Mel Arnold criticizes Canada’s 2026 federal budget

Conservative MP Mel Arnold has expressed concern that Canada’s 2026 federal budget will increase the cost of living for citizens. Arnold, representing Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, criticized the budget for proposing massive new debt and failing to reduce wasteful spending.

Arnold reported that debt interest has become the fastest-growing budgetary item. He estimated that the latest budget will add approximately $765 billion in debt over the next five years, which he calculates as roughly $44,000 per Canadian household between 2027 and 2031. He noted that a family of four currently pays nearly $6,000 in federal government debt interest costs this year alone.