Debates of Nov. 5th, 2026

Public Services and Procurement

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

It looks like they are all getting very nervous over there, Mr. Speaker.

Let us look at the reality. It is illegal under the Conflict of Interest Act, section 9, for the Prime Minister to in any way discuss matters that could favour the interests of a friend. Dan Goldberg is his friend of 20 years. The company got a $2.3-billion taxpayer-funded contract in August of this year, and contracts have exploded under the Prime Minister.

Again, did the Prime Minister ever discuss Telesat with a public servant, a minister or a staff member? Did he ever discuss Telesat, yes or no?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the leader well knows, because he is subject to the same rules, Canada has world-leading rules in terms of ethics, disclosure and compliance. Of course, we will always at all times comply with the legal provisions of the Conflict of Interest Act and other applicable laws. We have the most stringent rules in the world, and obviously every member on this side of the House spends a great deal of time devoted to complying with those regulations.

Finance

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government needs a serious fiscal anchor, less debt and a path to balanced budgets. That is what Kevin Lynch, former finance deputy minister and clerk—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

There's competing shouting from this side to that side and back. Let us keep the level of noise down so that we can hear the questions and answers. It is on both sides.

The hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills North, from the beginning, please.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government needs a serious fiscal anchor, less debt and a path to a balanced budget. That is what Kevin Lynch, former deputy minister of finance and clerk, said today. It is what economist Chris Ragan said yesterday. It is what former finance official Don Drummond has been saying for months. The PBO has said that the interest on the national debt has doubled since 2021 to $60 billion a year, more than health care or defence.

Will the Prime Minister deliver a credible fiscal anchor in today's budget to reduce the debt and skyrocketing interest payments?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, while the leader cannot master his own caucus, in a few hours we are going to table budget 2026, “Masters of our destiny”. We are going to build Canada. We are going to bring down barriers to investment. We are going to double non-U.S. exports. We are going to invest in major projects, in housing and in infrastructure. We will also do what they never do. We are going to make sure we look after the most vulnerable.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, borrowing costs are rising, growth is stagnating and risks are tilted to the downside. Canada's fiscal buffers are depleting, leaving us unable to deal with the next major crisis that the Prime Minister's own national security strategy says could be coming.

The government's fiscal anchors have done little to rein in government spending and borrowing, so will the Prime Minister ensure a credible fiscal anchor in his budget, and more importantly, will he ensure a full accounting in the budget so we do not have to learn about things at some future investment conference?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, despite the fake rage, we have a plan to build our economy. The fundamentals of our economy are extremely strong: the best net debt to GDP in the G7, one of the strongest fiscal positions in the G7, wages outpacing inflation and a AAA credit rating.

Despite them wishing it is not so, we have a plan to build Canada strong. We are going to invest in our country and our economy.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are masters of illusion. They say, “Look over here at the operating budget, but do not look over there, where we are taking on unprecedented levels of debt.” They say, “Look at the operating budget, but do not look over here, where we are hiding billions of dollars in Crown corporations.” They say, “Keep looking over here at the operating budget, not at the billions of dollars being relabelled into capital investments.”

Who is going to pay for all this debt and how?

[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, the Conservatives are so committed to their pessimistic world view that they cannot see past the paper that was handed to them in their lobby to read off these QP questions that are repetitive every single day and punching down the Canadian economy.

We are here to promote Canada. We are here to invest in Canada. That is exactly what our government is doing, supporting people with affordability measures, growing the industries of tomorrow and creating jobs for tens of thousands of Canadians. That is what we were elected to do. We will not apologize for being positive about the prospects of this country.

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

Mr. Speaker, there was a lot of shouting, but if you noticed, there was still no answer.

The Liberals are masters of fiscal illusion. They are hiding behind the net debt-to-GDP ratio so they can borrow even more. What they do not tell us is that that calculation subtracts Canadians' pensions, money that Canadians worked decades to save for retirement. That money is not for the finance minister to spend or borrow against.

When will they stop using Canadians' pensions to justify the amount of debt they are leaving for our children and our grandchildren?

[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 is well known everywhere but the Conservative caucus that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. That is not an exaggeration. That is the IMF, a world rating agency. We have a AAA credit rating. We had the strongest second quarter growth in the G7. We have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio by far.

We are not compromising that fiscal position in strength. We are leveraging it to the hilt to get the best results for Canadians, to get returns for Canadians. Those dividends will be jobs for the future and higher-rising incomes.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot afford another inflationary Liberal budget. Under the Liberals, millions of Canadians are lined up at food banks. According to a report from the Daily Bread Food Bank, 38% of food bank users are employed. That means even a paycheque no longer guarantees a full fridge under the government. While Canadians are working harder to get ahead, they keep falling further behind.

Will the Prime Minister end this inflationary spending in today's budget, or will Canadians keep paying the price?

[Rebecca Chartrand, Liberal, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency]

Mr. Speaker, Manitoba is a powerhouse for aerospace, the third-largest in Canada, and the member opposite keeps voting against every measure to support it. Magellan and StandardAero are creating good jobs in Manitoba. We just invested $8.8 million in the University of Manitoba to support research and create jobs. These are all measures we are taking to support the work to grow the economy in Manitoba, and the member opposite keeps voting against them.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in two hours, the prominent banker that is the Prime Minister will table his budget.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I will interrupt the member for a moment to call the House to order.

I invite the hon. member to start again so that we can hear what he has to say.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in two hours, the Prime Minister will table yet another budget and become Canada's undisputed champion of deficits. That is less than two hours away. He will ensure that all Canadians are forced to pay more interest on the debt.

That is money that will not go toward supporting families. It is money that Canadians will send to the government instead of spending it on groceries, housing or everyday necessities.

Can the Prime Minister at least guarantee that his budget will reduce the deficits and cut costs, so that Canadians can finally save some money?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the compliment he paid to the Prime Minister. He called him a prominent banker.

Canada has one of the strongest fiscal positions in the G7, the second-lowest net debt-to—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Order.

Normally, it is the opposition that makes it impossible to hear the answers, but in this case, it is MPs from the minister's own party.

I will ask the minister to continue, although not from the beginning.

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I note that, in his question, he referred to taking money away from families.

They are experts at taking money away from families. For example, in his riding, Mégantic—L'Érable, $100 million is distributed to 24,000 children through the Canada child benefit. This has reduced child poverty by nearly 40%.

He voted against providing an average of $3,500 per child.

Oil and Gas Industry

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière—Hébertville—Pays-des-Bleuets, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while Quebeckers are struggling with the cost of living, the greedy oil companies continue to rake in record profits from the war in Iran. In nine months, Suncor made nearly $10 billion. That is more than it made in its best year ever. Its refining margin shot up 260%, which means that, yes, it is ordinary people who have been paying the price. The greedy oil companies are getting richer than ever at Quebeckers' expense.

Will the government finally cut off their supply of public funds in the budget?

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

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to invest in clean and renewable energy, as we did with the then premier of Quebec and the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador by investing in Churchill Falls. We will continue to invest in heat pumps for households. We will continue to invest in wind and solar energy. In short, we will continue to invest in technologies that will ease the burden that fossil fuels place on the backs of Canadian consumers.