Ottawa, ON – Sandra Cobena, Conservative Shadow Minister for Treasury Board & The King’s Privy Council, released the following statement after the Liberals voted against a Conservative motion calling on the Prime Minister to present his plan to save Canadians money at the Standing Committee on Finance:
“After promising Canadians he would ‘spend less,’ Mark Carney and his Liberal MPs voted against a Conservative motion today that would have required Carney to explain how he plans to cut deficit spending, debt interest costs and taxes.
“This vote comes as the average Canadian family of four is left wondering how it will afford nearly $6,000 this year just to cover interest on the Liberal debt, while already being squeezed by rising grocery, gas and housing costs. 11 years of Liberal government created an affordability crisis. More Canadians are visiting food banks than ever in Canadian history.
“Liberal debt, taxes and inflation drove up the cost of buying, producing and selling everything. Now, the fastest-growing item in the federal budget is not health care, seniors’ benefits or national defence – it is interest on the national debt. In fact, the Liberals are projected to spend more on debt interest than on the Canada Health Transfer.
“Every dollar committed to paying interest to service the debt is a dollar that cannot also pay for a nurse, a hospital bed, support for a vulnerable Canadian or tax relief for a struggling family. Canadians cannot afford the rising costs of more Liberal government.
“Even by Mark Carney’s own metric – deficit-to-GDP – spending is set to increase in 2027-28, with the Parliamentary Budget Officer finding Mark Carney won’t meet his own fiscal anchor. Yet when given the chance to explain how he would save Canadians money before the Finance Committee, Mark Carney and his Liberal MPs voted no.
“Mark Carney promised to be different. Instead, he turned his back on struggling Canadians and chose to protect the same Liberal policies that have left families paying more and getting less.
“Canadians have held up their end of the bargain. They have worked hard and followed the rules; that should earn them an affordable life. Conservatives will never stop fighting to restore Canada’s promise where Canadians can earn a good living, raise a family and build a future with confidence.”