corporate welfare for any industry.
Harb Gill Conservative Windsor West, ON
Madam Speaker, Canadians are a proud people, and they are not looking for another government cheque. Windsorites are asking why their own paycheque will not go far enough.
Could the Leader of the Opposition explain what happened to the basic bargain, that if Canadians work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules, they should be able to afford a home, feed their family, get ahead and live in a safe neighbourhood? What happened to that bargain?
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Madam Speaker, 11 years of Liberal government happened to that bargain. It is very simple. The Liberals are costing Canadians more. They are all talk and no results.
The Liberal Prime Minister is out of touch and Canadians are out of money. His money is out of the country, in offshore tax havens and in the United States, while Canadians cannot afford to eat, heat or house themselves. However, to fix a crisis, the Liberals have to recognize it exists. To show that they are in touch, they have to vote in this House for this motion that Canada is in an affordability crisis, one that we must act to fix now.
Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON
Madam Speaker, it is always an honour to rise in this House on behalf of the residents of King—Vaughan. Today, we are discussing something Canadians already understand because they are living it every day. Canada is in an affordability crisis. I hear it constantly in my community: Seniors worry about how long their savings will last; families are spending more on groceries and housing; and young people wonder whether owning a home will ever be possible.
A senior in my riding of King—Vaughan recently shared her story with me. Maria could no longer afford her home, so she had to move. She now rents a basement apartment from another senior who relies on the rental income to help pay her mortgage and household expenses, but the homeowner is struggling too. Even with Maria paying rent, she worries she may no longer be able to afford the house. If that happens, Maria will have to move again. This is the financial reality facing two seniors in my community. One has already been forced out of her home, while the other is worried about losing hers. After working hard, paying taxes and contributing to this country their whole lives, this should not be what retirement looks like.
As shadow minister for seniors, I regularly hear from Canadians living on fixed incomes who are struggling to keep up with the rising costs. We see the consequences at food banks across this country. In King—Vaughan, organizations like the King Township Food Bank and Vaughan Food Bank are doing incredible work supporting those in need. I am grateful for their volunteers, but we should be concerned that so many Canadians now depend on their services. Seniors, working families and Canadians with jobs are turning to food banks because they simply cannot make ends meet.
The affordability crisis is also taking a serious toll on younger Canadians. For many, the question is no longer when they will buy their first home, but whether they will ever be able to afford one. Statistics Canada reports that the average asking rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Toronto area was $2,650 a month in the second quarter of this year. That is more than $31,000 annually before groceries, transportation and other necessities. It is no wonder young adults are staying at home longer and parents are helping their adult children financially. A recent RBC survey found that more than half of Canadian parents with adult children between the ages of 18 and 40 provided financial support over the past year, contributing an average of more than $6,100. These parents are supporting their children while facing rising costs themselves in preparing for retirement.
For existing homeowners, another challenge comes when their mortgages are up for renewal. This is something I understand from my previous career. Before entering politics, I spent many years in banking as a branch manager and mortgage specialist. I remember working with families in the 1980s, as mortgages came up for renewal and suddenly their payments became much harder to afford. Let us remember who was the prime minister in 1980. We will all remember that it was Mr. Trudeau. These were people who had jobs, made their payments and worked hard to provide for their families; then renewal time came, and they were left wondering whether they could keep the home they had worked so hard to buy. I remember the stress those conversations caused.
Today, I am concerned that history is beginning to repeat itself. Canadians who took up mortgages several years ago are renewing under very different conditions. Even a few hundred dollars more each month can quickly strain a household budget. For some, that means cutting into savings or reducing spending on necessities. For others, it means questioning whether they can afford their home at all. I have seen what that does to families, and I do not want Canada to repeat that experience.
This weekend, Canadians will celebrate Thanksgiving. For many families, that means driving to visit parents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, friends and relatives, but in the Toronto area, gas is now roughly 50¢ a litre more expensive than at this time last year. For families already struggling with rising costs, another tank of gas is one more expense to consider. Some may decide they simply cannot afford the trip. Canadians should not have to think twice on whether they can afford to spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones.
The Prime Minister gave Canadians a clear standard by which to judge his government. He said Canadians would judge him by the prices they see at the grocery store. Let us apply that standard. Statistics Canada reported that grocery prices are 29% higher than in August 2021. Food Banks Canada recorded 2.2 million visits in March 2025, almost doubling the number in 2019. Nearly one in five food bank users was employed.
By the Prime Minister's own standard, the record is clear. After 11 years of Liberal government, Canadians are paying more for the basics while the Liberals continue spending heavily on bureaucracy, outside consultants, corporate subsidies and foreign aid. Billions of dollars continue to be committed outside of Canada.
I was raised by my wonderful grandparents. They taught me to be compassionate. If someone needed help, we helped them. However, they also taught me that we have to make sure our own house is in order first. Canada is a generous country, and we should be, but there must be a sense of priority. When seniors like Maria are worried about losing their housing, young Canadians cannot afford their first home, and working families rely on food banks, the government must put Canadians first.
Conservatives have reviewed federal spending and identified $150 billion in potential savings, including from bureaucracies, consultants, corporate welfare, foreign aid and other expenditures. That represents almost $10,000 per Canadian family. Families must make difficult financial decisions every single day. When household budgets get tight, they examine their spending, determine what is essential and find ways to save. The federal government should be expected to demonstrate that same discipline.
Every dollar the Liberal government spends was earned by a hard-working taxpayer. It could be a construction worker, a farmer, a small business owner, a young Canadian saving for a home or a senior who worked for decades to build a retirement. That money deserves to be treated with respect.
After 11 years of Liberal government, Canadians should not be working hard and making responsible decisions only to wonder whether they can afford groceries, housing or their next mortgage payment. Young people deserve a realistic path to home ownership. Families should be able to afford the basics. Seniors should be able to retire with dignity and security. The people I represent in King—Vaughan are facing the same pressures as Canadians from coast to coast.
The Liberals need to start listening to Conservatives, get spending under control, put Canadians first and focus on making life more affordable here at home. Canadians have done their part. It is time for the government to do its part. That is why I am supporting this motion.
Opposition Motion—Affordability CrisisBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, as we talk throughout the day about what has taken place since Canadians elected a new prime minister less than 18 months ago, it is important that we look at what the Conservative Party has done as an opposition, at the degree to which it continues to oppose affordability measures that we bring forward and to stand in the way of building a stronger and healthier Canada.
Can the member clearly indicate why the Conservative Party votes against affordability measures while its members talk about the need for affordability measures?
Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON
Madam Speaker, I have to admit that my colleague is out of touch. He is not listening to Canadians in this country. He is not listening to Maria. He is not listening to the seniors who cannot afford to eat three meals a day. They are lucky if they can afford one meal a day.
Where is the affordability that the Liberals have created? They have not. They continue to spend money foolishly, sending it abroad without thinking about the children and the parents who want to feed their families and not have handouts.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Madam Speaker, the motion before us cites that the Liberals have been in power for 11 years and that Canada is in an affordability crisis. Well, of course we support the motion, but the opposition's role is to hold government to account and also to be propositional. Opposition days are precious. They are an opportunity for the opposition to bring forward good proposals and force Parliament to vote on them. Right now, we have a mental health crisis and a housing crisis. We have six million people who are not attached to a doctor. The Conservatives talk about treatment and recovery. We support that, but they have no proposal on how to fix it.
Why are the Conservatives tying up the House all day without bringing forward a propositional solution to solve the problems that they outlined? I appreciate them outlining the problems, but—
Opposition Motion—Affordability CrisisBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON
Madam Speaker, I am not sure whether the member was in the House this week, but we were discussing the opportunity to cut the diesel tax. We discussed cutting taxes abroad. We have single seniors who are paying 10 times more in taxes than a couple earning the same amount of money. We expect those taxes to go down, but as long as the Liberal government continues to blow our money, we are never going to be able to afford it.
Connie Cody Conservative Cambridge, ON
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for her wonderful speech and for her good work with seniors.
Seniors on fixed incomes cannot negotiate a raise when groceries and heating go up. Many seniors spent their lives saving responsibly, only to watch inflation take away those savings. Does the member agree that the government's deficit spending negatively impacts a senior's retirement?
Anna Roberts Conservative King—Vaughan, ON
Madam Speaker, last week I had to sit down with a group of seniors who said to me, “You know, Anna, when we came to this country, we were promised a future. We were promised an opportunity to be able to retire with security and dignity.” That is not happening today, and the reason it is not happening is that seniors are expected to live on a budget.
We have to make the difference between spending and understanding how much that budget is going to cost us at the end of the month. Liberals have no idea. They continue to spend hard-working taxpayers' dollars so foolishly that they do not understand the money has to be paid back. Who has to pay it back? It is the hard-working taxpayer.
