Jim Bélanger
Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, Ontario · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, as a tradesman himself, my hon. friend knows the importance of hands-on experience. With so much discussion about the Red Seal program and Bill C-30 , would he speak to how essential access to jobs is for apprentices to complete their training and succeed in skilled trades?”
“Mr. Speaker, summer is on the way, and in Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, that means agricultural fairs and vibrant community celebrations, such as Valley East Days, the Verner Ram Rodeo and the Massey Fair.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the area I come from, the Sudbury area, has actually become a pretty major Ontario film hub over the last 10 to 15 years, namely for Shoresy , which is a spinoff of Letterkenny . How does my colleague think this increase in tax will impact our communities and what damage might it do?”
“Mr. Speaker, while the Liberal government claims the economy is growing, young Canadians are being left behind. Youth unemployment has risen to 14.3%, nearly double the national rate, and young people across northern Ontario are struggling to find work and build a future.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was elected on the premise that he was the man. Well, it seems that the man with the plan has disappeared. The Liberal government has been on the sidelines for far too long, failing to secure a single reduction on tariffs, while North Ontarians continue to lose both patience and jobs.”
“Mr. Speaker, tariffs on softwood lumber have tripled to 45%. Now hundreds of workers in Nairn Centre and Gogama are facing indefinite sawmill shutdowns, leaving families in real uncertainty. Workers in my riding whose jobs rely on free trade with the U.S. need real action now.”
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“Mr. Speaker, as a tradesman himself, my hon. friend knows the importance of hands-on experience. With so much discussion about the Red Seal program and Bill C-30 , would he speak to how essential access to jobs is for apprentices to complete their training and succeed in skilled trades?”
“I invite people to come out in large numbers to celebrate and join us for our parade, which will take place this Saturday at 11 a.m. in Chelmsford.”
“Mr. Speaker, summer is on the way, and in Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, that means agricultural fairs and vibrant community celebrations, such as Valley East Days, the Verner Ram Rodeo and the Massey Fair. [ Translation ] This weekend, I am very proud to participate in the Rayside-Balfour heritage days hosted by Café Heritage, an organization led by Gary Michalak and Éric Lachance. With the help of many volunteers, they are doing an excellent job of promoting our history and culture. This year, we are paying tribute to the pioneer families who founded our community. There are nearly fifty of them, including the Bélangers, the Blais, the Carrières, the Castonguays, the Grattons, the Leroux, the Pilons, the Poulins, the Séguins, the Trottiers, the Vaillancourts, the Watiers and many others.”
“Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, the filming industry in my area, in Sudbury, managed to come about and grow because of tax credits, incentives and so on. I listened to the member, and I would like to ask him whether he is for or against this tax.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the area I come from, the Sudbury area, has actually become a pretty major Ontario film hub over the last 10 to 15 years, namely for Shoresy , which is a spinoff of Letterkenny . How does my colleague think this increase in tax will impact our communities and what damage might it do?”
“Mr. Speaker, while the Liberal government claims the economy is growing, young Canadians are being left behind. Youth unemployment has risen to 14.3%, nearly double the national rate, and young people across northern Ontario are struggling to find work and build a future. It is more debt, more taxes, more job losses and just more of the same. When will the Liberal government finally deliver the jobs and opportunities young Canadians deserve?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was elected on the premise that he was the man. Well, it seems that the man with the plan has disappeared. The Liberal government has been on the sidelines for far too long, failing to secure a single reduction on tariffs, while North Ontarians continue to lose both patience and jobs. Communities are being pushed to a breaking point, yet there is still no progress and no real results from the Liberal government. When will the Prime Minister finally get his act in gear and deliver the fair trade deal he promised a year ago?”
“Mr. Speaker, tariffs on softwood lumber have tripled to 45%. Now hundreds of workers in Nairn Centre and Gogama are facing indefinite sawmill shutdowns, leaving families in real uncertainty. Workers in my riding whose jobs rely on free trade with the U.S. need real action now. When will the Liberals fight against these tariffs and fight for tariff-free trade?”
“Mr. Speaker, yesterday, hundreds of workers in Nairn Centre and Gogama were told their sawmills will shut down indefinitely. The Liberals have been dragging their feet and have failed to secure a fair deal. Hard-working families are now left in limbo. The Prime Minister promised a trade win by last summer. Instead, softwood lumber tariffs have tripled to 45% since 2022, putting immense pressure on Canada's forestry sector. Recycled speeches and photo ops are not enough. It is time for the Liberal government to walk the talk. The alarm bells are ringing. We need results. The Liberals must stand up for our forestry sector and finally fight for the workers who keep northern Ontario communities alive.”
“Mr. Speaker, today, I want to highlight the important work of Franco-Ontarian women, whose contributions are evident across the province. In particular, I want to recognize Michèle Minor‑Corriveau, a passionate Laurentian University professor who has dedicated her career to educating female francophone students in northern Ontario. This Saturday, I will be at Soirée Saphir, an event that celebrates the work and leadership of Franco-Ontarian women. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish the Centre Victoria pour femmes good luck. The Centre Victoria is an organization in my riding that is one of this year's finalists for its essential work with francophone women affected by gender-based violence.”
“Mr. Speaker, the second petition is in support of my colleague from Cloverdale—Langley City 's private member's bill, Bill C-218 . The petitioners urge the government to support this bill, which would reverse the expansion of medical assistance in dying eligibility to individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness and, instead, prioritize access to appropriate treatment, care and mental health supports.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions on behalf of my constituents of Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt. The first petition calls on the Government of Canada to cancel the firearms buyback program and, instead, focus its efforts on strengthening border security, combatting the illegal smuggling of firearms and targeting criminal activity rather than law-abiding firearms owners.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome two constituents from my part of northern Ontario, who join us today from Espanola: Matthew Hannah and his mother, Rebecca. I first met Matthew at a meet-and-greet where he impressed me with his strong knowledge of Canada's parliamentary democracy and its leaders, past and present. From a young age, Matthew has shown a genuine passion for Canadian politics and has already become an active political volunteer with a deep respect for our democratic institutions. As he experiences Parliament first-hand, I want to thank Matthew and all young volunteers for their dedication to our democracy. I would like to wish them a wonderful day in our nation's capital.”
“Mr. Speaker, first-time homebuyers need supply and affordability. That means more homes being built in communities across Canada, not another federal bureaucracy. We need to be cutting unnecessary taxes and lowering material costs. Speeding up approvals would give young Canadians a real chance to own a home rather than staying in their parents' basements.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians need more homes. Northern Ontario needs more homes. The Prime Minister promised to build 500,000 new homes a year at speeds not seen since the Second World War, but his own agency confirmed that housing starts have collapsed. While the Liberals fail to get housing built, Conservatives will bring real solutions to restore a country that puts home ownership within reach. That means increasing the supply of homes by cutting building taxes, tying federal infrastructure dollars to homebuilding, ending the federal sales tax on all new homes under $1.3 million and axing the capital gains tax on reinvestment in Canadian companies.”
“They are asking for leadership that understands the urgency of the moment. A Conservative government would cut the GST on all new homes under $1.3 million, tie federal infrastructure dollars to homebuilding, cut development charges by 50% and end the capital gains tax on reinvestments in new housing in Canada. After a decade of Liberal housing policy, the results are impossible to ignore. Housing prices have doubled. Household debt has reached record levels. An entire generation feels increasingly locked out of the dream of home ownership. After 10 years of Liberal housing policy, the only thing they have managed to build is a housing crisis.”
“They measure success by whether young people can start their lives together with confidence about the future. Right now, too many Canadians feel that the system is working against them. They feel, no matter how hard they work, the goalposts keep moving further away. This is not the Canada people expect, and this is not the kind of Canada people deserve. The housing crisis demands urgency. It demands practical solutions, and it demands a willingness to remove barriers that are preventing homes from being built. That means reducing red tape. Most importantly, it means focusing on outcomes rather than announcements because, at the end of the day, Canadians are not asking for more bureaucracy in Ottawa. They are asking for more affordable homes in their communities. They are asking for a fair chance to build a future.”
“So far, the only thing Build Canada Homes has delivered is paycheques to bureaucrats, with zero dollars spent on actual capital investment. After months and months of discussions, Canadians have not seen a shovel in the ground. They have not seen cranes in the sky. They have not seen the kind of progress that this crisis demands. In fact, far from building at generational speeds, it took nearly a year simply to introduce legislation that still would not result in homes being built. Canadians do not measure success by the number of press releases issued by the government. They measure success by results. They measure success by whether their children can afford to move out of the basement. They measure success by whether families can buy a home in the community where they work.”
“Instead of focusing on removing barriers and enabling builders to build, the Liberals have chosen another approach. Their latest proposal is to create yet another federal housing bureaucracy. Canadians are now being told that the solution to the housing crisis is a fourth federal housing agency, Build Canada Homes. Northerners are right to ask an important question. If the existing housing programs and agencies have not solved the problem, why would creating another bureaucracy suddenly change the outcome? More bureaucracy does not build homes. More paperwork does not build homes. More announcements do not build homes. Builders, workers and communities build homes. What they need is the ability to move projects forward quickly and affordably. (1225) Unfortunately, the early result of this new initiative raises serious concerns.”
“At a time when we should be reducing the cost of building homes, the Liberals have instead allowed costs to continue rising. Industrial taxes imposed by the federal government are increasing the price of key materials like cement, steel and glass. Every time the cost of those materials goes up, the cost of building homes goes up. As the cost of building homes rises, those costs are ultimately passed on to Canadians. The result is a system where everyone is stuck. Young families cannot buy their first homes. Parents worry that their children will never be able to afford to live in the communities where they grew up. Seniors want to downsize. Often, there are not enough suitable options available. Builders who want to construct more homes are facing rising costs, delays and uncertainty.”
“Instead of removing those barriers, the government has too often added to them. Regulations have multiplied. Approval processes have slowed. Costs have increased, and every delay means fewer homes being built for Canadians who desperately need them. One of the most frustrating aspects of this crisis is the gap between the government's rhetoric and the results Canadians are actually seeing. We hear announcements, slogans and promises, but when Canadians look around their communities, they do not see homes being built at the pace that is needed. The Prime Minister 's latest budget provides another example of this pattern. Not long ago, the government promised to cut municipal homebuilding taxes in half in order to make it easier and cheaper to build new homes, yet in the most recent budget, that promise has been broken.”
“Today, that number stands at $2.6 trillion, much of it tied to mortgages. Families are stretching themselves financially to simply put a roof over their heads. Mortgage payments have skyrocketed, and rent has climbed dramatically. For many Canadians, the cost of housing now consumes a larger portion of their income than ever before. This is not a small challenge. It is not a temporary problem. It is a full-blown housing crisis, and Canadians are asking a simple question: How did we get here? The reality is that after years of failed policies and immigration influx, the Liberals have utterly broken the housing market. Buyers cannot afford to buy. Sellers cannot afford to sell, and builders cannot afford to build. The supply of housing has not kept up with demand, and the barriers to building new homes have grown higher and higher.”
“Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear. After a decade of Liberal government, housing prices in Canada have doubled and the dream of owning a home has never been further out of reach for millions of Canadians, especially in Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt. For generations, owning a home was a cornerstone of the Canadian dream. It represented stability, security and the promise that if we worked hard and saved, we could build a future for our family. Today, that dream is slipping away. Young northern Ontarians are increasingly asking themselves whether they will be able to buy their first home. Many have done everything right. They studied hard, found good jobs and saved what they could, yet still find themselves priced out of the market. At the same time, Canadians are carrying record levels of household debt.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is true that we cannot control what happens abroad, and we cannot make excuses on affordability issues that stem from bad decisions from the Liberals. The Prime Minister continues to go ahead with bad policies, like the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standard tax, which will rise to 17¢. This applies to every Canadian, especially those who bring us our food, driving up the cost of our grocery bills even more. When will the Liberals accept responsibility for what they can control and remove policies that make life more expensive for Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, the latest data from Rosenberg Research is deeply concerning. Manufacturing output is down, forestry has declined for three consecutive months, and paper mills in northern Ontario are closing. The Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7. Instead, the government has failed to remove a single anti-development policy. When will the government adopt our plan to restore economic growth by reducing red tape, lowering taxes and allowing Canadians to invest, work and build?”
“Mr. Speaker, the three factors above us today, the industrial carbon tax, the Canada fuel tax and the packaging tax, are all factors that concern us and contribute to the cost of food. Some people may say that is not true, but as a small business person, I can say that any costs that affect the cost of machinery or the cost to operate machinery affect costs throughout the supply chain.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me say that the tax on fuel paid by consumers is not the only factor that influences the cost of food. There are a number of other factors. The Liberal government's spending and the money it is pouring into the system are not helping. As for the climate, if we believe in the environment and climate, we have to understand that Canada ranks 39th or 40th in the world in terms of population, although it has one of the largest landmasses—the second or third largest. We need to develop our natural resources so we can export them to countries that have a coal-fired economy—”
“Mr. Speaker, I give all due respect to the elimination of the carbon tax, its effect on the economy and the price of food. It just goes to show that, although the carbon tax was eliminated, a Canada fuel clean tax has been implemented. It is seven cents now and growing to 17¢ in 2030. By the way, you eliminated the carbon tax because of the pressure from us. Now it will be transferred to the Canada fuel tax. Ironically, the carbon tax was 17¢ when it was eliminated, and the hidden tax, which you are not showing Canadians, is going to be a 17¢ tax by—”
“The Conservative food affordability plan offers practical, long-term solutions that would relieve pressure on families, lower grocery bills and make life more affordable for all Canadians. These measures are realistic, effective, and can be implemented without delay. By supporting this plan, the government would demonstrate a genuine willingness to work together for the good of Canadians, especially those who are struggling right now. Conservatives stand ready to work with the government to deliver real relief and build a more stable and sustainable food system that works for Canadians.”
“Although there is no stand-alone tax called a food packaging tax, proposed federal packaging and plastic regulations would have tax-like cost impacts. These rules would significantly raise costs for food producers, grocers and consumers. Fresh produce could increase up to 34% and may cost the average Canadian household about $400 more per year. Those are real dollars coming out of the pockets of families in northern Ontario and across the country. They are not imaginary. With Canadians simply working to live rather than living well from the work they do, the government should be making it easier to afford groceries, not harder with hidden taxes. The Prime Minister often speaks about a team Canada approach. This is an opportunity to put those words into action.”
“Canada's clean fuel regulations act as a hidden tax by requiring producers to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels, raising gas prices by an estimated seven cents per litre in 2026, and that will go up to 17¢ by 2030. This policy increases the costs for consumers and businesses. They are not directly listed on fuel receipts, but are hidden as additional production costs imposed by the government. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation suggests the policy could cost the economy billions and increase household expenses. These costs are a burden to the consumer and are definitely real, not imaginary. Then there is the food packaging tax, which the Liberals call imaginary and non-existent. It is a play on words.”
“Our food affordability plan would remove the hidden taxes on food by ending the industrial carbon tax, the fuel standard tax and the food packaging tax. We have debated these measures in the House for months. The Liberals dismissed them as imaginary or non-existent. We can call them what we want, either direct taxes or indirect taxes, but I want the people of northern Ontario and all Canadians to clearly understand that these are all costs that have been imposed by the government. (1245) The industrial carbon tax increases costs for farmers, who grow our food, and those who transport it. It raises the price of farm fuel, fertilizer, trucking and freight. It increases costs at every stage of the supply chain, and those costs eventually land on consumers. It is not imaginary; it is real, measurable and paid for by Canadians.”
“Researchers now tell us that grocery prices top the list of financial worries for Canadians. When rising food costs are combined with higher prices for rent, energy and other essentials, many Canadians reach a breaking point. The government has introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which would provide one-time top-ups and ongoing increases for low- and modest-income Canadians. We will support this measure. It is a small but welcome step, especially for low- and modest-income earners in my riding of Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, but band-aid solutions can only go so far. We need to rip off the band-aid and make real changes to make life more affordable. Conservatives will continue to put forward real, practical measures to make life more affordable for Canadians.”
“As Conservatives have pointed out for years, when trucks, trains and ships cost more to operate, those increased costs do not disappear; they are passed on to consumers. We cannot debate reality. Higher input costs mean higher grocery bills. The impact on Canadians is severe. Today, one in four households is facing food insecurity. Families are cutting back on healthy foods. Parents are skipping meals. Even Canadians who are working full time are turning to food banks. At this time, I want to give a shout-out to Sudbury Food Bank's friendship house, which I visited in my riding, in my hometown. I was truly impressed by the dedication of the volunteers and the generosity of our local businesses. The food bank is an essential part of our community, and I thank them for making a difference.”
“According to Dalhousie University's 2026 Canada food price report, food costs are expected to rise another 4% to 6%. For the average family of four, that means spending more than $17,500 on food in 2026, nearly $1,000 more than last year. Over the past five years, food prices have surged by approximately 27%. Staple items, such as beef, saw dramatic spikes, rising nearly 19% in 2025. Why is this happening? There is no single cause, but there are several forces pushing prices higher. Energy and input costs remain elevated. The costs for fuel for transportation and fertilizer for farmers, as well as for labour throughout the supply chain, feed directly into what Canadians pay at the till.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the Leader of the Opposition . I rise today to speak to an issue that affects every single one of us: the rising cost of food in Canada. When Canadians get to the checkout line at the grocery store, they feel it. It is a daily frustration that has grown worse year after year. Food prices are not just numbers on a receipt. They reflect how difficult it has become for many families to put healthy meals on the table. [ English ] Let us begin with the facts. By late 2025, and into early 2026, food prices continued their sharp climb. In December alone, food prices were up 6.2%, grocery prices rose roughly 5% and takeout meals jumped 8.5%. Canada has now earned the unfortunate distinction of being the food inflation capital of the G7.”
“Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of fiscal mismanagement by the Liberals, the affordability of daily life is out of reach for many Ontarians. According to Feed Ontario's 2025 “Hunger Report”, more than 1 million Ontarians needed a food bank this year, marking a record-breaking 8.7 million visits to food banks in 2025. In Chelmsford, 1,300 people regularly visit the local food bank per month. This need is being largely driven by the poor decisions of the Liberal government, which drive up inflation and the cost of daily necessities for all Canadians. Today is Giving Tuesday, and I will be making a personal donation of food and other items to the fill a crib initiative in Greater Sudbury. As a record number of Canadians struggle, I encourage others across the country to do the same if they are able.”
“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to pay tribute to Ron Bradley, a remarkable man who dedicated his life to serving his community. He served in several capacities, including as deputy mayor of Rayside-Balfour, a proud member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the St-Joseph parish council. [ English ] Ron was politically active. He served on many boards, including those of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, Sudbury's regional planning board and the Nickel District Conservation Authority. Ron Bradley was a founding member of the United Steelworkers Local 6500 and ended his mining career as a shift boss at Inco. He will be remembered across the riding for his selfless service and devotion to family and community. On behalf of all constituents, I extend heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
“Mr. Speaker, for sure, I would call that spending. It is more debt. This gun grab is something that in my area people cannot get over. We are trying to take guns away from law-abiding citizens while criminals are running around with guns. They are the ones we should be going after. To me, debt is debt. The former prime minister promised to stay within a budget of $40 billion, but the new Prime Minister is worse. He has ballooned the debt to $80 billion.”
“Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I have to apologize to my colleague and admit that I am not very familiar with fisheries and things like that. What I do see in the budget, however, is that certain things keep being promised without many details.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is not even close to what I see in the budget. What I see is money promised for future things. The Liberals are not doing anything for people today. They are clearly out of touch with reality. This budget is going to make things worse. There is no help coming right now. Some help may come in the future, but the future is too late. People need help today.”
“I am asking them to accept the amendments we will be putting forward to make life more affordable for all Canadians, if not for their sake, for the sake of the next generation of Canadians, the sons, daughters, nieces and nephews, the young folks who deserve a fair shot at living the Canadian dream, just as we did. Let us not saddle them with debt and broken promises.”
“The Liberals talk about the future and hope, but their actions never produce results that would make life more affordable for Canadians. [ English ] The Minister of Finance said that our GDP is too weak and that the Liberals are going to fix it, because they believe in Canada. He said they are going to do this and do that, that we are going to be the best in the G7 and that the Liberals are going to bet big on Canada. I believe in Canada, but what I do not believe in is betting big on this Liberal budget. It is a very risky proposition. What we have seen in the last 10 years is a lot of promises. Liberals are big on talk, with little action and few results. I hope my friends across the aisle will take a look at where we are headed. Canada's fiscal situation is not sustainable.”
“He did all this with just a grade 4 education. That is what I like to call real northern Ontario grit. As for me, I was fortunate enough to get a university education, work in the corporate world and eventually run my very own small business. Now I have the privilege of serving as a member of Parliament. My kids and their generation are better educated than those before them and work just as hard, yet they struggle. That keeps me up at night. For the first time in our history, this generation might end up worse off than the one before, and that is what motivated me to run for office. (1555) [ Translation ] For 10 years, uncontrolled spending, high taxes, inflation and bad natural resource policies have made life more difficult. This is not the Canada I grew up in, nor is it the Canada I want for my grandchildren.”
“While many other projects will be funded by federal dollars, we are left to wonder when we can start to explore and generate prosperity for the people in northern Ontario. My great-grandparents, Joe and Azilda Bélanger, packed up and left Saint-André-Avellin, Quebec, back in 1886 looking for a better life in Ontario. They worked the land from sun-up to sundown just to scrape by. My grandfather followed in their footsteps, keeping up with the farm and operating his very own logging camps in the winter. My dad followed the example of my grandfather and became an entrepreneur. He wore many hats throughout his life. He worked in the forestry industry and in construction, and later ran his own grocery store and then a hotel he owned, all while farming the same land Joe and Azilda farmed back in 1886.”
“One would think that when the government spends $538 billion, there would be investments for our seniors to help with the ever-rising costs of food and housing, and money to address addiction, mental health and homelessness. I had reserved hope that this budget would contain measures to unlock the vast wealth and prosperity right under our feet in northern Ontario with the Ring of Fire. Opening this area to exploration has been a major priority for northern Ontario. The Ring of Fire is not even listed on the major projects list for consideration. There is only a vague mention that hopefully sometime in the next two years the government will encourage companies to invest in the Ring of Fire.”
“Let us put this in perspective. In 2025 and 2026, the interest payments on our national debt will be $55.6 billion. This is more than the entire amount of money the Government of Canada sends to the provinces for health care. If one is waiting on a list for an MRI, a hip or knee replacement, or any other medical procedure that would improve their quality of life, the Liberal budget does nothing for them or their family's health. The total amount of money spent by the Canadian federal government is projected to be $538 billion for the 2024-25 fiscal year. These costs have been caused by the last decade of out-of-control Liberal spending, which has created inflationary pressures, driving the cost of everything through the roof.”
“During the election campaign just six months ago, the Prime Minister made a lot of promises. In my view, he has broken them all. He promised to keep the deficit below $62 billion. This week's budget indicates that the deficit will be $78 billion this year and that his tax plan will add another $321 billion to our debt over the next five years. (1550) [ English ] It was not all that long ago the former finance minister, the member for University—Rosedale , resigned as the minister of finance because the former prime minister blew past the Liberals' own self-imposed $40-billion deficit cap to $62 billion. It makes me wonder if the Liberals across the aisle have forgotten the words of that very same minister, who called for a little fiscal discipline and warned against throwing money at costly political gimmicks.”
“From where I am standing, it looks like the government is still driving down the same reckless road it has been on for the past 10 years. Let us think about it. They plan to spend $321 billion over the next five years, and that is on top of the $1.3 trillion of federal debt we already have in this country. Who is going to pick up that tab? It will not be us. It will be our kids and grandkids who will be left paying the interest on the massive debt we have accumulated. [ Translation ] As I read the budget, I could not help but think of my grandsons. They do not even know it yet, but they each owe more than $30,000 as their share of Canada's national debt, all because of the Liberals' irresponsible spending. Nothing in this budget will help lower the cost of living for northerners. In fact, it will only make things worse.”
“Mr. Speaker, I wish I could say I am pleased to rise in this House to comment on the Liberal budget, but unfortunately, I cannot. As the newly elected member for Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, I have to sadly say that the Liberal budget does almost nothing to address the concerns of the thousands of people I spoke to while campaigning during the election. As I travelled from community to community during the election campaign, the message was consistent and clear: Life has become less and less affordable. The very necessities of basic life, such as food, housing and energy, have been increasing well beyond the ability of average working-class people to make ends meet. They understood that the last 10 years of Liberal policies were a very large part of the cost of living rising so fast.”