QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Cost of Living
April 15, 2026
Government leader, a recent survey by insolvency consulting firm MNP shows that 49% of Canadians are within $200 or less of not making ends meet, and 29% already cannot cover their monthly bills. At the same time, insolvency has climbed to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. Statistics Canada recently reported that the wealth gap is at the highest level we have seen since 2005. With persistently high inflation and stagnant wage growth squeezing households, Canadians are simply not getting ahead. Instead, they are restructuring debt just to keep their noses afloat. The question is: Why? Why are Canadians on the brink of insolvency?
The government is adopting many measures to make life more affordable, and you — not you specifically but your colleagues in the House — voted against every measure that the government was trying to put in place to help Canadians have more affordability and to lower food prices.
As far as inflation, for almost two years now, inflation has remained within the Bank of Canada’s target. Inflation fell to 1.8% in February, and interest rates are stabilizing at 2.25%. As far as housing is concerned, household disposable income is rising, according to the Bank of Canada, and the housing markets are easing in Toronto and Vancouver, which were the highest markets —
Thank you, Senator Moreau.
Senator Moreau, you and your government have to stop perpetuating the myth about my colleagues on the other side — or my colleagues on this side — constantly voting against the government. We supported Bill C-4 and Bill C-5 and other measures. The only one we have not supported is the budget, which bankrupts Canadians and future generations of Canadians. This is not the economic resilience promised by your government. It is financial distress being masked by temporary and insufficient fixes. What will your government do to stop hard-working Canadians from falling deeper into debt just to survive?
Let me tell you what is not propaganda. You are voting against lowering taxes for 22 million Canadians, cutting the consumer carbon tax, protecting pharmacare, dental care and child care, lowering the requirements to access the Disability Tax Credit, providing immediate relief on groceries and investing in housing projects across the country. That’s what you are voting against. It is not a myth. It is reality. And it is quite sad, honestly.
