Haldimand–Norfolk Member of Parliament Leslyn Lewis is warning that the latest federal budget from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is pushing the country deeper into unsustainable debt.
In a statement issued this week, Lewis called the 2025 budget “not a generational investment, but a generational plunge,” citing a $78.3-billion deficit — the third largest in Canadian history and the biggest outside the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is not responsible economic management,” Lewis said. “This is reckless and unsustainable spending.”
Lewis said the budget adds $10 million to the national debt every hour, costing families roughly $5,400.
She argued that Canada now spends more on debt interest than on health transfers to the provinces.
The Conservative MP also criticized the budget’s impact on youth and rural Canadians, saying inflationary spending has hurt investment, driven up costs of living, and left small communities struggling with food, housing, and basic necessities.
She pointed to record food bank visits this year — more than 2.1 million monthly — as evidence that many Canadians are reaching a breaking point.
Lewis said the Conservative Party will continue to fight for lower taxes, affordable housing, and policies that support farmers, seniors, and working families.
“We want to preserve hope, opportunity, and prosperity for generations to come,” she said.