Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

The Economy

Question period focused on the economy. Conservatives said Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, pointed to high food and gas prices, record food bank use, a large deficit, debt interest costs, and investment leaving Canada, and criticized the Prime Minister’s reported spending on meals during airplane trips, asking when the economic plan would change. Liberals, including ministers Champagne and Hodgson, said the world faces headwinds and an energy crisis, pointed to government investments in housing, infrastructure, nuclear and other energy projects, and record foreign investment including from Shell, and accused Conservatives of talking down the economy and spreading conspiracy theories.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Arpan Khanna

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, but the Prime Minister spent $200,000 on luxury food on three airplane trips. I want him to stop this spending so Canadians can afford to eat.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that the Liberal Prime Minister is the only leader in the G7 to take his country into a recession, but while Canadians live on leftovers, the Prime Minister is enjoying fine dining 30,000 feet in the sky. On the menu are the finest meats and wines, crème brûlée and even imported butter cups, for a whopping bill of $200,000 for just three trips. Will the Prime Minister cut the fat, stop his speeches and ground his gravy plane so Canadians can afford to eat?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The world is facing hard times and a major energy crisis. Our government has a plan to invest in housing, infrastructure, innovation, and worker support. We will keep working to make our economy the strongest among our peers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.”

    Said 15 times by 6 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that the world is facing some headwinds. Canadians understand that, in the words of the International Energy Agency, we have the most severe energy crisis in the world. On this side of the House, we have a plan. We have a plan to make generational investments in housing, in infrastructure in productivity and in innovation. We have a plan to support workers, and we have a plan to support Canadians with affordability. On this side of the House, we are going to keep on working to build the strongest economy in the G7.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

Arpan Khanna

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession and many people cannot afford groceries. At the same time, the Prime Minister spent $200,000 on fancy meals for himself. Taxpayers should not pay for his expensive lifestyle.”

  • A repeated line

    “Canada is the only G20 country in a recession.”

    Said 104 times by 61 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals’ message to Canadians is “Suck it up, buttercup”, because excuses on tariffs will not work anymore. Canada is the only country in the G7 to be in a recession. Food bank usage is at a record high. Families are cutting back on their groceries. They are cancelling their summer plans and skipping meals just to get by. What does the Prime Minister do? He blows $200,000 on fancy meals for himself. Does the Prime Minister not realize that this is Canada, not Brookfield, and that taxpayers are not his personal bankers?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The Conservatives are wrong to speak badly about the economy. Our economy and workers are strong. We have spent record amounts of money on housing, infrastructure, jobs, and helping people afford life.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 33 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is disconcerting to hear the Conservatives talking down the Canadian economy. I have confidence in the Canadian economy. I have confidence in our workers. I have confidence in our industry. I have confidence in our plan. We have made record generational investments in infrastructure, housing, productivity and innovation. We have made generational investments to support workers. We have made investments to support Canadians in terms of affordability. The Conservatives can shout as much as they want, but Canadians know we have their back.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C View analysis

Stephanie Kusie

Conservative
“Government spending has put Canada in a recession. Food and gas costs are up, and the debt is growing. When will the Prime Minister change his economic plan?”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 72 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “more focused on his American stock portfolio and his friends at Brookfield than on Canadians”.

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “Canada is the only G7 nation in a recession.”

    Said 4 times by 3 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have had it with the Prime Minister’s costly credit card budget. The deficit is $65.3 billion, and this year, Canadians will pay $58.7 billion on debt interest. Food inflation rose 3.8% in April, with gas prices surging 28.6% last month alone. Canada is the only G7 nation in a recession. The Prime Minister is more focused on his American stock portfolio and his friends at Brookfield than on Canadians. How many more negative quarters of growth will it take for him to change course?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“We are building energy and mining projects across Canada with the provinces and Indigenous peoples. The Conservatives should stop spreading conspiracy theories and help us build the country.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 31 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 78 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “at least three conspiracy theories going on in the member's head”.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in that question, I think there were at least three conspiracy theories going on in the member’s head. What we are doing is trying to build Canada strong. That is why we are building nuclear in Ontario. That is why we are building new wind and transmission in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. That is why we are building new LNG and mines in British Columbia. That is why we are building everywhere across this country. That is why we are working with provinces and indigenous peoples to respond to what we can control. The Conservatives should get off the conspiracy theories and start working to build Canada.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C View analysis

Stephanie Kusie

Conservative
“The Prime Minister's spending is driving up costs and pushing investment out of Canada. Canada is now in a recession. I want to know when the Prime Minister will put Canadians first instead of his wealthy friends.”

  • A repeated line

    “Canada is the only G7 nation in a recession.”

    Said 4 times by 3 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy is palpable. Canadians were promised relief, but the Prime Minister’s costly credit card budget is driving up costs for Canadians while driving investment away. Twenty billion dollars’ worth of investment has left Canada in the last four quarters alone. Over $1 trillion has left since 2015. As a result, Canada is the only G7 nation in a recession. Instead of putting his friends at Alto and Brookfield first, the Prime Minister should put Canadians first so they can finally get ahead instead of constantly being left behind. How many more quarters of negative growth will it take for the Prime Minister to choose Canadians?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The Conservatives need to stop their conspiracy theories and help us. Canada has the biggest foreign investment in over twenty years, including twenty billion dollars from Shell. We are building in every province.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 31 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives really have to stop these conspiracy theories. When Canadian companies invest abroad, they are building strong. We have the single biggest foreign investment in this country in over two decades. We can look at Shell, which just invested $20 billion in this country. The Conservatives cannot actually see beyond their conspiracy theories. We are building in every province in this country. The Conservatives should start helping.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 125

All 42 items ·
  1. Government Orders Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 26 statements
  2. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  3. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 2 statements
  4. Oral Questions Justice 4 statements
  5. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  6. Oral Questions Families, Children and Social Development 4 statements
  7. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  8. Oral Questions The Environment 4 statements
  9. Oral Questions The Economy 9 statements
  10. Oral Questions Aerospace Industry 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions National Defence 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Public Safety 4 statements
  13. Oral Questions Rail Transportation 4 statements
  14. Oral Questions Aerospace Industry 4 statements
  15. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 6 statements
  16. Oral Questions Steel and Aluminum Industry 2 statements
  17. Oral Questions Public Safety 6 statements
  18. Oral Questions Northern Affairs 2 statements
  19. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  20. Oral Questions Foreign Affairs 2 statements
  21. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  22. Government Orders Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 31 statements
  23. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  24. Oral Questions Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 2 statements
  25. Private Members' Business Private Members' Business 9 statements
  26. Oral Questions Prime Minister of Canada 2 statements