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The Economy

During question period on the economy, Conservative members said Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, pointing to rising living costs, food bank use, and food inflation, and criticized government spending, including on meals for the Prime Minister’s trips. Liberal responses included the parliamentary secretary saying Canada is not in a recession and that economic pressures come from foreign conflicts, U.S. tariffs and weak investment, with a government plan to invest in workers and industry; another Liberal cited tax cuts, a groceries benefit, school meals funding and home building, saying the opposition voted against these. One exchange included Conservative members objecting to the parliamentary secretary’s characterization of Statistics Canada data, and he objected to interruptions from opposition members during his answers.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

9 statements

Joël Godin

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession and more than half of workers say living costs are up. Millions of Canadians need food banks. Why is the Prime Minister spending public money on expensive airplane meals while telling Canadians to spend less?”

  • 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, this morning, we learned that Canada is the only G7 country that is in a recession. What is more, according to one report, more than 50% of workers say that the cost of living has gone up. The Prime Minister told young Canadians that they would have to make sacrifices, and yet he is recklessly using the national credit card to pay for luxury inflight meals, while 2.2 million Canadians are relying on food banks to put food on the table. Why is this Liberal Prime Minister asking Canadians to tighten their belts while he and his friends are treating themselves to lavish meals on the dime of hard-working Canadians?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The world economy is facing tough times, especially because of the conflict in the Middle East. But our government has a plan to invest in Canada, our workers, our young people, and our industry.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is odd to see the Conservatives looking so pleased this morning. I do not understand their attitude this morning. I know the people of Portneuf. They are watching question period this morning. Those who are watching understand that the world is facing headwinds in the global economy. People understand that there is a conflict in the Middle East, the most significant conflict we have seen in terms of energy. However, because I know the people of Portneuf well, I know that they know that we have a plan. We have a plan to invest in our country, a plan to invest in our young people, a plan to invest in our workers and our industry. That is exactly what we are going to do.

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Joël Godin

Conservative
“I want the government to take real action to make life better for Canadians. Seniors are skipping meals, and young people cannot afford homes. The Prime Minister asks others to sacrifice while he spends lavishly on himself.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, we are not pleased. We want the Liberal government, which has been in power for 11 years, to take meaningful action to ensure that Canadians have a better quality of life. Our seniors have to skip meals just to put food on the table. Our children have to give up their dream of owning a home. Last year, this same Prime Minister asked young people to make sacrifices. Obviously the Prime Minister has to eat, but could he show a little more judgment? There is a huge difference between baloney and caviar. Will the Liberal Prime Minister—

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Caroline Desrochers

Liberal
“Housing and food cost too much. We cut taxes, sent grocery money, funded school meals, and are building homes. The opposition voted against all of this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are still hearing rhetoric from the other side. On this side of the House, we know that the cost of housing and food are the biggest expenses for families. That is why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians and why a groceries benefit for 12 million Canadians will be deposited into their accounts next week. We also put in place a school food program for 400,000 children. We created Build Canada Homes. We have already reached agreements to build tens of thousands of units, with the work scheduled to start in the coming weeks. They voted against all these measures. They need to stop showing contempt for Canadians. My question for them is this: When will they get out of their echo chamber, listen to Canadians and get to work?

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Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, and we have the worst food inflation. One in three workers has to borrow money for groceries, while the Prime Minister spent $190,000 on food on three trips. Is the finance minister proud of this?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians woke up this morning saddened to learn that Canada is the only G7 country to have been in a recession for the past year, despite the fact that the current government is led by what is said to be one of the world’s most prestigious economists. The result is that Canada has the worst economic record in the G7. Furthermore, it has the highest food inflation of any G7 country. We also learned that one in three workers has to borrow money to buy groceries. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent $190,000 on food during three trips. Earlier, the finance minister said that the government was tightening its belt. Is he proud of his Prime Minister?

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“Canada is not in a recession. Our economy is hurting because of foreign wars, high fuel prices, and low investment, but we have a plan to fix it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: Canada is not in a recession. I could tell the member that, per capita, the GDP rose in the first quarter, but I am not going to say that. I could have also told him that the financial markets have completely ignored this message and that they are not in turmoil over it. What I can say, however, is that the Canadian economy is suffering directly from the impact of the trade war and is suffering directly from the impact of the war in the Middle East. Fuel prices are very high. Investment is down, due to uncertainty. That is the problem, but we have a plan.

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Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“Statistics Canada says Canada is in a recession, and we are the only G7 country in one. I want the parliamentary secretary to stop lying about our economy.”

  • A repeated line

    “All G7 countries are facing the same challenges.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is a misunderstanding. How can the parliamentary secretary say something that is in no way based in reality? Is my colleague familiar with Statistics Canada? It just so happens that it is part of the Government of Canada. Statistics Canada states that Canada is in a recession and that it is the only G7 country in this situation. While all G7 countries are facing the same challenges, Canada has the worst record and is the only country in a recession. How can the parliamentary secretary say the opposite of the truth? Canadians have had enough of this sort of lie.

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“The other side is harassing me and trying to silence me. They cannot do that here.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! I believe this is straight harassment from that side. It is trying to shut me up. You cannot do that. We are supposed to be able to— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“Canada is not in a recession. However, our economy is threatened by U.S. tariffs because we rely heavily on trade with them. We have a plan to deal with this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will say it again: Canada is not in a recession. Statistics Canada has never said that we are in a recession. The financial markets will determine that. There is no cause for alarm. However, our economy is under threat. Our economy is directly affected by the tariffs. We are the only G7 country that borders the United States, and we are heavily dependent on trade with the United States. That is our problem, and we have a plan to address it.

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