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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

7 statements

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“When the Prime Minister travels, he brings new business and investment back to Canada. I hope he travels more so we can keep building more ports, railways, and bridges.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 38 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 am happy, because we had a nice exchange this morning at the finance committee on this very issue. Every time the Prime Minister travels somewhere, he comes back and tells his ministers about the investments and the economic opportunities that are coming back to this country. It keeps us very busy, thanks very much. For my part, I hope he travels more, because we will be building more infrastructure, we will be building more ports, we will be building more railways, we will be building more bridges, we will be building this country strong and we will be building it well.

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The Conservatives should stop talking down our economy. Canada has skilled workers, energy, and key minerals. We make planes, cars, and ships, and we have free trade with all other G7 nations. Our economy will soon be the second-fastest growing in the G7.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 36 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, I am sure Canadians who are watching today are fed up with the Conservatives’ talking down the Canadian economy. Canada is a great country. We have the most educated workforce. We build planes. We build cars. We build ships. We have the critical minerals that the world needs. We have an abundance of energy. We are the only G7 country with free trade with all the other G7 nations. We are going to build Canada strong. We are going to build it together. We are going to have the second-fastest-growing economy in the G7. That is Canada.

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Leader of the Opposition spent $8.8 million on his office in 2024. The Prime Minister spent $4.1 million. The Conservative leader spent more than double, and he needs to explain why.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have some news here. We looked up leader expenditures for 2024, and I will be very interested to look at 2025, because we all know what happened there. We had a summer sojourn at Stornoway that was a little iffy. However, in 2024, Mr. Leader of the Opposition spent $8.8 million in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, and he does not have to make one single decision. The Liberal leader spent $4.1 million. That is double. That is bad. They have some answering to do.

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“The Leader of the Opposition has spent 8.8 million dollars of public money. Our government is serious about the economy. We are making trade deals, cutting taxes, and spending money on housing, defence, and building projects.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 27 of 100

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

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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, it is $8.8 million. The Leader of the Opposition has been in the House for 22 years. He has never had a job outside of the House, yet he spent $8.8 million. On this side of the House, we are serious about the economy. We are serious about building an economy for all Canadians. Abroad, we are signing trade deals. At home, we are cutting taxes. We are investing in infrastructure. We are investing in housing, in aerospace, in defence and more. We are going to build Canada strong. They can continue with the rhetoric.

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Jennifer McKelvie

Liberal
“Our government is spending money on transit, sewers, and power in Ontario. These projects will create jobs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 42 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, at this moment, our government is making important investments in communities throughout Ontario, and these investments are going to create jobs for all Canadians. We know it is time to invest in Ontario. This is why we are investing in the Black Creek sanitary trunk sewer, the Kitchener central transit hub, the downtown connection hub in the city of Barrie, the Scarborough subway, the Hamilton LRT and the Darlington nuclear power plant. All of these are in Ontario, where the member is from. We care about Ontario, and it is time to invest.

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Jennifer McKelvie

Liberal
“Our government is investing in housing, internet, and transit across the country. The opposition just wants to tear Canada down.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 40 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are focused on doing the hard work of building our country and building our economy. Two weeks ago, our government announced $350 million in housing and infrastructure investments in the Yukon to deliver stronger communities in the north. Three weeks ago, we announced $61 million in funding for high-speed Internet projects in northern Manitoba. Four weeks ago, we celebrated station construction being under way at all eight stations along the Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension. We are doing the hard work from coast to coast to coast to build Canada. All they want to do is tear it down.

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John Zerucelli

Liberal
“The Conservative leader must explain $8.8 million in missing expenses. We are building the economy during a trade war. We secured a big gas deal in Europe and are backing mine and nuclear projects that bring thousands of trade jobs. I want the Conservatives to support our work.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 38 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party leader needs to explain the $8.8 million of unaccounted for, unexplained expenses. The Conservatives know that we are in the middle of a trade war, but we have a plan. We are building. Let me give some examples. There is Canada’s first European LNG agreement, with more than $30 billion in investment secured. The Nouveau Monde Graphite mine project will provide thousands of jobs in the skilled trades. The Darlington nuclear project in Ontario will provide thousands of jobs in the skilled trades. We are building this country. We are fighting for Canadians. I hope the Conservatives join us.

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