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The Economy

Question Period on the economy focused on the Prime Minister’s spending on meals during official flights. Conservative members said taxpayers’ money had been spent on expensive in-flight catering, citing figures like $17,000 on salmon over three flights and close to $1 million across 14 trips, and contrasted this with food bank use and cost-of-living pressures they attributed to Liberal policies. Liberal ministers, including Steven MacKinnon and François-Philippe Champagne, pointed to trade wars and conflicts abroad, said the Prime Minister was representing Canada in negotiations that bring investment and jobs, and described government investments in infrastructure, housing, business and defence; some also objected to the tone of the questions, and members offered condolences for a fallen first responder.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

10 statements

Jasraj Hallan

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister spent $17,000 of public money on salmon during just three flights. That is as much as a family spends on food in a whole year.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister stuffed his face with $17,000 of salmon on just three taxpayer-funded flights. That is as much as a family will spend— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The Prime Minister spent too much tax money on flight catering, including thousands of dollars on salmon and ninety-four thousand dollars on one trip to Rome. This is unfair when millions of Canadians must use food banks.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister spent 17,000 dollars’ worth of salmon on just three taxpayer-funded flights. That is as much as a family will spend on groceries for the entire year. While sending 2.2 million Canadians to a food bank every single month, is it fair that he stuffed his face with $94,000 of catering on just one flight to Rome, when that is how much five families spend on groceries for the entire year?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“People look down on how politicians act in the House of Commons.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, people wonder why people look down on the antics in the House of Commons— An hon. member: It’s a $200,000 catering bill there, Steve.

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We are mourning the death of a first responder today. The official opposition should ask better, more serious questions instead of playing politics.”

  • 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

    Signal 9 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, on a day when we are mourning the loss of a first responder, people should really wonder, as they look on the House of Commons, why folks look down on some of the antics here, when we follow up such a constructive exchange with something penned quite obviously from the desk of the Leader of the Opposition. I expect 30 more of those today. Let us just hope they can up their game a bit.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“Millions of Canadians rely on food banks because of the government's failed policies. It is unfair that the Prime Minister spends public money on expensive meals while Canadians struggle.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is no need to politicize the loss of the police officer. We are asking questions on behalf of the 2.2 million Canadians waiting in a food bank line because of failed Liberal policies, and now 40% of Canadians are losing sleep. Do members know who is not losing sleep? The Prime Minister, who is enjoying fine dining on the taxpayer dime, is not losing sleep. Is it fair that the Prime Minister gets to live lavishly on the taxpayer dime while sending more Canadians to the food bank every single month?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The world is facing trade disputes and wars in Europe and the Middle East. The Prime Minister is working with other countries to bring back deals and investments that create Canadian jobs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “We are in the midst of a trade war.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since June 9.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as Canadians know all too well, we are in the midst of a trade war. We are in the midst of negotiating some of the most signal world events that we have seen in a generation, including two wars, one in the Middle East and one in Europe. Our Prime Minister is representing our country proudly on the international stage. When he goes there, he comes home with agreements, with deals and with investments that give opportunity to Canadians, that supply jobs to Canadians and that help us get things done for Canadians so we can ensure our prosperity.

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford food and everyday costs. At the same time, the Prime Minister spent nearly $1 million on airplane food for 14 trips. I want to know if he thinks that is a responsible use of taxpayers' money.”

  • A repeated line

    “People are struggling to make ends meet.”

    Said 13 times by 10 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister left his job as the chair of Brookfield in New York to come to Canada, he forgot that he was no longer working for a private company but for Canadian taxpayers. Right now, Canadians are going through a recession. They are paying more for everything, and millions are struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, government documents show that the Prime Minister spent nearly $1 million on inflight catering for just 14 trips. While families have to watch every penny they spend at the grocery store, does the Prime Minister really think that spending $1 million on inflight meals is a responsible use of taxpayers’ money?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Prime Minister is doing a good job representing Canada in world trade talks during a hard time. His work brings jobs and investment to Canadians, and he should keep going.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 31 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 25 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, Canadians watch the proceedings of the House, and I do not think that they appreciate that accusatory tone. Canadians know full well that we are in the midst of intense trade negotiations. There are wars in Europe and in the Middle East. The Prime Minister proudly represents us. He is bringing back agreements, investments and opportunities for Canadians across the country. We are proud of our Prime Minister. We are proud of the efforts that he is making on the international stage, and I hope he will keep going.

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“The Prime Minister spends an average of $70,000 on food and drinks for each trip. How can he defend spending this taxpayer money when food bank use is higher than ever?”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 64 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “it must be hard for the Prime Minister to get used to life in the public service after having enjoyed the perks”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think the tone I used was appropriate, considering how wasteful the party across the way has been all these years. I know that it must be hard for the Prime Minister to get used to life in the public service after having enjoyed the perks of working for a private company like Brookfield. However, it is important to understand that each trip costs an average of $70,000 in food and drink. That is not the cost of the plane, nor is it the cost of fuel; it is just the bill for food and drink. At a time when food banks are seeing greater demand than ever, how can the Prime Minister justify this to Canadian taxpayers?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I send my sympathies to the family and friends of Constable Marc Pinizzotto. Our government is investing in infrastructure, housing, business, and defence to bring more money into Canada.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 21 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to offer my sympathies to the family and friends of Constable Marc Pinizzotto. The thoughts of every member of the House go out to him and his family today. To answer my colleague’s question, our government is making generational investments in infrastructure, housing, competitiveness, innovation and defence. Every member of our government is working on attracting investment, and the Prime Minister is making Canadians proud not just here at home, but around the world.

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