Debates of June 10th, 2026

The Economy

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

Mr. Speaker, every month, there is a new report that shows how difficult life has become under the Liberal government. Last night, it was a damning report from Food Banks Canada, and this month we have a report from United Way that says 60% of Canadians now have anxiety just thinking about their finances. It has gotten worse in the last year under the Liberal government.

At what point do the Liberals realize their policies are causing all of the problems that Canadians are facing and reverse course?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, at the centre of everything we are working on as a government is affordability. In my riding of Mississauga—Streetsville, it is a worker who can keep more of their money in their pocket since we are cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. We have also provided Canadians with the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. We are providing Canadians with that type of support. It is even the senior who can get access to a dental care appointment. What do the Conservatives have against seniors who are smiling?

Thanks to our government, we are going to be there, we are going to make jobs and we are going to make life more affordable for them.

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

It is really unbelievable, Mr. Speaker. Every week, they stand in the House of Commons and brag about the fact that for the first time in Canadian history, a government has to send money to Canadians so they can buy groceries. Let us think about that for a minute. That is the country they have created in Canada. Things have gotten so expensive under their watch, they actually have to send Canadians money for groceries, and then they brag about it. It is almost like someone thanking the arsonist who burned down their house for putting out the fire.

It is their policies that are causing all the problems. Why will they not realize it, stop their costly policies, reverse course and follow the Conservative plan?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what we are hearing from the other side, we recognize that we are in a trade war. Despite this, Canada is in a position of strength. We heard today that Canada posted a $2.7-billion trade surplus, the highest in 15 months. Our economy is growing nearly twice as fast as that of Germany and Japan and nearly three times as fast as that of Italy.

We are going to be there to support Canadians. We are going to make sure we create affordability. In fact, $20,000 is what the average family is going to be able to save, thanks to our government's policies. We are going to build this country strong and support Canadians at the same time.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years of Liberal inflation, a new United Way survey confirms what Canadians have been saying for years. They are struggling to afford life. One in five Canadians has experienced poverty, 38% struggle with food insecurity and 60% have real anxiety about their finances. While Canadians are stretching every dollar, the Prime Minister has stretched Canada's economy into the only recession in the G20.

Will he finally abandon the costly Liberal policies that caused this crisis, or is making life unaffordable part of the plan?

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

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are challenges across the country and that there are people struggling with the cost of affordability. That is exactly why we have put in place the groceries and essentials rebate—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We will let the hon. parliamentary secretary start over.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are challenges across the country. That is exactly why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. It is why we have put in the groceries and essentials rebate. It is why we have doubled down on social programs that matter for everyday Canadians. However, we reject the premise of the Conservatives' question, that the government's policies have resulted in the challenges that Canadians are facing. We are facing a trade war from our largest trading partner: 75% of our goods and services go to the United States. There is a war in the Middle East and a war in eastern Europe. We are dealing with the circumstances and putting forward an economic plan to build this country and support Canadians at the same time.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing growing faster than Canadians' grocery bills is the gap between Liberal talking points and reality. The president and CEO of United Way warns, “This is not a crisis on the horizon. It is happening now”. In Oshawa, that is a single parent or a senior choosing between groceries and rent, or an auto worker who has lost their job and is still waiting on the U.S. trade deal the Prime Minister promised but has failed to deliver.

Why does the Prime Minister refuse to accept the facts? His policies are driving the G20's only recession, and Canadians are the ones paying the price.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I respectfully ask why that member votes against the measures that support the good people of Oshawa and the people across this country? As we said in the last answer, we are here fighting for Canadian industry and business. That member has voted against tax cuts for Canadians. That member has voted against strategic financing to support the auto sector in this country. The Minister of Industry is working with that sector to support members. That member stands up and does not recognize that we have created 88,000 jobs in the last month alone.

We have a plan to help build the country strong and support Canadians who are facing vulnerability at this time.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear: Under the Liberals, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. A United Way survey shows that 60% of Canadians are worried about their finances, 40% of them are losing sleep over bills and food insecurity is on the rise. I hear from families that work hard and do everything right, and are still struggling to make ends meet. Some farmers, the very people who produce our food, are now having to turn to food banks.

Why does the Liberal Prime Minister refuse to admit that his costly policies are driving Canadians deeper into debt, forcing more families to food banks and making life less affordable every single day?

[Buckley Belanger, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development)]

Mr. Speaker, we understand that there is a lot of struggle—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I just want to wait for things to quiet down a bit.

The Secretary of State for Rural Development.

[Buckley Belanger, Liberal, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, we understand that there are struggles within Canada, and we are addressing those struggles. However, for 10 long years, 14 Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan did absolutely nothing to help the situation throughout the country. Their disservice is shameful, and our patience has run out in Saskatchewan. I tell the people of Saskatchewan not to let the Conservatives limit their power and limit their ability, but to join us in building that great Canadian economy.

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, for 11 long years, that member has been attacking our province. Under every single measurement I can find, his riding has gotten worse. Food insecurity is worse. The cost of living has increased. Food inflation has increased. There is even a re‑emergence of scurvy. A 16th‑century disease that we thought we had banished to the history books is now in his riding.

When will the government finally reverse its costly policies that are making life inhumane for Canadians?

[Buckley Belanger, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development)]

Mr. Speaker, we will not take any lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to supporting our agricultural community in Saskatchewan. The Conservatives did absolutely nothing to recognize that Canadian canola is the best in the world. What did we do? Our Prime Minister marketed our canola—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I cannot hear. If I cannot hear, I do not know if any rules are being broken.

The hon. secretary of state may conclude.

[Buckley Belanger, Liberal, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, they had nothing in their platform to support the Canadian agricultural sector. Our Prime Minister secured the second-largest customer for canola, and that is China. We will compare, any day of the week, what they have not done versus what we have done on this side of the aisle.

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are losing sleep because of the Prime Minister. A new United Way report confirms that 40% say they lie awake, worrying how to stretch their paycheque to pay for food, gas and housing.

While Canadians are awake with anxiety, these Liberals are asleep at the wheel, refusing to acknowledge that they have driven Canada into the only recession in the G20. Canadians carry the stress and lose the sleep while the Liberals keep hitting the snooze button on the consequences.

Will the Prime Minister wake up and reverse his costly policies that are keeping Canadians awake at night?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to be on this side of the House. Canadians voted for this new government because we have a plan and that plan is working. I do not know why the member opposite has voted against every measure that is supporting Manitobans: affordable child care, cutting taxes at the pump, automatic tax filing, and the groceries and essentials benefit that came out last Friday, which is supporting so many citizens in his riding.

He needs to get on board and start supporting what we are doing on this side of the House.

Housing

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our government is taking action to make housing more affordable. Our communities also want more housing. We are responding to a growing demand and supporting their development.

Can the minister explain how our government is helping to build more housing faster?

[Gregor Robertson, Liberal, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, thanks to Build Canada Homes, we are putting in place new tools to accelerate housing construction, leverage public land and support innovative constructive methods.

Today, the House has the opportunity to support the bill on Build Canada Homes, and I encourage all members to vote in favour of this important measure to help us build more affordable housing in communities across Canada.