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The Economy

In question period on the economy, Conservatives pressed the government to acknowledge that Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, citing shrinking growth, falling productivity, rising borrowing, and cost-of-living worries for young people priced out of housing. Liberal ministers replied that Canada faces headwinds from the U.S. trade war but that it expects the second-fastest growth in the G7, pointing to new trade deals, support for Quebec’s aluminum sector, and benefits like the child care and dental programs. One Liberal response challenged the opposition for offering no economic plan of its own, and a Conservative member read a message from a constituent about housing affordability, which a minister answered by citing benefits that member had voted against.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Jacob Mantle

Conservative

Linked statement

“I want the Prime Minister to tell us which G20 country is in a recession. Canada is the only one.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia, Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the EU, the U.S. and the U.K. As Big Bird would say, “One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.” Can the Prime Minister tell us which one of these G20 economies is not like the other? I will give him a hint: Only one is in a recession. Which one is it?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“Canada faces economic challenges, partly because the United States started an unfair trade war with us. We are taking steps to grow our economy. Canada is still a better place to live than the other countries mentioned.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as we know, the world has gone through some incredible headwinds. Canada has been no exception and perhaps has been singled out as we are a neighbour of the country that has launched an unprovoked and unjustified trade war. That is why we are putting in place measures that will grow our economy. However, I do want to ask this member which of the countries that he listed would he rather live in. I know there is 173 of us who would rather live in and face the economic prospects of this country, Canada. Long live Canada.

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Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“Canada needs a Conservative government because the Liberals are managing the economy poorly. We are in a recession, economic growth is dropping, and the Prime Minister will break his promise to lower the debt.”

  • 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, that is an easy answer: a Canada led by a strong Conservative government. Under the Liberal government, poor economic management leads to more bad news, the only G20 country in a recession. Today, the parliamentary budget watchdog said that the Prime Minister has a 1% chance of keeping his promise of a declining debt-to-GDP ratio. Growth is downcast for 2026 and 2027. Is this a recession or is this all just technical?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Canada will have the second-fastest economic growth in the G7. Our government is building this strong economy with Canadians.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 34 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

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is going to be a real pleasure to start again. Let us take the list: Germany, Italy, Mexico, France, Japan, United Kingdom and Canada. Canada is going to have the second-fastest growth in the G7. This is the Canada we are building. This is the Canada that this team is building. This is the Canada that the Prime Minister is building. This is the Canada that Canadians want, and we are going to build it with them.

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Rhonda Kirkland

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, but the Prime Minister refuses to talk about it. Canadians are worried about their jobs and money. I want the Prime Minister to tell Canadians if our country is in a recession.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 34 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

  • 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, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, yet for a week now, the Prime Minister has outright refused to address the seriousness of the situation, ignoring the fact that Canadians are worried about their jobs, their savings and whether they can afford to make ends meet. The Prime Minister has spent more time avoiding the word “recession” than he has explaining the plan to end one. Will the Prime Minister stop dodging the question and tell Canadians if we are in a recession or just a technical recession?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“The Prime Minister has signed billions of dollars in trade deals with China, Japan, Australia, and India, which creates thousands of Canadian jobs. Canadians chose a leader with strong business experience, not one who has only ever worked in politics.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 22 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 60 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “a leader who has never worked one day outside of the House”.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is China, Japan, Australia and India. Our Prime Minister has just signed billions of dollars of trade deals with those countries, creating thousands of jobs in this country. Canadians elected a leader with world-class business and economic credentials. They have no time and will take no advice from a leader who has never worked one day outside of the House.

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Rhonda Kirkland

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. I want the government to admit that our economy is in a recession.”

  • A repeated line

    “The first step to fixing a problem is acknowledging that there is one.”

    Said 4 times by 3 members since June 4.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that the first step to fixing a problem is admitting that there is one. Liberals think the word “recession” is like the word “Beetlejuice”. If they do not say it, then it does not exist, but ignoring reality does not change reality. The Liberal government has spent months telling Canadians it has the fastest-growing economy in the G7. The reality is that we are the only country in the G20 in a recession. Will the government finally answer if Canada is in a recession, or is it just a technical one?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“The opposition has no real plan for the economy, security, or social services. They only criticize the country.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 37 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, what we are listening for is something rational, something thoughtful, something coherent, something comprehensive, maybe even a plan. How about a plan that is a fiscal plan? How about an economic plan? What about an industrial plan? What about a defence and security plan? How about supports and social services for Canadians? All we hear is about driving this country down. It is absolutely ridiculous.

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession, the economy is shrinking, and the government is borrowing too much money. Will the Prime Minister admit that he has failed to manage the economy?”

  • 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, under this new Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. The economy has shrunk in three out of four quarters. Productivity is falling. Investors are fleeing the country. Government borrowing is $7 billion above target. Today, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that the Liberal government has only a 1% chance of meeting its budgetary commitments. My question is very simple. Does the Prime Minister acknowledge, yes or no, that his management of the country’s economy is a failure?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“We are supporting Quebec's aluminum workers during this tariff war. We are helping expand a major plant, and we invested another $100 million in cleaner technology to make Quebec's aluminum the greenest in the world.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, clearly my colleague was not with us on Friday when we were in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, not far from his riding, to support the employees of Rio Tinto and the entire aluminum sector, who are the victims of a ruthless tariff war. Surely my colleague is aware that we, together with the Premier of Quebec, made an incredible announcement for the aluminum sector: the expansion of the AP60 plant. Furthermore, we have invested an additional $100 million in the new Elysis technology, which will ensure that Quebec’s aluminum is the greenest in the world.

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“Life is too expensive and young people cannot afford homes. The government's economic plan is not working. I want to know when they will help regular people instead of bankers.”

  • A repeated line

    “The government's economic plan is not working.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since June 4.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here is what real people are facing, as described in a message from Matis, a young Quebecker who wrote to me this week: I just wanted to tell you that many of my generation are starting to lose faith in the idea that we will ever become homeowners. Housing prices, rents, and the cost of living are rising so fast that I feel like I am chasing something unattainable. We are not out to get rich. We just want to be able to live with dignity after working hard. We want to build a future without constant financial stress. We are in a full-blown recession. The Liberals’ economic plan is not working. When are they going to give young people a little hope? When will they stop governing for the bankers and start governing for the people?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“Thousands of families and people in the member's riding get money from the child benefit and the dental plan. He voted against both. He should change his mind and support programs that help his constituents.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have so much empathy for Canadians like Matis. These are the people for whom we stand up every day, the people for whom we fight, the people for whom we implement programs that work. I do not have their names, but my colleague’s riding has 13,500 families who receive $80 million thanks to the Canada child benefit. My colleague voted against that. What does he tell them? His riding has 23,500 citizens who benefit from the Canada dental plan. I do not know their names, but he voted against those 23,500 constituents. My colleague should change his mind and support measures that truly help his people, our people.

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