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The Economy

During question period on the economy, Conservative members said Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, that the economy has shrunk in recent quarters, that the government is borrowing tens of billions more than planned, and that the Parliamentary Budget Officer sees little chance of the government meeting its fiscal targets; they asked the Prime Minister to take responsibility. Liberal ministers replied that the economy added 88,000 jobs last month, unemployment is down, foreign investment is at its highest in 20 years, taxes were cut for 22 million Canadians, and military and infrastructure projects are creating jobs across the country. They also criticized the Conservative leader’s economic experience and, in one reply, Saskatchewan Conservative MPs’ record.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

10 statements

Lianne Rood

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country heading into a recession, and our economy is shrinking. Will the Prime Minister admit that his policies caused this?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, every other G20 nation is facing the same global headwinds as Canada is, yet under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 nation facing a recession. In the last few days, we have learned even more about the dire state of our economy under his watch. The economy has shrunk in three of the last four quarters, per capita GDP is stagnating, and our productivity has hit a seven-year low. Will the Prime Minister admit that his failed policies have caused this recession, or will he keep denying the reality lived by millions of Canadians who are suffering under his watch?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“The Conservative leader has no real work experience and offers no solutions for the economy. The Prime Minister has real experience and will make our economy the strongest in the G7.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 75 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “no advice from a leader who has never worked a minute in the economy”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are going to take no advice from a leader who has never worked a minute in the economy. He has no practical experience. Those of us who have actually worked in the economy, when we are faced with challenges, have a choice. We can be like the Conservative leader, flail our hands, offer no solutions and blame everybody else, or we can lead. We can make decisions. We can lay a strong foundation for a future strong economy. The Conservative leader has no experience. Our Prime Minister is going to build the strongest economy in the G7.

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Lianne Rood

Conservative
“The government is failing to meet its financial targets and economic growth will be very low. I want the Prime Minister to take responsibility for weakening Canada's economy instead of borrowing and spending more.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot trust the half-truths or honeyed words coming off the lips of any of the Liberals right now. The Parliamentary Budget Officer gives a less than 1% chance that the Liberal government will meet its own fiscal anchor. Banks forecast growth of 0.5% in 2026. Will the Prime Minister take responsibility for delivering Canada’s last-place economy, or will he keep borrowing and keep spending so he can take credit for our economic collapse?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“Our economy is strong and Canada added 88,000 jobs last month. We are working to build the best economy in the G7, while the Conservative leader offers no real solutions.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 20 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 14 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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  • A repeated line

    “We are focused on building the strongest economy in the G7.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since April 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if the leader actually worked in the economy and sat in front of a board of directors, blaming everybody and offering no solutions, he would be fired. Actually, he already was fired, by the former riding of Carleton. On this side of the House, we are focused on building a strong economy. Canada just created 88,000 jobs last month. The fundamentals of our economy are strong. We are focused on building the strongest economy in the G7. The Conservative leader offers nothing but empty parking lot press conferences, rhetoric and slogans.

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Blaine Calkins

Conservative
“Canada's economy is shrinking, and it is growing much slower than the American economy. I want the Prime Minister to explain why he has led Canada into 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 Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country that is in a recession. In the past few days, we have learned much more about how dire the state of our economy is under his watch. Here are the facts. The economy has shrunk in two of the last three quarters and in three of the last four. Two major banks, BMO and Scotiabank, both forecast that Canada’s economy will grow less than half as much as America’s. Our per capita GDP is lower than it was three years ago. Our economic picture after a decade of Liberal rule is getting worse by the day. Will the Prime Minister do his job, stand up and tell Canadians why he has led Canada into a recession?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“Our economy is doing well. We added 88,000 jobs last month, cut taxes for 22 million Canadians, and are investing in housing, infrastructure, and defence. The member needs to get his facts straight.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians.”

    Said 17 times by 12 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here are the facts. We added 88,000 jobs last month. Unemployment is down. Foreign direct investment is up at the highest it has been in 20 years, the highest in the G7. We have dropped our fuel excise tax by 10¢ a litre. We increased capital gains eligibility. We have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We are making massive investments in housing, infrastructure and defence, and now the trade surplus is up. The member has to get his facts straight.

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Blaine Calkins

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession and business investment is falling. I want the Prime Minister to explain why he led our economy into this.”

  • 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, in spite of everything the minister just said, Canada is still in a recession. However, we already know that the Prime Minister cannot do his job, because Canada is the only country in the G20 that is in a recession. After a decade of Liberal rule, businesses are not investing. Capital investment has fallen for the fifth quarter in a row. The government’s new Parliamentary Budget Officer has just reported that there is only a 1% chance that the government will meet its fiscal anchor. The Prime Minister claims he is a crisis manager and a master economist. If he truly is, could he stand in the House and tell Canadians why he has led Canada into a recession?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“Our military projects have created tens of thousands of jobs across Canada. The opposition should support this work instead of criticizing the country.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here is where we have led Canadians on the defence side alone: joint support ships, 3,500 jobs; Arctic and offshore patrol ships, 2,300 jobs; fixed-wing search and rescue, 1,800 jobs; remotely piloted aircraft system, 700 jobs; River class destroyers, 5,250 jobs; logistics vehicle modernization, 1,900 jobs; armoured combat support vehicles, 1,650 jobs. There are tens of thousands of jobs in the defence sector alone. Get on board. Stop running the country down. Help us build it.

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Kevin Waugh

Conservative
“Canada's economy is shrinking, and the government is borrowing tens of billions more than planned. I want the Prime Minister to tell Canadians if 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, under this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in recession. The economy has shrunk three of the last four quarters. The Liberals are already borrowing over their projected $65 billion. The Parliamentary Budget Officer projects borrowing now to climb to $72 billion. Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians if they are in a recession or are they only technically doing worse after a decade of Liberal rule?

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Buckley Belanger

Liberal

Linked statement

“Saskatchewan Conservatives did nothing for the province for ten years. Our government is building the economy, which has added 88,000 jobs through local businesses, farming, and natural resources.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 7 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 26 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is a decade of 14 Saskatchewan Conservatives doing absolutely nothing to further Saskatchewan’s interests. On this side of the House, we are building an economy. We are proud of the entrepreneurs who created 88,000 new jobs. We are grateful for the investors. We are pleased to see the producers add to that strength: Saskatchewan canola, Canada’s uranium, potash, oil and gas. We are not sitting on our hands—

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