The Economy

Question period focused on the economy, with Conservatives repeatedly saying Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, citing rising food insecurity, mortgage and bankruptcy pressures, and asking the government to say whether the country is in a recession. They also criticized spending on the Prime Minister’s travel, including roughly $200,000 in flight catering over three trips. Liberal ministers pointed to trade agreements, investments in housing, transit, infrastructure, energy and critical minerals across the country, and said members should not talk down the economy; several replies also raised the Leader of the Opposition’s $8.8 million in office expenditures for 2024, saying he should explain them.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

7 statements

Jasraj Hallan, Calgary East

Conservative
“The Prime Minister caused our recession while spending thousands of dollars on expensive meals on his flights. I want him to tell us how bad this recession really is.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only leader in the entire G20 to force their country into a recession is the Liberal Prime Minister. He forced the same 2.2 million Canadians to pay for his lavish 200,000 dollars’ worth of meals on just three flights. In fact, he spent more on salmon on those three flights than what an average family will spend on groceries for the entire year. He is forcing Canadians to sacrifice so that he can stuff his face with crème brûlée. Will he stand up on his two feet and tell us, is this a technical recession or a full-blown Liberal one?

Jasraj Hallan, Calgary East

Conservative
“The Prime Minister wastes money on trips and fails to make real trade deals. Millions of Canadians cannot afford food and over a hundred thousand recently lost their jobs. What is the plan to fix this recession?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, every time the Prime Minister leaves, he stuffs his face with 200,000 dollars’ worth of lavish meals on the taxpayer dime. We see a lot of fake signings of MOUs, a lot of fake handshakes, a lot of nothing and zero dollars in trade deals. That is why Canada has been thrown into a full-blown Liberal recession. The Liberal government has done nothing for the average Canadian. That is why 2.2 million Canadians are facing food insecurity in this country and why 120,000 lost their jobs in the first three months of this year. Will he tell us, what is the plan to get out of this full-blown Liberal recession?

John Brassard, Barrie South—Innisfil

Conservative
“The Prime Minister spends too much money on luxury food for flights while everyday Canadians struggle. I want him to tell us if Canada is in a recession.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only things they build are debt, deficit and a Liberal Prime Minister who has made Canada the only G20 country in a recession. While Canadians are told to make sacrifices, do members know who is not making sacrifices? It is the Prime Minister, as well as his well-connected Liberal insiders. Recently released documents show $200,000 spent on food for just three flights, including $18,000 for salmon for just one flight alone. That is more than the average family will spend in groceries in 2026. As seniors line up at food banks and families pay the price, will the Prime Minister finally tell us whether we are actually in a technical recession or a recession?

John Brassard, Barrie South—Innisfil

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession. People cannot afford their mortgages, bankruptcies are up, and most people have almost no money left at the end of the month. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent thousands of dollars on luxury food in Rome. I want an honest answer from the government: are we in a recession?”
Official Hansard

We will do the whole PCO next week for them, Mr. Speaker, and you will get a kick out of that. Canada’s the only G20 country that is in a recession. While it may be a laughing matter to them, Canadians are missing mortgage payments, bankruptcies are up and nearly 60% have little or no money left over at the end of the month. The Liberal Prime Minister spent money in Rome: $4,213 on crème brûlée, $3,800 on chocolate and $593 on luxury Normandy buttercups, whatever that is. Canadians deserve an honest answer. Are we in a recession or a technical recession? Tell us the truth.

Sandra Cobena, Newmarket—Aurora

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford food while the Prime Minister wastes thousands of dollars on expensive meals for his flights. He cannot control his own spending, so Canadians cannot trust him to fix 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, Canada is the only G20 country to fall into a recession. Canadians are struggling with food affordability. One in four is now food insecure, yet the Prime Minister racks up $200,000 in airplane catering in three trips. He spent $17,000 on salmon alone, which is more than most families spend on food in an entire year. If the Prime Minister cannot control his own reckless spending, how can Canadians trust him to get us out of this recession, or is it technically not his problem?

Sandra Cobena, Newmarket—Aurora

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling in a recession, but the Prime Minister and his circle are spending huge amounts on travel, food, and bonuses. Why do they not have to make sacrifices too?”
  • 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, $94,000 was spent on a single flight. Only a member of the Liberal insider class cannot see a problem with that. It is more than five families spend in an entire year on groceries. Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, and Canadians are struggling. If one is in the Prime Minister’s entourage, well, one can expect $200,000 in catering. Federal executives get tens of millions of dollars in bonuses despite missing performance targets. If the Prime Minister thinks sacrifice is necessary, why are he and everyone in his inner circle exempt from it, especially in a recession?

David Bexte, Bow River

Conservative
“The government is spending too much money on travel while people struggle to buy food. I want the Prime Minister to tell Canadians if our country is in a recession.”
  • 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 Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. Canadians are being told to tighten their belts while the Prime Minister cannot stop spending. On a single trip, taxpayers were billed more than $17,000 for salmon, which is more than many Canadian families spend on food for an entire year. Meanwhile, the environment minister said it was reasonable to spend half a million dollars on luxury accommodations in Brazil on a junket. With all the extravagant spending, will the Prime Minister stop dodging and tell Canadians the truth? Are we in a recession or merely a technical recession?

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