QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Cost of Living
May 5, 2026
Government leader, the latest Statistics Canada poverty report shows that roughly 1 in 10 Canadians lives in poverty. At about 11%, the poverty rate remains well above 2020 levels. At a time when the costs of food, housing and basic necessities continue to rise, too many families are being left behind.
Senator, these are not abstract figures; they represent millions of Canadians struggling to get by. Why do your government’s policies continue to fail to lift these Canadians above the poverty line, despite years of spending and repeated promises?
I do not agree with the premise of your question, Senator Ataullahjan. The government has been acting consistently since Budget 2025 on unprecedented affordability measures.
For instance, we are lowering taxes for 22 million Canadians, cutting the consumer carbon tax, protecting pharmacare and dental care, lowering the requirement to access the disability tax credit, providing immediate relief on groceries with Bill C-4, investing in housing, cutting the GST for first-time homebuyers and making the National School Food Program permanent for 400,000 children. So don’t say that we are not acting on those important issues.
We know that other things have to be done. The government is committed to providing Canadians with appropriate support for their financial situations.
Government leader, South Asian, Black and Indigenous Canadians continue to experience disproportionately higher poverty rates. What is your government doing to ensure its policies are actually targeting those who are the most in need rather than broad-based measures, like the fuel tax relief, that disproportionately benefit higher-income households?
Not only in the economic update but in Budget 2025, we had measures targeted toward Indigenous communities to make sure they are treated appropriately. The government does not make a difference between Canadians — a Canadian is a Canadian. Everybody is entitled to help from the government.
