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The Economy

During question period on the economy, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre repeatedly asked why Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, citing job losses, mortgage delinquencies at a 17-year high, household debt, falling investment, and a Food Banks Canada report saying one in four Canadians lives with food insecurity. Liberal ministers replied that Canada is managing an unfair and unjustified U.S. tariff war as the economy most integrated with the United States, while pointing to job creation in aerospace, manufacturing and military contracts, work with provinces to protect workers, new projects like mines and pipelines, talks with U.S. representatives on the trade agreement, and cost-of-living programs such as child care, dental care and grocery support that the Conservatives voted against. Some responses also urged the Conservatives to help build the country rather than criticize it, and Poilievre noted the Prime Minister had not appeared to answer questions on the recession.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Other major countries face the same global problems, but their economies are not shrinking. Why is Canada the only one in a recession?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, G7 countries are all facing tariffs and global economic impacts. However, Japan is not in recession. The United States is not in recession. The United Kingdom is not in recession. France, Italy and Germany are not in recession. Why is Canada, under the Liberal Prime Minister, the only country in recession?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal

Linked statement

“We are dealing with a trade dispute with the United States, but we are still creating jobs. We have added thousands of new jobs in aerospace and manufacturing across the country.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are currently managing a tariff war, with an economy that is much more integrated with that of the United States, and my colleague across the way knows that very well. One thing is clear, though: We are creating jobs in the meantime. We have also been able to attract jobs in a number of sectors in our economy. I will give some examples: 3,000 jobs thanks to the agreement with Saab and Bombardier to develop a surveillance aircraft; 350 new jobs at the Kruger plant, in Trois‑Rivières; and 250 new jobs at MDS Coating Technologies, in Prince Edward Island.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is the only country in North America in a recession. More people cannot pay their mortgages, families have record debt, and a quarter of Canadians cannot afford enough food. Why is Canada the only country in a recession?”

  • A repeated line

    “Why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession?”

    Said 16 times by 13 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Mexico also shares a border with the United States and is also facing a trade war but it is not in a recession. In North America, only Canada is in recession. That is not all. Mortgage delinquencies are up a third compared to last year and are at a 17‑year high. In addition, Canadian households are the most indebted in the G7. Today, Food Banks Canada published a report in which it gave Canada a failing grade, stating that a quarter of Canadians are food insecure. Why is Canada the only country in a recession?

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Dominic LeBlanc

Liberal
“The United States put unfair tariffs on us that break our trade deal. We will talk to American officials about this agreement this week. We are also working with the provinces to protect Canadian workers and businesses.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 48 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague just said, we are facing a tariff situation that is unfair and unjustified in light of our free trade agreement with the United States. We have another opportunity this week to discuss this agreement with U.S. representatives. However, at the same time, we are not sitting idly by. We are protecting Canadian workers, we are protecting Canadian industries and we are working with the provinces to ensure that we can support these industries in a positive way. In the meantime, we are building Canada.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. Why is that happening under this Prime Minister?”

  • A repeated line

    “Why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession?”

    Said 16 times by 13 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the group of seven industrialized nations all face tariffs and global economic forces. However, Japan is not in recession. The United States is not in recession. The United Kingdom is not in recession. France is not in recession. Germany is not in recession. Italy is not in recession. The only G7 country in recession is Canada. Why is it that Canada, under this Liberal Prime Minister, is the only G7 country in a recession today?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The United States has started a trade war with Canada. We are protecting our economy by building new mines and pipelines. The Conservatives should help build the country instead of attacking it.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 90 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “should do his economic homework”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should do his economic homework. He should understand that Canada is the country most integrated with the United States in the world. The United States has declared a trade war on us. This side of the House understands that. We will control what we can control. That is why we are building four new mines at Red Chris. That is why we are building new pipelines under Sunrise. That is why we are building four new mines in Saskatchewan, including a uranium mine, a potash mine and a copper mine. The Conservatives should start to understand economics and try to help build this country instead of tearing it down.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is the only country in North America in a recession. We have lost jobs, investment has dropped, and mortgage defaults are at a 17-year high. Why are we the only country in a recession?”

  • A repeated line

    “We have the second-highest unemployment in the G7.”

    Said 7 times by 4 members since June 1.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Mexico shares a border with the United States and is as integrated with the U.S. as we are and Mexico is not in a recession. In all of North America, only Canada is in a recession. Not only that, but since this Liberal Prime Minister took office, he has lost 46,000 jobs, 112,000 in the last three months alone. We have the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7, a third higher than the rate in the U.S. The economy has contracted three of the last four quarters. Over $20 billion of net investment has fled the country. There have been five consecutive quarters of investment dropping. Mortgage delinquencies are up a third at a 17‑year high. Why are we the only country in a recession?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“Our military contracts are creating thousands of jobs. The Leader of the Opposition should stop criticizing Canada and work with us.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 36 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition should take note of some of the facts. For example, 3,500 jobs annually are being created with our joint support ships contract; 2,300 jobs to produce our AOP ships; 1,800 jobs for our fixed-wing search and rescue; 700 jobs for our remotely piloted aircraft system; and 5,300 direct jobs for our River class destroyers. The list is very long. The Leader of the Opposition should stop running down Canada and join us in our efforts.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister caused our recession, making Canada the only G7 country in one. He needs to come to the House and answer questions about it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is the Liberal Prime Minister who is running down our economy and then running away from accountability for it. Where is he, anyway? It has been four days since Statistics Canada reported that Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, and the Prime Minister has not answered one question, not in the House, not from the media, not from anyone. This is the guy who said to hire him in a crisis. Well, now he has made a crisis. He has created the only G7 economy that is in a recession. Instead of running away from accountability, why does the Prime Minister not run in here and do his job?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“Our government protects workers when times are tough, but the opposition always votes against it. We recently gave $6 billion to help skilled trades workers and apprentices finish their training and get good jobs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 35 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in fact, when the global winds of uncertainty were blowing, what did this government do? We took immediate action to put things into place to protect workers if their jobs were threatened, if their economies were threatened or if their sector was threatened. Every time we take action to protect workers, these guys vote against it. Just recently, $6 billion to skilled trades workers, including apprentices in the pipeline right now, to help make sure they can complete their training and get those fantastic-paying jobs. These guys are ignoring the—

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession, and one in four Canadians cannot afford enough food. Many food banks are running out of food. How are parents supposed to feed their children?”

  • A repeated line

    “Why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession?”

    Said 16 times by 13 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with Canada being the only G7 country in a recession, there are very real human costs. Today those came to light as Food Banks Canada published a report giving the government a failing grade, indicating that one quarter of all Canadians now live in food insecurity. A quarter of food banks have actually run out of food in the last year. What is a single mother who cannot afford groceries supposed to do when she gets to an empty food bank? How is she supposed to feed her kids?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“The national food bank report says our programs are helping lower the cost of living. These programs include cheaper child care, dental care, and money for groceries. The Conservatives voted against all of them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yet again I think the Leader of the Opposition should read the entire report, because although people are of course struggling, in fact, what the national food bank said was that it is seeing some reasons for optimism because of the very things they have called for, like automatic tax filing, the introduction of the groceries and essentials benefits, expanded dental care and investments in child care, things they know are positive and bringing down the cost of living for Canadians. I will point out that the Conservatives voted against all those measures.

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