The Economy

Question period focused on the state of the Canadian economy. Conservative members repeatedly asked whether the Prime Minister would acknowledge that Canada is in a recession, citing figures such as job losses this year, a possible deficit of as much as $72 billion in 2026 according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, stagnant purchasing power, and downgraded forecasts from major banks. Liberal ministers replied that the economy is performing well, pointing to OECD growth projections for the G7, rising foreign investment, wage growth ahead of inflation, over 165,000 jobs created since the summer, youth employment gains, and government investments in areas like skilled trades, transit, housing and major projects.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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5 statements

Luc Berthold, Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, and major banks say our economy is getting worse. Canadians are poorer now. I want the Prime Minister to admit that we are 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, let us talk facts. Under this Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country to fall into a recession. The Parliamentary Budget Officer is reining in her growth forecasts. The RBC, TD Bank and BMO have downgraded their outlooks. Canadians look on as their standard of living erodes. The Prime Minister, however, still refuses to utter the word “recession”. I am therefore going to ask him this simple question again: Are we in a recession or are Canadians only theoretically poorer than before, after a decade of Liberal rule?

Luc Berthold, Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière

Conservative
“Canada has lost 45,000 workers this year, the economy is shrinking, and the budget watchdog says the government will fail to meet its spending goal. I want the Prime Minister to admit our country is in a recession.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here is another figure. There are 45,000 fewer Canadians in the workforce than at the beginning of the year. These facts speak for themselves. The Parliamentary Budget Officer just completely dismantled the economic narrative put forward by the Prime Minister and the minister opposite: We are facing lower growth, higher deficits and declining productivity, and we are the only G20 country that is in a recession. What is worse, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has said that there is a 99% chance that the government will fail to meet its own fiscal anchor. The Liberal Prime Minister presents himself as a great economist. How would he describe a situation in which the economy is shrinking, Canadians are getting poorer and the government has no chance of meeting its anchor? Canadians call that a recession.

Eric Lefebvre, Richmond—Arthabaska

Conservative
“The budget watchdog says our economy is shrinking and our deficit is growing. Canada is doing worse than other major countries. I want the Prime Minister to tell us if Canada 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, I have a brief reminder for the minister. The country’s best years were under the Conservatives. Slower growth and a higher deficit: That is the alarming assessment from the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The result is that GDP per capita growth in Canada remains among the lowest in the G20; the Canadian economy has contracted over the last two quarters; and under this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in recession. I have a simple multiple-choice question for the Prime Minister: Has Canada entered a recession or a technical recession?

Eric Lefebvre, Richmond—Arthabaska

Conservative
“I want the government to admit that Canada is in a recession. The Liberals are adding $318 billion to the debt by 2031. Will they stop mismanaging the economy?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, I asked whether we were in a technical recession or a recession. Once again, there is no answer. In order to solve a problem, we first have to acknowledge that a problem exists. However, the Liberals still refuse to acknowledge that Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the Liberals are going to add $318 billion to the national debt by 2031, assuming no other measures are put in place. There is no limit on the Liberal credit card. Will the government finally put an end to its mismanagement, which has, unfortunately, plunged Canada into a recession?

Richard Martel, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession, the deficit is huge, and daily life costs more. I want the Prime Minister to admit that the 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 this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. The Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report confirms that the deficit could be as high as $72 billion in 2026. Meanwhile, Canadians’ purchasing power has stagnated since 2015. For Quebeckers, that means that groceries, mortgages and gas are more expensive. Are these technical bills, or will the Prime Minister admit that Canada is in a recession?

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