“Our economy is weak, and millions of Canadians are using food banks. I want the Prime Minister to answer yes or no: is Canada in a recession?”

“Mr. Speaker, while 2.2 million Canadians line up at food banks, the Liberals are still refusing to let Canadians know that we are the only G20 nation in a recession. The apparent reason has something to do with decisions made over the past 11 years and the Liberals’ lack of vision. Let us look at the facts: Economic growth is sluggish, productivity is weak and deficits already exceed what was forecast in the budget. After a week of dodging the question, can the Prime Minister tell us, yes or no, if we are in a recession? The first step toward solving a problem is to acknowledge it.”

“Canada's economy slowed down in three of the last four quarters. This means we are in a recession. The Prime Minister needs to admit his economic plan is failing.”

“Mr. Speaker, my colleague may not be aware of this, but on May 15, 2016, when the Prime Minister was the governor of the Bank of England, he said that the technical definition of a technical recession is two consecutive quarters of flat or negative growth. Let us look at what is happening in Canada. The economy has slowed down in three of the last four quarters. That is not two quarters, but rather three of the last four quarters. What will it take for the Prime Minister to realize that his plan is not working and that the Liberal government’s actions over the past 11 years have led us straight into a recession?”

“Canada is in a recession. Business investment and worker productivity keep dropping. I want the government to admit that its economic plan has failed.”

“Mr. Speaker, under this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, and in the last few days, we have learned more about how bad the numbers actually are. Stats Canada reports that business investment has now fallen for five straight quarters. Labour productivity has declined in three of the last four quarters. If the Prime Minister’s plan is working, why are Canadian businesses seeing a continuous decline in investment and productivity? Will the Liberals admit that we are in a recession and that their plan is not working at all?”

• Echo ×104

  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 →

“Canadians have fewer jobs, less savings, and cannot afford food and rent after ten years of this government. I want the Prime Minister to explain why he claims the economic downturn is only technical.”

“Mr. Speaker, while it is good to see some positive job numbers, the fact is that we are still thousands of jobs below where we were at the beginning of this year. Under this Liberal Prime Minister, household savings have fallen to their lowest level in years. Families are struggling to keep up with the cost of groceries, housing and other necessities. Some Canadians are now spending more than 120% of their income on food and rent alone. However, the Liberals claim that it is only a technical recession. Will the Prime Minister explain to Canadians why they are only technically worse off after a decade with this Liberal government?”

“Canada's economy is shrinking, debt is up, and we are in a recession. The Prime Minister needs to admit this is happening.”

“Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession right now, and it is no surprise why, with the Liberal Prime Minister’s record. The economy has shrunk in three of the last four quarters. Labour productivity is getting worse. Investment is leaving the country. Government spending and debt are up. Even the Prime Minister’s own hand-picked economic watchdog has had to downgrade the forecast for this country. A government that will not acknowledge the problem sure as heck cannot fix it. Will the Prime Minister admit that Canada is in a recession?”

• Echo ×104

  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 →

“My region has lost over 21,000 jobs in two and a half years, and people are struggling. I want the minister to admit that the country is in a recession.”

“Mr. Speaker, I wish the minister were as interested in the jobs of Canadians as he is in his own. The Parliamentary Budget Officer said the Liberal government has a 1% chance of meeting its fiscal anchor, which is still better odds than getting a straight answer from the government in question period. Behind these numbers are people: people in food bank lines, people going on unemployment, young people who cannot get that critical first job. The London region, which includes St. Thomas and Elgin, has lost another 600 jobs in the last month, bringing it up to over 21,000 in the last two and a half years. Maybe the minister will not tell me there is a recession, but will he tell these Canadians there is?”

• Personal attack
  ?

  Opposition question in Question Period

  Respect 79 of 100

  This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “I wish the minister were as interested in the jobs of Canadians as he is in his own”.

  See full analysis →