QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Cost of Living
December 3, 2025
My question is for the government leader.
Leader, a recent report by the Observatoire québécois des inégalités states that food insecurity now affects large portions of Quebec’s middle class. Apparently, the rate of food insecurity went from 8.5% in 2020 to 18.5% in 2024, affecting 1.7 million Quebeckers. This is an alarming problem in a context where housing costs and the overall cost of living continue to rise. The social safety net is unravelling after 10 years of Liberal government. During that period, the gap between rich and poor has widened and more and more Canadian families find themselves unable to provide the bare minimum for their children.
Leader, how do you justify the fact that, after a decade in power, your government is allowing Canadian families to experience food insecurity, even thought it has the levers to act? How do you explain that 10 years of Liberal governance have produced such disastrous and disturbing results?
Senator, obviously Canadians disagree with the conclusions you’ve drawn in the introduction to your question.
The government tabled a budget that will cut taxes for 22 million Canadians and eliminate the consumer carbon tax. This same government is investing $13 billion in housing, $1.5 billion in the Affordable Housing Fund and $1 billion in low-interest loans to help people who are at risk of losing their homes.
Do you know what? Your colleagues in the other place voted against these measures. How can you seriously stand up in this chamber and say that you empathize with Canadians when your colleagues are opposing any action the government takes?
Leader, can you name five real, practical measures that will guarantee that workers, single-parent families and middle-class families will not have to choose between putting a roof over their heads and putting food on the table? I don’t just want you throwing numbers around, please.
The first measure is the one that I already spoke about. Senator Carignan, the government is cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. Do you know what a tax cut means? If you know, then stand up and tell us the answer and stop asking that question. It means more money in Canadians’ pockets, and more money in Canadians’ pockets means we’re one step closer to food security.
