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The Economy

Question period focused on the economy, with the Conservatives citing Statistics Canada’s report that Canada is in a recession, the only one in the G20, and reading letters from Canadians who lost jobs, homes, savings or businesses. The opposition repeatedly asked whether the recession was “technical or real” and pressed for the Prime Minister to answer in person. Liberal ministers said the government is focused on building a stronger economy, diversifying trade in response to U.S. tariffs, investing in housing, infrastructure and workers, and pointed to affordability measures the Conservatives voted against. Some exchanges turned to criticisms of each other’s conduct, including remarks about the Prime Minister’s attendance at question period.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

15 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession, and people are losing their jobs and homes. What does the Prime Minister have to say to them?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my question for the Prime Minister is about the human cost of Canada being the only G20 country in the recession. Zahra from Toronto lost her administrative job at a real estate business. She cannot find a new job, and now has to sleep on a friend’s couch. What is the Prime Minister going to tell her, if he cares enough to stand up and answer? Is he going to tell her that she is just technically homeless and technically jobless?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“I wish the Leader of the Opposition a happy birthday. Our government is focused on building a stronger, more lasting economy and helping Canadians face global challenges.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 47 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, I would like to wish the Leader of the Opposition a happy birthday. I hope his day improves. The government is focused on building a stronger economy. We recognize the scale of the challenges that this country is facing from abroad. We are focused on that administrator. We are focused on farmers in Battle River—Crowfoot. We are focused on a future that is stronger, more durable, more independent, more resilient and more sustainable.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister caused a recession that made people lose their jobs and homes. I want him to stop joking about their suffering and answer for it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is not a joke. This is a woman’s life. The Prime Minister has given us the only recession in the G20, and he stands up and starts joking about her state of affairs. She is sleeping on someone’s couch. Will the Prime Minister stop being so flippant about the suffering that he has caused in the lives of Canadians and tell Zahra whether her homelessness and joblessness are just a technicality?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“The Conservatives voted against our programs that help people when they lose their jobs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 26 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, do the Conservatives know what is not a joke? It is when someone loses their job and there is nothing there to catch them, yet if the Conservative members had their way, that is exactly what would have been facing Zahra. They voted against the very measures that we put in place to protect people like Zahra— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“The Conservatives keep voting against our programs that help people, such as updated employment insurance.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what I find to be a joke is that, when the government steps up, not only to lay the foundation of prosperity for the future but also to protect people like Zahra by putting into place things like modernized employment insurance, which the Conservatives routinely laugh about, they vote against those measures, time and—

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is the only country in the G7 and G20 in a recession, and people are losing their homes and savings. Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians if our recession is technical or real?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the question is for the Prime Minister about the real human cost of Canada being the only country in the G7, and in the G20, that is in a recession. Brad from Ontario wrote me to say that his family hung on during the Trudeau years, but since the Liberal Prime Minister took over, he is at risk of losing everything. He sold his home and had to get rid of all of the savings he had accumulated for his retirement. Will the Prime Minister have the decency to stand up, look Brad in the eye and tell Brad if we are in a technical recession or a real recession?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Conservatives seem happy when Canada faces economic problems from trade wars and conflict abroad. They just blame Canada instead of supporting it.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 18 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 64 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “such apparent glee on the part of the Leader of the Opposition”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I speak to a lot of people like Brad in my own riding of Gatineau. What they ask me is why there is such apparent glee on the part of the Leader of the Opposition and his troops when they march in here. Canada faces some economic headwinds from an unprovoked trade war, and they blame Canada. Canada faces economic headwinds from a war in the Middle East, and they blame Canada. People cannot help but notice that the Leader of the Opposition and his entire bench walk in here with glee when Canada faces—

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country heading into a recession, and I blame the government for it. High costs are hurting people. I want the Prime Minister to tell us if we are in a recession.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when there is only one country in the G20 facing a recession, while all the other countries face the same wars and tariffs, then we know it is appropriate to blame the Liberal government. The member talks about glee. Jacqueline has no glee. She actually had to put her dog down because she cannot afford the veterinary bills along with the inflation in her food, her rent and her gas. If the Prime Minister actually cares about Jacqueline, will he stand up and answer the question? Are we in a recession or a technical recession? Which is it?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The Leader of the Opposition voted against every measure to help with the cost of living. Our government will support families, workers, and industries.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build Canada strong.”

    Said 33 times by 14 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians do not need at this time is these slogans, these clips and this empty rhetoric from that side of the House. Jacqueline knows, and she should know, that every step of the way, the Leader of the Opposition has voted against every affordability measure in the House. Jacqueline knows it, and we know it. Canadians know it. When it comes to affordability, we are going to stand with families. We are going to stand with workers. We are going to support our industries. We are going to build Canada strong together.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“I want the Prime Minister to answer my question himself. A small business owner in Sarnia is worried about going bankrupt because high costs are hurting his business. Canada is in a recession, and I want the Prime Minister to tell this man what he plans to do.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the question was for the Prime Minister. If he actually cared about the people who wrote these letters, he would stand up and answer the questions himself instead of having a member get up to condemn slogans and then list five of them in a row. Here is another letter, which is from Thomas in Sarnia. He runs a painting business, but is now stuck in a bind. The cost of his paints are too high to keep his prices low, and if his prices are too high, nobody can afford to hire him. He is worried he is going to lose his business. This is the human cost of being the only country in the G20 that is in a recession. Will the Prime Minister tell Thomas if this just a technical recession? Is he technically on the verge of bankruptcy?

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Gregor Robertson

Liberal
“We are helping Canadians by spending money on our economy. Yesterday we announced money for Quebec to build community centres, more housing, better hospitals, and cheaper public transit.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is important that we recognize the critical investments we are making in Canada’s economy right now to help these same people the opposition mentions. Yesterday, we announced investments in Quebec in infrastructure, including $2.5 billion in community centres, infrastructure to build more housing and to scale up our affordable housing across the country, $1 billion to be invested to upgrade our hospitals and emergency rooms, and over $6 billion to invest in public transit to help people get around affordably and to create the jobs that make this country prosperous.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister's policies made a few rich people wealthier while hurting everyday Canadians and pushing our economy into a recession. He needs to face the people who are struggling and explain himself.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is the same pattern with the Prime Minister every time. He gets a fancy title, and he turns it into an absolute disaster. A tiny group of insiders get fabulously rich making everyone else poor, and when it comes time to be accountable, he goes into hiding, not even able to respond to the Canadians who wrote letters about their economic desperation, with Canada being the only G20 country in recession. Nathan from Ontario lost his job and is not sure how he is going to cover expenses for his type 1 diabetes, as severance money is now running out. Will the Prime Minister have the decency and the courage to look Nathan in the eye and tell him—

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Rechie Valdez

Liberal
“Our plan to help with U.S. tariffs and high costs is working. Canada's economy will grow faster than any other G7 country. An average family of four will save up to $20,000 this year.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are facing the impacts of change and global uncertainty driven by U.S. tariffs. That is why our government has a clear plan. We are diversifying trade, creating good jobs in this country, building faster and investing in workers while making life more affordable. This plan is working. Canada is projected to have the fastest growing economy in the G7. We are going to take care of Canadians. In fact, when it comes to affordability, an average family of four will save up to $20,000 this year, and that will help them with the average cost they are experiencing each and every day. We are going to protect Canadians while building Canada strong.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession and people are losing their jobs. The Prime Minister is not showing up to answer questions. I want the government to tell us if we are in a technical recession or a real recession.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it has now been almost a week after Stats Canada reported that Canada had the only recession in the G20. The Prime Minister has been in hiding ever since. He has the worst attendance record in question period. While Canadians are losing their jobs, he will not even show up to do his job. I ask questions on behalf of Zahra, Jacqueline, Brad, Kevin, Nathan and countless others who do not know how they are going to pay their bills. Will the Liberals stand up for once, own up for once and tell us, are we in a technical recession or a real recession? Which is it?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“Canadians do not take the Conservatives seriously. Their leaders rely on stunts instead of real plans. Our government is serious about the economy and is investing in housing, major projects, and trade.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 8 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 0 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, Canadians do not take that party seriously at all. We have the former failed leader doing bizarre social media videos and screaming at fences. We have the current failed leader doing empty parking lot press conferences with no substance: gimmicks, props and slogans. On this side of the House, we are investing in major projects, housing and trade diversification. They are not serious about the economy. Canadians see it. Canadians know it. Canadians made a choice to stand behind a world-class statesman and a world-class business and economic leader who is going to build our country—

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  14. Government Orders Government Orders 50 statements
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  17. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  18. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements