Caroline Desrochers
Trois-Rivières, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know where my colleague is getting his information, but I would encourage him to refresh his search skills, because then he would see that we added 88,000 new jobs to the economy, that the cost of rent is starting to drop and that wages are on the rise.”
“Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the battle of Trois‑Rivières, a historic milestone that occurred on June 8, 1776, in my beautiful riding. At the time, the American colonies were trying to make Canada and Quebec their fourteenth colony. However, they suffered a crushing defeat at Trois‑Rivières and retreated.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am curious about something. If the Conservatives are so constructive, I would like the member to tell me, of the hundreds of hours the Conservatives spent speaking on this bill in committee, how many minutes, because, yes, we are talking in terms of minutes, were spent discussing the actual subject at hand.”
“[ Translation ] Two hundred and fifty years later, we are commemorating not only this historic event but also the rich heritage of Trois‑Rivières and the work of those who preserve our collective memory. I therefore invite everyone to come visit our region this summer and discover this important chapter in our history.”
“In Ontario, we partnered with the City of Ottawa to build up to 3,000 affordable homes for mixed-income households. To sum up, the number of agreements and projects that are shovel ready far exceeds the time I have to speak.”
“Bill C‑26 includes other measures, among them targeted tax relief, such as the elimination of the 5% GST on new rental housing. Here again, the goal is to reduce upfront costs and move projects forward.”
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“Madam Speaker, again, as I said, Conservatives claim to care about youth and affordability, but on this side, we are about solutions, not slogans. We are putting in cutting income taxes and reducing GST for first-time homebuyers. We are putting forward a national school food program. We are putting forward a number of measures to increase affordability and increasing the supply of homes in order to lower rent. We are here for Canadians. Canadians do not live in a pretend world. They know what is going on; they know which party is here for them. That is why they voted for us on April 28. We hope members will vote for our budget on November 4.”
“Madam Speaker, Conservatives claim to care about youth and affordability, but on this side, we are about solutions, not slogans. We are cutting income taxes, cutting the GST for first-time homebuyers, putting together a national school food program and launching Build Canada Homes to increase home affordability, and we have launched the Major Projects Office. Canadians do not live in a pretend world. They know we are here to help them, support them, make life more affordable and build the strongest economy in the G7. We hope the Conservatives can support us, as I am sure they really care about youth and affordability, on November 4.”
“Madam Speaker, Conservatives claim to care about young people, yet every time a measure comes to support them, they vote against it. They voted against the national housing strategy, the first home savings account and expanding mortgage criteria, and now they will not commit to voting for cutting the GST, which would save first-time homebuyers $50,000. Do not worry, Madam Speaker. Canadians know the Liberals are here to support them. We hope members on the other side can show they are really serious and care about young people by supporting our budget on November 4 and avoiding a Christmas election.”
“In my riding of Trois-Rivières, her passing is especially poignant. That is where she grew up and learned the values that guided her entire life: work, respect and service to others. Today, we thank Lise Bacon for her commitment, her courage and the example she set for everyone seeking a more just Canada and Quebec.”
“Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to honour the memory of Lise Bacon, a remarkable woman who passed away yesterday at the age of 91. Her commitment to protecting Quebec culture and the French language have had a profound impact on Quebec. As the first woman president of the Liberal Party of Quebec, who later became deputy premier of Quebec and the second woman elected to the Quebec National Assembly, she blazed a trail for countless other women who, like her, decided to get involved and make a difference. Her journey is inspiring. As we observe Women's History Month, her passing reminds us that strong, visionary women like Lise Bacon are the ones who made it possible for others, like me, to dream bigger. Women like Lise Bacon paved the way for the 104 women who are here in the House of Commons today.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague says that we are engaging in low-level debate. I would like to remind him that it is kind of the result of everything that has been said in the House. Earlier this afternoon, a member on the other side of the House said that the Liberal government had removed the Mexican visa regulations to let the cartels in, and that it put those regulations back in place once the cartels were here. Unfortunately, that is where we are with this debate. My colleague said that the only thing the Liberals are good at is winning elections. I would like to remind my colleague that it is thanks to the Liberal government that we have the Canada we have today, with the social programs we have, including those that benefit all Quebeckers and all other Canadians. That is all I have to say.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are once again witnessing disingenuous engagement and fearmongering on the part of the Conservatives, who know very well that this bill is meant to deal with a court case that makes the current system unconstitutional. I will tell the House who this bill is meant to deal with. My son was born 17 years ago in the United States because I was there studying. My son has lived in Canada most of his life, so I would like to ask the member, is he saying my son is not Canadian enough to pass down his citizenship to his kids if, by happenstance, he happens to have a child outside Canada? Is that what he is saying? My son is not a terrorist. My son does not need a security background check. Please stop the fearmongering.”
“Once again, I offer her my congratulations on this great achievement. Trois-Rivières is proud to have one of our own in such an important position. Congratulations, Marie-Christine.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is Women's History Month, and I would like to congratulate Marie-Christine Boucher, a woman from my riding of Trois-Rivières, on her appointment as senior director of business operations for the Professional Women's Hockey League. This appointment is a testament not only to her expertise and commitment to the development of women's hockey, but also to the influence that Trois-Rivières's local talent has throughout North America. Most importantly, it is a testament to the major contribution women are making in the world of sports, both on the field and behind the bench. As enthusiasm for women's hockey continues to grow around the world, her leadership will help the PWHL consolidate its position on the international stage and inspire a new generation of young female players.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleague to clarify something. I am a bit confused. At the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, our Conservative colleagues seem to want to destroy the temporary foreign worker program, saying that it is not needed and that it is causing youth unemployment, when we know full well that businesses need it, as my colleague said. I would like him to clarify the Conservative Party's position.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a bit of a stretch for my colleague from the Quebec Conservative caucus to say such a thing when he knows full well that the Province of Quebec is actively consulted on all decisions affecting immigration. It is consulted more than any other province and territory in Canada. It is a shame that what should be a debate of ideas is still being used to present divisive rhetoric on immigration. With regard to crime, I would invite my colleague to check out the remarks made by the Prime Minister last week. We have stated very clearly what we are going to do about the issue of conditional sentences. The Conservatives say they want stronger borders and a crackdown on organized crime. If my colleague is serious about that, will he support this bill?”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his commitment to supporting the bill at second reading. We listened to stakeholders' concerns, including those raised by the Bloc Québécois. That is why we are introducing a bill with a narrowed scope and with provisions that are better suited to what we really want to address. The Bloc Québécois members have often said that people want stricter border measures and tougher action on crime. I do not know why, but since the Bloc has heard about this bill, they have not taken a position on the new scope of the document.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is committed to solving the housing crisis. We are focused on delivering meaningful results for Canadians, not slogans, by creating transformative change in Canada's housing system. To lower costs for Canadians, we need a drastic increase in housing supply of all types, including affordable housing. To reach that goal, we are moving forward with Build Canada Homes, starting with 4,000 homes on day one and tens of thousands more to come. We hope the Conservative Party will stop playing games and help us do the work Canadians sent us here to do. I encourage them to join us in supporting Build Canada Homes, so we can get more homes built faster, and to support Bill C-4 so that we can deliver $4 billion in tax cuts for young first-time buyers trying to get into the housing market.”
“We are also making significant investments in affordable housing through such programs as the affordable housing fund. As of June 30, over 50,000 new units have been committed through the affordable housing fund, and more than 30,000 of those units are under 80% of the median market rent, with rents expected to average $717 a month. Another 175,000 units have been repaired or renewed through this fund, with 135,000 of those units falling under 80% of median market rent. We are taking bold, decisive action to build homes across this country and to ensure that every Canadian has a place to call home. I hope the opposition will join us.”
“We expect the Conservatives to get on board with this and help provide nearly $4 billion in tax cuts to first-time buyers. Together with our partners in the private and non-profit sectors, indigenous communities and municipal, territorial and provincial levels of government, we are removing the barriers to new home construction and increasing the supply of affordable housing. Through targeted investments and financial measures, we are helping to restore affordability for Canadians. We need to build more homes, and we need to build them faster. One of the programs we have used to do this is the housing accelerator fund, which is removing barriers to housing development. We have signed agreements with more than 200 communities across the country to cut red tape and streamline the development process.”
“As the member opposite should know, we just launched Build Canada Homes, a new agency to speed up the construction of housing at a pace not seen in generations, with a focus on affordable homes across the full continuum of affordability. To restore affordability and meet the demands of a growing Canada, we need a drastic increase in housing supply of all types. Through Build Canada Homes, we are building new homes to drive up supply and bring housing costs down. We are also taking action to help first-time homebuyers, with such measures as the tax-free first home savings account and the homebuyers' plan to help Canadians save for their first home. In addition, we are eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes at or under $1 million and reducing the GST on new homes up to $1.5 million.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me start by saying that the facts are clear: Housing starts are up, not down. Housing starts are up 10% year over year. In Montreal, it is 32%; in Vancouver, it is 46%. With that said, I will reiterate that the Government of Canada is committed to solving the housing crisis. We have put forward the most ambitious housing plan in our country's history, and we are creating positive change in Canada's housing system. I would like to remind my colleague that the last time the Conservatives were in power, they lost 800,000 affordable homes and built six. We are building on our successes, making historic investments in new housing and working to lower housing costs for Canadians.”
“Notably, it handles complaints across all sectors. We strongly encourage Canadian companies operating abroad to take full advantage of the government resources available to them through the trade commissioner service and to embed responsible business conduct—”
“Mr. Speaker, as mentioned earlier, Canada is firmly committed to being a global leader in responsible business conduct through a mix of robust policies, initiatives and legislation. I want to take a moment to highlight the role of Canada's national contact point for responsible business conduct. As an OECD member, Canada is required to maintain a national contact point, and ours stands as a world-class, non-judicial dispute resolution mechanism. Aligned with those of 51 other countries, the national contact point promotes compliance with the “OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct”. It was established in 2000, and the NCP has facilitated constructive dialogue between companies and complainants and has helped resolve issues in a meaningful and impartial way.”
“Looking ahead, Canada is committed to advancing our RBC policies, deepening their application across diverse industries, harnessing innovation and driving meaningful change through global partnerships.”
“We play a leadership role in this multilateral space, with the OECD serving as a vital platform for member countries to explore and implement new responsible business conduct initiatives in response to an evolving global landscape. All of these measures are designed to enhance transparency and responsible business practices that prioritize the rights and well-being of workers and communities impacted by Canadian companies abroad, while helping companies manage risks effectively. In light of these developments and the shifting global context, the government is considering how all parts of Canada's RBC framework, including the CORE and the national contact point, work together. We are also closely monitoring international trends to ensure Canada's approach remains effective, relevant and aligned with our global commitments and peers.”
“It includes advisory services for Canadian companies; legislation targeting corruption, transparency and forced labour; and access to effective dispute resolution, not only through the CORE, but also through Canada's national contact point for responsible business conduct. Established as part of Canada's membership to the OECD, our national contact point is a top-tier dispute resolution mechanism that promotes the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises and helps mediate concerns related to Canadian companies abroad. Canada actively participates in the global network of 51 national contact points, sharing best practices and strengthening our collective approach to responsible business conduct.”
“We also passed the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, transparency legislation that requires Canadian businesses to report annually on their efforts to prevent forced labour and child labour in their supply chains. Through the responsible business conduct abroad strategy, Canada provides clear guidance to companies operating internationally. A key pillar of this strategy is the support offered by Canada's trade commissioner service, a network of over 1,500 dedicated trade commissioners working from offices across Canada and at diplomatic missions around the world. Those are my former colleagues. I worked very closely with them, and I know how dedicated they are to this issue. This strategy balances prevention, regulation and dispute resolution.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for her dedication and engagement on this important issue. The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to promoting responsible business conduct by Canadian companies operating abroad. Strong RBC practices not only drive business success, but also foster a better world for everyone, and Canada has been a strong global leader in that space for decades now. Since the launch of the CORE in 2019, Canada has significantly strengthened its responsible business conduct policy framework. We introduced a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labour under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.”
“Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the opposition continues to say, as it continues to put forward slogans, we are actually taking action. We were elected to take action, and we have taken action. We will continue to take action to protect Canadians, to protect our streets and to protect against gender-based violence. We are doing that.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party is the party that listens to people, that listens to consensus, and is not afraid of going back to a project and making sure it is as strong as possible. That is why we are moving forward with Bill C-12 and removing the part that members across the aisle have asked us to study further, which is what we are doing, and we are moving forward with the project that brought consensus across the aisle with other parties. We need to implement this as soon as possible. The other side continues to talk about crime. We are putting forward many projects to deal with crime and we keep getting blocked by our colleagues who say it is their biggest issue, but they are not at the table to make it better.”
“Mr. Speaker, perhaps my colleague could have taken the time to read Bill C‑12 . We understand the situation very well, and we have been listening to Canadians. We took certain things out of the bill for the moment, things that require further consideration and study. This will result in a better thought-out and more thorough bill. However, there are some things that Canadians expect us to put in place right away. That is what we are doing with this bill. Canadians expect our streets to be safer, our Coast Guard to have the responsibility it deserves and our immigration system to be used properly.”
“It reassures Canadians that, while we are taking urgent and necessary steps to strengthen our immigration system, we are doing so without compromising our commitment to protecting human life and dignity.”
“By simplifying initial asylum decisions, reducing backlogs and modernizing pathways to protection, the PRRA is an essential safeguard that gives us the confidence we need to innovate responsibly. It is important to keep in mind that the PRRA is not a tool for delaying legal removals. Rather, it ensures that every individual is reviewed based on the most recent information and circumstances to take full account of any risks they face and to avoid putting anyone in danger. All of us here in the House and in the Senate have a duty to ensure that Canada's immigration and asylum system mirrors our values of compassion and fairness, while meeting the needs of a changing global context and addressing the pressures confronting Canadians today. The pre-removal risk assessment process reflects this balance.”
“Canada's pre-removal risk assessment process gives people a fair opportunity to present evidence while ensuring that each case is reviewed thoroughly. This process is supported by a large amount of detailed data on conditions in the country and by agents trained to assess risk with a high degree of expertise and sensitivity to individual circumstances. This approach highlights the importance of the pre-removal risk assessment process in maintaining Canada's strong tradition of refugee protection. (1750) The PRRA process also prevents legislative changes to our asylum system from inadvertently exposing people to harm. It is a safety net that lets decision-makers modernize and strengthen various aspects of our immigration framework, knowing that a loophole exists.”
“These may include, for example, political and economic upheavals, armed conflicts, or a country's changing social dynamics. Similarly, personal circumstances, such as visibility in activism or family dynamics, can increase the risk of harm if these people return to their country. Risk assessments ensure that these factors are thoroughly examined before a removal order is issued. They are carried out by trained officers who carefully assess the credibility and significance of the evidence presented. It is a rigorous process, based on a thorough understanding of risk and refugee law. The importance of such a process cannot be overstated. Without it, we would lack an essential safety net and there would be a risk of irreversible harm to individuals.”
“People can request a PRRA when they believe they have a well-founded fear of being returned to a situation where they would be exposed to persecution, torture or other serious harm, for example. This safeguard ensures that changes to our asylum system do not undermine our commitment to protecting the world's most vulnerable people. The PRRA complies with Canada's obligations under international human rights and refugee conventions. It is a well-established mechanism that operates within a broader system today, offering individuals who are facing removal the opportunity to demonstrate that they would be at risk of persecution or harm if they were returned. A request for a risk assessment may reveal information, such as conditions in their country of origin or personal circumstances, that makes their return dangerous.”
“Under this act, the federal government will no longer refer the following claims to the IRB: claims made more than a year after a person first arrived after June 24, 2020, and claims made 14 days or more after a person enters Canada illegally between border crossings. The changes are intended to help protect our system from a sudden influx of applications, as well as from people who want to use the asylum system to extend their stay in Canada when other mechanisms fail. Let us be clear: Canada's asylum system is not a shortcut. We do not want to use this bill to turn away people who have a well-founded fear for their safety if they were returned to their country of origin. In these cases, applications would be referred to the removal process, which includes the possibility of requesting a pre-removal risk assessment, also known as a PRRA.”
“Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. I rise today to speak to how the legislative changes proposed in Bill C‑12 will continue to uphold our humanitarian tradition and due process, while focusing resources on those in need and improving confidence in our asylum system. Canadians expect a robust, efficient and responsive immigration system. The changes we are proposing would strengthen and streamline Canada's asylum and immigration systems. They include new rules on which asylum seekers may be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, or IRB, as well as on how claims are received, processed and adjudicated.”
“Mr. Speaker, once again the opposition is showing how they just want to divide Canadians. We are standing by Canadian workers. We are standing by Canadian industry. We are investing. We launched Build Canada Homes in order to build affordable homes in Canada. The last time Conservatives were in power, they lost 800,000 affordable homes, so please do not give us a lesson about affordability. You lost 800,000 affordable homes and built six affordable homes—”
“Mr. Speaker, we have expressed our disappointment with how this process went. This is a Crown corporation. We were not part of it. However, I will tell the member what we did. We did set a policy to buy Canadian. We are encouraging all Canadian procurement to buy Canadian. We have also launched a defence procurement agency to encourage our companies. We are building Canada with Canadian workers and with Canadian materials. This is how we are building a strong Canadian economy, not by peddling slogans.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent question. Build Canada Homes was really set up to address the current housing crisis. Canadians and Quebeckers need more housing, more affordable housing, housing that meets their needs and fits their budget. We have committed to building up to 500,000 homes a year. We are making a $13-billion capital investment in Build Canada Homes. We are really addressing affordability by supporting the construction of all kinds of housing across the entire affordability spectrum, including social housing, co-operative housing and transitional housing.”
“Mr. Speaker, I believe that Canadians made a clear choice this spring on which party they trust the most to manage the real issues we are confronted with. We were very clear during the campaign about our commitments. There is nothing in what we have proposed that comes as a surprise. We said that we would invest in infrastructure and that is what we are doing. We said that we would invest to build more housing and speed up the construction of housing to resolve the crisis and that is what we are doing. We said that we would invest in our armed forces and in our defence industry and that is what we are doing. Now, our hope is that our colleagues will support us.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am really happy to work with my colleague in the committee. Absolutely, youth unemployment is a really important issue, and I am glad we are able to work together on that. I would like to bring back the issue of promises of what we are going to do. They are not promises; they are actions. We have launched the major projects office. We passed the one economy bill, and I thank the Conservatives for their support on that. We have launched Build Canada Homes, increased salaries for our armed forces and launched the defence procurement agency. (1335) [ Translation ] Day in and day out, we are delivering on our campaign commitments. We are six months into our mandate. We are delivering on our commitments. They are not promises.”
“Within this new fiscal framework, budget 2025 will set out our ambitious plan to build Canada strong, with a new industrial strategy that will transform our economy from one of reliance on specific trade partners to one that is more resilient to global shocks, built on the solid foundation of strong Canadian industries and bolstered by diverse international trade partners. We hope the opposition will stand with us.”
“I really hope the opposition party can start showing they also believe in Canada. Our actions as a government will be guided by a new fiscal discipline. We will spend less and invest more. We are initiating a comprehensive expenditure review to ensure our programs and activities are efficient and aligned with our core mandate. We are also introducing a new budget cycle to ensure we are more closely aligned with construction season, providing increased certainty and predictability for businesses and investors, supporting more effective financial planning for federal departments and agencies.”
“We can all take heart that those days are over. ln 2024, Canada's net debt-to-GDP ratio stood at just 11.9%, compared to the G7 average, excluding Canada, of 100.4%. ln fact, Canada's net debt burden remains lower today than that of any G7 country prior to the pandemic. Canada is also expected to have had the smallest deficit in the G7 as a share of the economy this year. Canada is also one of only two G7 economies, along with Germany, to have an AAA credit rating. At least two of the three major global credit rating agencies are rating us AAA, and it is one that investors are expecting us to maintain. The result of this is Canada's borrowing cost is as low as possible. Achieving these positive results was not easy, but we were able to do that because the world believes in Canada.”
“What is more, we are undertaking these transformative changes to budgeting and investment on a solid fiscal footing, because the reality is Canada's deficit and net debt-to-GDP ratios are among the lowest among the advanced economies in the world. Let me just repeat that, because this is what I am talking about with facts versus slogans. Canada's deficit and net debt-to-GDP ratios are among the lowest among the advanced economies of the world. This is in sharp contrast with where we were in the nineties and the eighties. It is safe to say we all, maybe not all of us, but many of us, remember those dark days. We remember when stubborn deficits were leading to a rapid rise in Canada's net debt burden, eroding our fiscal advantage, increasing the cost of debt financing, and weighing in on our ability to invest in our people and our future.”
“Working in close partnership with provinces, territories, indigenous peoples and private investors, we launched the Major Projects Office, which is going to work to fast-track nation-building projects by streamlining regulatory assessment and approval and to help structure financing. Our government is moving with urgency and determination to advance this process, so Canada can build the infrastructure that will transform our economy to become the strongest in the G7. We are doing so because, for too long, the construction of major projects has been stalled by onerous and inefficient approval processes, which have stood in the way of investment. By removing these barriers and bringing new investments online, we will, in turn, create well-paying jobs for thousands of Canadians, supporting families and communities across the country.”
“We recently, for example, launched Build Canada Homes, a new federal entity that will transform public-private collaboration and leverage modern methods of construction to catalyze the creation of an entirely new industry. This represents a critical new tool to better harness the use of public land, while offering flexible financial incentives to attract private capital, facilitate the undertaking of large portfolio projects, and support modern innovative manufacturers as they build the homes Canadians need. However, it is not only the Canadian housing industry we are transforming. We are also streamlining the federal approval process to get major projects built faster.”
“This can be done by distinguishing between spending that stimulates capital investment in the public and private sectors and day-to-day spending, and by allowing the government to prioritize spending that stimulates capital investment in the public and private sectors. It is actually quite simple, but we are only deciding to do it now. This will result in more transparent decision-making and more taxpayer dollars allocated to investments that will grow our economy's potential. This new approach will put Canada in a better position to build the homes, infrastructure and industries our economy needs. [ English ] Our work on this front is already well under way.”
“(1325) [ Translation ] At the same time, we are seizing a generational opportunity to transform the Canadian economy through ambitious investments and a rigorous spending review, so we can spend less and invest more. We know that the global economy has changed, and Canada must change with it. We need to strengthen our economic power to provide Canadians with greater certainty, security and prosperity. We need a new fiscal approach to get there. The cornerstone of our new approach is a capital formation budgeting framework that will make capital investment a national priority.”
“What is more, the bulk of this tax relief will go to those who need it most, which is to say those with incomes in the two lowest tax brackets, with nearly half going to those in the lowest tax bracket, those earning $57,000 or less, the same Canadians who stand to benefit from all the programs the party opposite voted against over the years, whether it is the dental care plan or day care. By eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes at or under $1 million, and reducing it for first-time homebuyers between $1 million and $1.5 million, we are saving first-time homebuyers up to $50,000. Altogether, this means $3.9 billion in tax savings for Canadians over five years, allowing more young Canadians to enter the housing market and spurring the construction of new homes across the country.”
“From a middle-class tax cut, which is saving money for 22 million Canadians, to the elimination of the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes up to $1 million, our government is putting more money in the pockets of Canadians. We removed the consumer carbon price as of April 1, helping to reduce fuel costs, including lower prices at the pump. Our middle-class tax cut alone will save two-income families up to $840 in 2026, and going forward, it is expected to deliver over $27 billion in tax savings to Canadians over the next five years.”
“[ English ] While the party opposite is focused on petty politics and simplistic slogans, our government is listening to Canadians. What is more, we are taking decisive action on what we have heard. In the face of this uncertainty, Canadians have called for serious plans to address this new economic landscape and its consequences, not a $106-billion budget. They have asked for change that puts more money in their pockets, change that builds the strongest economy in the G7 and change that builds one Canadian economy instead of 13. Our new government is responding to this call for change, and that is what Canadians are expecting of us.”