Luc Berthold
Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière, Quebec · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for Saint‑Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton for his remarks and for the years he has spent serving the people of his riding.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is a country of lakes, mountains and rivers. Sadly, more and more anglers, paddlers and boaters fear they will lose access to Quebec's lakes. While public access points are disappearing or becoming prohibitively expensive, the Liberals are looking the other way and leaving local authorities to fend for themselves.”
“Mr. Speaker, during question period, the Leader of the Government in the House made derogatory comments about one of our members. I have to say that any seat one occupies here in the House is just as important as any other, and I would invite him to apologize to all—”
“Mr. Speaker, they want us to applaud them for putting a bandage over a wound they created. That is the issue. I have a message for the Prime Minister , who is at the G7. I also have a message for this minister.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister will attend the G7 summit today as the only leader to have led his country into a recession. Full-time workers are living in RVs because they can no longer afford housing.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to ask this long-awaited question, as my colleague the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons would say. As we know, millions of Canadians look forward to this every week. I have even heard that people in France are waiting for this moment. Apparently, we are quite popular.”
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“We do not want to leave all that power in the hands of a Prime Minister who has not yet delivered any results and who has not kept any of the promises that he made to Canadians. We were talking about history. The members opposite keep repeating that, never before in the history of Parliament has a majority government not been reflected in the committees and that the committees must absolutely reflect the composition of Parliament. However, there is one small thing they are forgetting to mention. Never before in the history of Parliament has a government gained a majority by making secret deals with members. That has never happened. The membership of committees has never been changed during a parliamentary session and during a Parliament. This is the 45th Parliament. How was the government formed in the previous 44 Parliaments?”
“Through secret backroom deals we are not privy to, he wanted to attract people who set aside their values and principles, those for which they were elected and for which they were given a mandate from their voters, in order join the government's side. (1715) They said so themselves. They said that they were going over to the government side, the Liberal side at that. That is how the government managed to cobble together a majority. It made secret deals behind closed doors so that the Prime Minister can continue to do what he has always done. He is going to make all of the decisions himself and run things into the ground, just like he did everywhere he went and with all of the organizations that he ran. We obviously do not want to let that happen.”
“We have heard a number of times that there were by-elections, that they have a majority and that the House and the committees must reflect the majority obtained in the by-elections. That is another falsehood. The outgoing members before the by-elections were Liberal. The people who were elected in the by-elections are Liberal. The by-elections did not change the makeup of the government at all. What changed that makeup, then? The government was determined and this CEO turned Prime Minister was obsessed with the idea of recreating in Parliament the structure of a company where he can pull all the strings, so much so that he decided to set up a whole operation to attract floor crossers.”
“The Prime Minister and the government decided things should get even worse. They decided to make trouble on their own. That is what we need to keep in mind because the Liberals had the reins of power. Our role was to co-operate and help them do things well, but, unfortunately, they felt that things did not go well. It is true that things did not go well, but that is not the opposition parties' fault. It is because they do not know how to run things. Earlier, the government House leader said that the Prime Minister was clear: He expects a Parliament that produces results for Canadians. However, he was mistaken: the Prime Minister expects the government to produce results. We need to agree on the words “results for Canadians” because the Prime Minister has thus far failed to produce any results whatsoever. How did they do that?”
“It is up to the government to convince Parliament to pass its bills. I have to say that, since Canadians elected the minority government, things had been going relatively well. We offered to co-operate with the government on important bills, to boost the economy and to improve our relationship with the United States, because the Prime Minister said two very important things. He said that he was the only one who could resolve the tariff crisis with Trump. He also said that Canadians should judge him by grocery prices. Now a year has passed. Opposition parties co-operated, but what happened to tariffs? People are paying more. What happened to food prices? For the fourth month in row, food inflation in Canada is the highest in the G7. We are co-operating. We have supported the government.”
“He came here and decided that, from now on, he would get his bills and rules passed, that he would decide everything that was going to happen and that he was going to dig Canada into the hole. He may not have used those words, but that is what we are seeing right now. That is what is happening. He forgot just one minor detail: Parliament is not a business. The Prime Minister is not Parliament's boss. All members of Parliament are equal, and every member of Parliament has the right to vote. The votes of all members of Parliament are what enable us to move bills and motions forward by working together. Something else bothered me earlier. It seems that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, Parliament is supposed to work to ensure that the government gets its bills passed. That is nonsense. That is completely false.”
“Mr. Speaker, I listened to the speeches by my colleagues, including my colleague from Winnipeg North. I listened to the speeches of several members. I certainly do not want to miss the speech by my colleague from Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan , with whom I will be sharing my time. His speech will surely be very interesting because he is a very capable man, particularly in matters of parliamentary procedure. I think he is a reference here, after the Speaker, of course. There is something wrong with the Liberals' logic right now. It is something I have noticed since the beginning of the speeches today and since I read the first version of Motion No. 9. Something just is not right, and I think it is coming from the top. It is coming from the Liberal Prime Minister himself. For years he was a CEO, a chief executive officer.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time the Liberals have played games to secure themselves a majority in the House. There have indeed been backroom deals in the past with certain individuals who chose to cross the floor. In fact, the by-elections had nothing to do with this outcome. Those seats were Liberal before and remain Liberal now. The Liberals bought themselves a majority and now they seem to want to buy themselves a majority on the committees. The Liberals even had an agreement in the past with the NDP that allowed them to manipulate the proceedings of the House to secure precisely that majority. It was not an official majority, and we sometimes managed to get the NDP to vote with us. However, this is the second time in two terms that the Liberals have played games with democracy.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is 90 billion dollars' worth of new spending. The list is too long to read in 30 seconds. The Liberal Prime Minister can say everything is fine, as he did on March 25, but he is living in a fantasy world. Federal spending is at its highest level since 1996. Two-thirds of new spending is not even being used to invest, but rather to keep the Liberal government machine running. The result is higher debt, higher inflation and higher interest rates. That is what the Bank of Canada says. Every dollar wasted means a dollar less in Canadians' pockets. When will the Liberal government finally get its spending under control and give families some breathing room?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have already cribbed many of our ideas. The Liberal Prime Minister has completely lost control of public finances. He has added $90 billion in new spending. We are paying $55.6 billion a year just in interest on the debt. That is more than what the GST brings in. It is more than health care transfers. What this means for the public is that money is not going to patients or families. Every family is already paying $3,300 a year just in interest. Next week, during the fiscal update, will the Prime Minister change course, or will he doom Canadians to pay even more for his Liberal spending?”
“Mr. Speaker, if everything is going so well, then why are food banks overflowing with young dual-income families? If everything is going so well, then why have all these measures not fixed the cost-of-living problem in Canada? If everything is going so well, then why does the government have to pay so every family can make ends meet? It makes no sense. It is pathetic to watch the Liberals applauding all these measures when we know that families cannot make ends meet, that rents are higher, and that gas is more expensive. It is almost $2 a litre in Thetford Mines. When will the Prime Minister stop being so arrogant and acknowledge the true reality of what Canadian families are going through?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister is completely out of touch with the real world. It is high time he came back down to earth. On March 25, he had the nerve to say that affordability is the the best it has been in a decade. Was he serious? I do my weekly grocery run and talk to people at the checkout. I can tell the House one thing: No one is breathing easier as they watch the total going up. Families are cutting back on spending, counting every penny and worrying about how much it will all cost. Why does the Prime Minister keep lecturing Canadians by telling them that everything is fine, when everyone knows that is not true?”
“Mr. Speaker, how is it, then, that we are in such a mess? We have the worst food inflation in the G7 for the fourth month in a row. The price of produce went up 7.8% in March. I find it strange that the Prime Minister and the Liberals never talk about food prices. I will repeat my question. Instead of repeating the same excuses over and over, when will the Liberal Prime Minister axe all federal Liberal taxes on gas for the rest of the year?”
“Mr. Speaker, on the weekend, the Liberal Prime Minister once again repeated the same old worn-out promises. Meanwhile, in Lotbinière, L'Érable, Le Granit and the Appalachian region in my riding, families have to choose between filling their gas tanks and filling their fridges. Why? The reason is that the Liberals chose to do away with only one-third of the federal gas taxes. The Liberal Prime Minister may fancy himself a magician, but his magic wand is not working. When will he eliminate all federal gas taxes for the rest of the year to make life more affordable for everyone?”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians continue to pay 20% more than Americans for gas. Despite all the wonderful measures the member just listed, have grocery prices gone down? Have gas prices gone down? Have housing costs gone down? Have the lines at food banks gotten shorter? The answer is no. Despite all those measures, Canadians are getting poorer, because the Liberals' costly inflationary policies are driving up the price of everything and leaving people to struggle to make ends meet. What happened to the Liberal Prime Minister's lofty promises on affordability?”
“Mr. Speaker, it has been almost a year since this Liberal Prime Minister took office, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. The MNP Consumer Debt Index paints a telling picture of the Prime Minister's record: 61% of Canadians are experiencing financial whiplash and 43% of them are just $200 away from insolvency every month. Three-quarters say the rising costs of essentials like gas and groceries are straining their finances. Day after day, the Prime Minister proves that he is just another Liberal. Yesterday, the Liberals rejected our plan to eliminate all taxes on gas for the entire year. Why will they not give a break—”
“Last but not least, I want to recognize the fans who showed up to support the team throughout the season. Congratulations to the Sauro on this historic and well-deserved championship.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous pride in Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière that I rise today to celebrate the victory of the Lac‑Mégantic Sauro, who won the regional hockey league championship on Sunday. Their victory was about more than just the final score. It was about heart, determination and team spirit. In this deciding game, the players kept their cool under pressure and played with indomitable spirit in front of an electric crowd. They represented the entire community with honour and passion. I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of head coach Alain Bisson, his assistants Keven Jacques and Samuel Nolette, general manager Marco Jacques and president Serge Côté, as well as all the staff and the many volunteers who contribute to the organization's success behind the scenes.”
“Judges do not see the word “treatment” explicitly stated in the law. We need to keep the word “treatment” because it needs to become automatic. If police officers decide to take a youth into custody and bring them to a treatment centre, that decision must be made with the youth’s consent, but above all within the framework of a judicial process. Unfortunately, good intentions, as I have experienced myself, are sometimes not enough. It takes a wall. For some adolescents, the justice system is a wall that will help them realize in that moment that they can make a different choice for their lives. (1755) I look forward to hearing the proposals and seeing how we can adapt Bill C-231 in committee. I would like to thank all my colleagues in the House for the support they have shown so far for Bill C-231.”
“Whether by choice or because of the influence of their peers, not everyone will react the same way, unfortunately. Some will remain in control of their drug use, while others, unfortunately, will become controlled by it. When addiction takes over, sadly, the downward spiral happens fast. How can a minor pay for what they consume when they are underage and have no income, no wages? Obviously, they will do so by committing crimes. This becomes a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Bill C-231 , in its current form, is a step in the right direction. I have heard the recommendations for amendments to the bill. It makes perfect sense to me if we can help more young people, while still ensuring that judges focus on treatment. That is precisely the problem highlighted by the current bill.”
“Although she is our party's critic for addictions, she never shared that story. That is the goal. We need to talk about it, break the secrecy and ensure we understand the issues, that we talk about them and that we find solutions together. I also want to thank my colleague, the member for Montmorency—Charlevoix , who is a strong believer in prevention. As a society, we have to do more to stop young people from ending up where so many end up today. Once they are in the system, we need to help them get out. That is what Bill C-231 , the friends of David act, is all about. The bill is called that for a reason. There are thousands of young people in Canada, like David, who will one day face the justice system because their lives have been literally consumed by drugs.”
“The goal is to save as many young people as possible, but as long as we save the life of even one young person and give them a future, then we will know that we made the right decision and that we did our jobs as parliamentarians by improving laws to help people. I want to thank the Bloc Québécois members from Laurentides—Labelle , Abitibi—Témiscamingue and Rivière‑du‑Nord . I also want to thank the member for South Shore—St. Margarets , the member for Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation and the member for Compton—Stanstead who spoke today. I want to thank my Conservative colleagues, including the member for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford and the member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake , who, by the way, shared an account about her own family today for the first time since she has been a member of Parliament.”
“Caro recently had the opportunity to appear on a one-hour podcast where she talked about her experience. It was a Fondation VIVERE podcast. Since, unlike her, I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak here, I want to tell people to go and listen to that podcast if they have some free time. They will see the other side of the story, that of a mother who is also going through these hard times. I want to thank Caro for her support and, as she said in the podcast, we are looking forward now, even though it is hard. If we manage to save even one young person through all of these efforts that we are making, then we will be happy. We will have accomplished something all together.”
“Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank all my colleagues who have spoken about Bill C-231 . Honestly, it warms my heart to see that MPs here in the House are able to take such a common-sense approach to a difficult bill. The discussions have been taking young people into account and taking resources into account as well. So many people have had personal experience with this. That is what I have observed since I first spoke about this bill. So many people have had experiences with young people who have struggled with addiction that it has opened my eyes and allowed me to say that we are on the right track. I am not alone in this. My wife, Caro, my daughters, Marie-Soleil and Justine, our grandchildren and all our loved ones are in it with me.”
“Mr. Speaker, I listened very carefully to my colleague. I know my colleague and I know that he is very involved in agriculture. However, one thing surprises me. Today, he had an opportunity to give all farmers a break, especially transporters and everyone who works hard so that food at the grocery store is a little less expensive. Unfortunately, the Liberals deliberately chose to keep the bulk of all gas taxes for themselves instead of giving it back to Canadians. This shows once again that this government does not trust people to manage their own money. If the Liberals had followed the Conservative solution in its entirety, they would have removed all gas taxes so that people would have the opportunity to choose what they want to do with that money to make ends meet.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are acknowledging that we are in a difficult crisis. Well, they have been in power for over 10 years, so who put Canada in this position? It was the Liberal government, a government that has not changed, that has remained the same for the past 10 years. The Liberals claim to be doing something, but it is very little. They are copying Conservative ideas, but not all of them, just some, leaving people to struggle on weekends to pay for groceries, to pay to fill up their gas tanks to get to the grocery store, go to school or get to work. Once a Liberal, always a Liberal. Why is this Liberal Prime Minister keeping more in his pockets than he is giving back to Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, once again, the Liberal Prime Minister is confirming that the Conservatives are the ones with real solutions, that this government has not changed and that it is incapable of solving anything. The Liberals are offering mere crumbs. Their announcement affects only one-third of fuel taxes for one-third of the year. Meanwhile, they will continue to pocket $10 billion a year from drivers. The real solution is to abolish all gasoline taxes. Why, after 10 years, are the Liberals not even capable of doing things right, not even halfway?”
“Mr. Speaker, there is really nothing new about the Liberals. It is always the same old story. They make announcements, but nothing ever happens. Everything at the grocery store costs more. There are more expenses, more debt, more food inflation and more unemployed families, yet all the Liberals can think to do is celebrate. It is unbelievable how out of touch they are with the reality in Canada. No matter which prime minister is at the head of the government, it is always the same thing. Nothing ever changes. When are they going to put an end to these old Liberal policies that are so costly for everyone?”
“Mr. Speaker, while the Liberals parade around and feed off delusions, Canadian families are still wondering what they are going to be able to afford this year as Easter approaches. Beef prices are up 14%. Easter ham is 10% more expensive. Fuel prices are skyrocketing. The Liberal Prime Minister is imposing a hidden tax of 7¢ a litre. It is going to increase to 17¢ a litre. He is just like Liberal Justin Trudeau. When is this Liberal Prime Minister going to axe the hidden taxes that are driving up the price of gas, transportation and groceries so that Canadians can feed their families?”
“Mr. Speaker, after listening to the minister, it is clear that he is not proud of the Liberal's 10-year record on the economy. The Liberals like to blame everybody but themselves. That is what they do. Still, all G7 countries are facing the same challenges. Why is Canada the only one whose economy is shrinking? Canada has the worst performance in the G7. The Liberals created these problems, and the current Liberal Prime Minister made them worse. Quebec lost 57,000 jobs in February alone, and Canada lost more than 100,000. Why have the Liberals given Canada the absolute worst economy?”
“Mr. Speaker, a year ago, this Liberal Prime Minister promised to reach an agreement with the Trump administration. He promised to create jobs and boost Canada's economy. Today, the cracks are showing in the Liberal veneer. More than 108,000 Canadians have lost their jobs since the start of 2026. Canada has the second-worst unemployment rate and the worst food inflation in the G7. There is still no deal on tariffs. Canadian steel mills like Algoma Steel are shutting down. It has been a year, and the damage caused by the Liberals over the past 10 years continues. When are the Liberals going to get rid of their taxes, their anti-development policies and bureaucracy so that Canadians can get to work?”
“Mr. Speaker, I think our colleague is well aware that we are debating House rules and procedures today, and he received a warning a few moments ago that he should address the subject being discussed today. I think it would be appropriate to call him to order.”
“Madam Speaker, we see their plan. We know how they plan to get Bill C-15 adopted. They are the ones who proposed the deadline. They are the ones who proposed the schedule and they are accusing us of obstruction. That is ridiculous. What has really happened since they got here? Some $58 billion in investments have left Canada for the United States, including the Brookfield headquarters. What a coincidence. Some 51,000 manufacturing jobs were lost last year. Will the Prime Minister support our bill on Canadian sovereignty to reward those who build our economy, instead of remaining passive and making things up while our jobs are moving to the United States?”
“Madam Speaker, this Prime Minister wanted to dazzle Canadians with his grand promises to build on a scale never before seen in Canada, but it was all just an illusion. What has he really accomplished? He promised an agreement with President Trump, but tariffs have increased. He promised homes, but he created offices for civil servants. He promised to accelerate major projects, but there is not a single shovel in the ground. The results are disappointing. Canada lost 28,000 manufacturing jobs in January. Workers in small and medium-sized businesses in the regions are the ones paying the price. Instead of giving up, will this Prime Minister work with the Conservatives to restore Canadian sovereignty?”
“The resources and energy we devote to treating the body should also be used to help people who are suffering inside, before their pain reaches a terminal stage. In an emergency, we would not let a person bleed to death by putting them on a six-month waiting list for a transfusion, so why do we let patients with injuries that can be as fatal as cancer suffer in silence? This is for my son David, for our family, for all his friends, for those who suffer and their loved ones.”
“Madam Speaker, in this Suicide Prevention Week, I would be remiss if I did not mention my son David, who left us on February 10, 2025. He was 28 years old. His case is not unique. Every year in Quebec, more than 1,000 people choose to take their lives. There are nearly 4,000 hospitalizations for attempted suicide. I would like to say to all their loved ones that my family and I share their grief, their distress, their anger, and above all, the great void left by the suicide of a loved one. Today, I want to send a message to the health care system that mental health issues—those that do not bleed, those that eat away at you from the inside—should be recognized in the same way as a broken leg or cancer.”
“Mr. Speaker, he says that today is a historic day for affordability. However, his GST credit is not going to lower the price of a single grocery item. That is not what making prices affordable is about. Making prices affordable is about lowering grocery prices. What they are going to do, and we agree on this point, is issue a coupon that amounts to the equivalent of $10 off a $300 family grocery bill. Most Canadians will not see a cent of that money. This afternoon, since they seem to have run out of ideas, are they going to once again borrow from our Conservative agenda and vote in favour of our plan to make groceries affordable?”
“Mr. Speaker, three years ago, the current Minister of Finance made a firm and enthusiastic commitment to stabilize food prices. As it turns out, it was all a big show that did not amount to much. Today, the cost of groceries continues to rise, and the current Prime Minister said that he could be judged on grocery prices. Well, he has failed. Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7. Prices are not falling. His plan is not working. Why should Canadians believe this Prime Minister , when the last Liberal plan led to the worst food inflation in the G7?”
“Mr. Speaker, I almost agreed with my colleague, but not quite. We will not go that far, but it is clear that the grocery giants must do more to lower food inflation. It is not right that profits of this magnitude are being distributed among the grocery giants while people cannot pay their grocery bills.”
“Mr. Speaker, every week, when I go grocery shopping with my wife, people talk to me about prices. Every time, I am told that it has become so expensive to buy beef for the family that they have to choose something else. Almost every time, I see someone put something back on the shelf because they cannot afford it. We are seeing more and more acts of generosity from Canadians. Some will offer to pay the difference. I saw that at least once. People are doing great things, but unfortunately, it does not seem that the government wants to tackle food inflation. That is why we are asking it to support this motion today to lower grocery costs.”
“Mr. Speaker, if the carbon tax had not been abolished, food inflation would be even worse in this country. Indeed, there are other factors that need to be addressed. I mentioned earlier that the current Minister of Finance and National Revenue , while in another position, met with the heads of the major grocery companies. What was the result? Absolutely nothing. We need to tackle the issue of competition. We need to ensure that competition in Canada is strong enough to help bring prices down. We are certainly not going to see action like that from a government that favours these grocery CEOs.”
“Mr. Speaker, honestly, I am not sure what that means, but that is certainly not how the Conservatives decided to support that measure. Of course, we are going to support a measure that will give Canadians a little money to deal with a decade of inflation, a decade of rising prices, the worst inflation we have ever seen, the worst inflation in the G7. Of course, Canadians will be grateful to receive this helpful $10 coupon every week. Meanwhile, prices keep rising. Government cheques cannot keep pace. This government is forgetting one thing: If it does not address the causes of inflation, inflation will continue. If the government continues to spend, prices will continue to rise and families will pay too much.”
“The government will give back a portion to taxpayers, and an amount that is more or less equivalent to $10 a week a year for a family, and yet families will need to spend $17,000 a year. They are being offered a weekly $10 coupon even though data show prices will increase by $1,000 this year. Metro recently announced a 3% price hike on all its basic grocery items. I therefore invite all members to support this motion so we do not forget that each of the statistics I just mentioned represents a family forced to cut back on groceries, on what they eat, on nutritious food for children and the whole family.”
“These people will all have to make difficult choices at the grocery store yet again. Finally, the new packaging policy and the ban on certain plastics, which, like it or not, is another hidden tax. This is a tax that will take $1.3 billion out of the pockets of taxpayers, yet again. What does the government expect when it adds costs to producers, processors, transporters and retailers? Does it expect prices to go down when it increases costs continuously? Well, no, prices will go up. That is basic math. Moreover, the band-aid solutions proposed by the government will not mean prices will come down and stay down. The government expects people to believe it is taking action when it increases some benefit here, a payment there, but where does all this money come from? It comes from taxpayers.”
“We hear the Liberals say that businesses are paying it. Yes, but in the real world, businesses are not charities. They pass the cost on to their consumers, their customers. Then there is the fuel standard. This is another hidden tax on the fuel used by farmers and truckers in the supply chains, and under the Liberals, it will go up to 17¢ a litre. A litre of fuel will cost more. What do members think will happen then? Do they think businesses are going to absorb that cost in the spirit of collaboration and everyone will be happy? They would not be able to make ends meet in those circumstances. They would not have any other choice but to increase the prices of their products and to pass the cost on to consumers, to mothers, to young, single mothers, to parents with children who play sports.”
“We are hearing announcements about helping Canadians deal with the rising cost of groceries, but what is the real plan to tackle inflation? For the Liberals, it seems like the plan is to make food banks become the government's policy to help struggling Canadians, and that is unacceptable. The Prime Minister loves to say that this is a global crisis. If it were global, we would see the same results everywhere. However, that is not the case. Food inflation in Canada is the highest in the G7, and it is twice as high as it is in the United States. What accounts for the difference? Government-imposed costs all along the food supply chain, that is what. First, there is the industrial carbon tax. It applies to key things like farm equipment, inputs and processing. It drives up the cost of production, which raises food prices down the line.”
“One in five people relying on food banks has a job. What does that mean? Unfortunately, it means that working no longer prevents people from going hungry in Canada—a G7 country, one of the world's powerful countries and a country with the greatest resources. This is happening right here in Canada after 10 years of inflationary Liberal policies. As I said earlier, the numbers have doubled under the Liberals. In 2014, 841,000 Canadians were using food banks every month. Now, that number is 2.2 million. The unthinkable is happening. Hunger is becoming normal. Meanwhile, we hear the Liberals boasting and saying that they have a plan to deal with the cost of groceries. (1010) We hear the Prime Minister say that we should judge him by grocery prices.”
“Food inflation has doubled since the Prime Minister was elected, so it is up to Canadians to decide whether the Prime Minister gets a passing grade for grocery prices. There is a problem with that and it has a major impact for a country like Canada. Hunger is becoming normalized. People are getting used to prices at the grocery store that make no sense. What does it mean when the cost of groceries skyrockets? Community organizations have to fill the void. We have heard many stories over the past few months that make it clear that these organizations are overwhelmed by everything going on right now in Canada. According to Food Banks Canada, close to 2.2 million Canadians are using food banks. Once again, 2.2 million Canadians are using food banks every month. It is not because people are not working.”
“Well, Canadians are judging him and the verdict is harsh. What are the facts? Canada has the highest food inflation. The numbers are staggering. In December, food inflation in Canada was 6.2%. In the United States, it was 3.1%. That is half as high for our neighbours to the south as it is here in Canada. Worse yet, Canada tops the G7 when it comes to food inflation. While the Prime Minister makes speeches and holds press conferences, Canadians are footing the bill. It is true and we see it every time we go to the cash register or walk down the grocery aisles. The price of beef has gone up by 16%; oranges, 15%; apples, 10%; lettuce, 12%; coffee and tea, 26%. Even roasted or ground coffee has increased by 41%.”
“It is doing what it has been doing since the election: making promises, holding meetings, making announcements and speeches, and patting itself on the back for measures that merely stick band-aids on problems that the Liberals themselves created, and meanwhile the bill for Canadians continues to rise. In October 2023, the current Minister of Finance , who held a different position at the time, said and promised that food prices would stabilize soon. He even held a big meeting with the CEOs of Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro, Costco and Walmart. After that meeting, he said he was reassured to see that these people were committed to listening to him and lowering food prices. What has happened since then? The price of food kept going up. The Prime Minister himself said that he would judged by the prices at the grocery store.”