Members of Parliament Brassard and Shipley to Vote Against Liberal Budget, Citing Rising Costs for families; Harm to Small Businesses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 5, 2025: John Brassard, Member of Parliament for Barrie–Innisfil, and Doug Shipley, Member of Parliament for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte, announced today they will vote against the federal budget, arguing it breaks key promises, increases the cost of living and places new burdens on families and small businesses at a time when many are struggling to survive.
The budget, delivered Tuesday by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, introduces a $78.3-billion deficit, well above the $60 billion promised by Liberals during the federal election, along with $90 billion in new spending this fiscal year and $300 billion in additional debt over five years — roughly $20,000 in new debt per household.
Budget 2025 also strengthens the industrial carbon tax and establishes a multi-decade carbon pricing schedule, measures Brassard and Shipley say will raise food and energy costs and put additional pressure on small businesses and local farmers who grow our food.
“This budget is completely out of touch,” said Brassard. “Canadians are struggling to put food on the table, pay rent, and manage everyday bills. Instead of relief, the government added $90 billion in spending and $20,000 in new debt per household. Canadians are asking, ‘What are you doing to help me today?’ — and there is no answer.”
Brassard also criticized the impact on businesses.
“This hidden carbon tax will drive up costs for job creators and push investment out of Canada,” he said. “The government needs to axe these taxes, rein in spending, and let families and small businesses keep more of their own money.”
Shipley noted that federal debt now exceeds $1.35 trillion, with interest payments rising faster than core program spending.
“Canada will pay $55.6 billion in interest next year — more than we collect in GST and more than we transfer to provinces for healthcare,” Shipley said. “Every hour, $10 million is added to the national debt. The Liberals are turning their backs on Canadians who are calling for real affordability measures.”
Both MPs said the budget also fails to support small businesses, missing key opportunities to reduce the small business tax rate and ease cost pressures. They pointed to programs that leave most small firms without support, despite being among the hardest hit by rising costs and tariffs.
It also fails to take meaningful action to combat the drug crisis that is pervading our streets locally and nationally that is killing young people and devastating families.
Prior to the upcoming vote, Conservatives will introduce an amendment calling for an affordability-first approach, including lowering taxes, reducing wasteful spending, cutting regulatory barriers to housing and economic development, and ending the industrial carbon tax to lower the cost of food, fuel and transportation.
“It’s time to scrap policies that make life harder and build an economy where Canadians and businesses can succeed again,” Shipley said. “Canadians are calling for relief. This budget does not deliver it.”
Both Brassard and Shipley concluded their statement by saying, “This budget is not just a policy disagreement—it’s a reflection of a failed economic philosophy. For the past decade, Canadians have been subjected to an economic strategy that prioritizes government control over private enterprise, and the results speak for themselves: stagnant growth, declining productivity, and a dangerously high deficit and debt burden on the people we represent who can least afford it.”
