QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Cost of Living
June 2, 2026
Food Banks Canada’s latest poverty report assigns your government an overall failing grade of D+. The report’s findings are abysmal: a 24% food insecurity rate, an 11% poverty rate and 39% of Canadians who feel worse off compared to last year.
Senator Moreau, after a year of expensive promises and announcements, experts are saying your government’s actions are nowhere near enough to address this crisis.
How does your government justify yet another failing grade after nearly a decade in power as more Canadians are turning to food banks and falling behind on basic needs?
There is a long list of things the government is doing for affordability. We are lowering taxes for 22 million Canadians.
We are cutting the consumer carbon tax.
We are protecting pharmacare, dental care and child care and providing immediate relief on groceries.
On June 5, this coming Friday, there will be another measure for all Canadians. We worked hard to have that bill passed here in the Senate.
The government’s work does not stop there.
More measures to solve the affordability crisis are coming: Bill C-15, sponsored by Senator Pupatello; Bill C-20, sponsored by Senator Varone; and Bill C-26, which will be sponsored by Senator McBean to fund a provincial housing initiative.
The government is working on all aspects of the situation. We are there for Canadians and are building a stronger Canada.
I’m sorry, but a D+ is a failing grade. You get a failing grade for structural failure.
Benefit programs like the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit amount to barely $12 a month, senator.
When will your government present a real plan to reduce poverty and food insecurity rather than continuing with policies that are not working?
I’m sorry, but more than 12 million Canadians will be supported with the rising cost of essentials through the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which will provide immediate relief starting this coming Friday.
We’re working on those issues. I know that you don’t want to recognize that, but at least the facts are there. We are working on it. Canadians will receive cheques by this coming Friday for groceries.
