QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
State of the Economy
March 24, 2026
Government leader, last week marked one year since Prime Minister Carney was sworn into office, with high ambitions and lots of rhetoric.
One year later, here is what your government has achieved: Food inflation is rising twice as fast as before he took office, leading to the worst food inflation of the G7; Canada is now the only country in the G7 with a shrinking economy after a GDP contraction in the last quarter; over 100,000 full-time jobs were lost in February alone; and Canada’s unemployment rate is now the second highest in the G7.
Senator Moreau, were your government’s promises nothing more than illusions?
The government is working hard to have this budget adopted. You’re working hard to oppose the measures in the budget. If you were working with the government, it would be much easier.
So far, the government has been doing quite well. It is putting more money back into Canadian pockets with the new Canada Grocery and Essentials Benefit, which will provide immediate relief on groceries and essentials for more than 12 million low‑ and modest-income Canadians.
This is the reality. It is not a question. It is not only Question Period. It’s a fact. As a matter of fact, it provides an additional $400 to a single person, more than $500 to a couple and more than $800 to a family with two children. Those are hard facts.
I’m sorry, Senator Moreau. More rhetoric just won’t cut it.
Your government’s budget was simply the most expensive in Canadian history and, despite its astronomical cost, it led to no meaningful relief for Canadians while leaving no fiscal room to protect our economy from external shocks. Is this what Canadians can expect from your government: more illusions, no relief?
May I remind you, Senator Martin, what your colleagues in the House of Commons are voting against? They are voting against lowering taxes for 22 million Canadians. They are voting against cutting the consumer carbon tax. They are voting against protecting pharmacare, dental care and child care. Now you’re asking questions about how to improve the economy in Canada and the situation of Canadian families? You should be ashamed.
