The Economy

During Question Period on the economy, Conservatives said Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, blaming government spending and policies for high food and housing costs, and pointed to the Prime Minister’s travel expenses and the struggles of workers and families. Liberal ministers replied that the economy is growing, with wages rising faster than inflation, more jobs created per capita than the United States, and major projects underway such as energy and transportation infrastructure across several provinces. They also noted that Conservative members voted against benefit programs like the Canada child benefit, dental care, and groceries supports. No other matter took up significant time in the exchange.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

12 statements

Rhonda Kirkland, Oshawa

Conservative
“The Prime Minister's policies caused a recession and made life too expensive for Canadians. I want him to change these policies so people can afford food and housing.”
  • A repeated line

    “Canadians are struggling to put food on the table.”

    Said 14 times by 12 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, today, the Prime Minister arrives at the G7 as the only leader who has driven his own country into a recession. While he flies around the world in style with nearly $1 million in luxury inflight catering, Canadians are being driven out of their homes and into food banks. Two in five Canadians are struggling to put food on the table, and many families are skipping meals, living in RVs and losing sleep over how they will pay their bills. Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly Liberal policies that have caused this crisis so that Canadians can afford to live and have hope again?

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal
“The member votes against our programs to help people buy food, raise children, and see the dentist. We will not apologize for the Prime Minister traveling to bring back investments and jobs for Canadians.”
  • A repeated line

    “Such as the groceries and essentials benefit.”

    Said 5 times by 5 members since April 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, every time we propose something to help the very people the member speaks of, she rises on her leader’s orders and votes against it, such as the groceries and essentials benefit, the Canada child benefit, aid for seniors and aid for dental care. We will not apologize for the Prime Minister’s going to other countries, signing trade deals, bringing back billions in investment and creating jobs and opportunities for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Rhonda Kirkland, Oshawa

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, even though other countries face the same global problems. I want the government to explain why Canada is the only one in a recession.”
  • A repeated line

    “Why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession?”

    Said 16 times by 13 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are seeing through the illusions. The Liberals keep rolling out more programs and calling them progress. If we need more government supports just to get by, that is not success. It is an admission of failure. All of the G7 countries face the same global pressures, yet only one has managed to turn these shared challenges into a recession at home. That is our Canada under the Liberal Prime Minister. Since the same global pressures are affecting everyone, why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession, while others have managed to avoid it?

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Liberal

Linked statement

“Our government is helping the economy grow. We have created more jobs per person than the United States. We are building major projects across the country, like high-speed rail, even though the opposition is against them.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 34 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let me tell the member and her entire bench what success looks like. Success looks like creating twice as many jobs per capita as the United States. Success looks like diversifying our trade. Success looks like Contrecœur. Success looks like high‑speed rail in Ontario and Quebec, which her party is against. Success looks like an MOU with the Province of Alberta. Success looks like economic development from one coast to another. We are going to keep getting success, notwithstanding the opposition of these guys.

John Brassard, Barrie South—Innisfil

Conservative
“Liberal policies have pushed Canada into a recession. Canadians and businesses are worried about their money and their future. I want the Prime Minister to change these costly policies.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if we talk to anyone on the street or to businesses suffering from 11 years of failed Liberal policies, they will tell us that Canada is in a recession, no matter how the Liberals or the media try to spin it, and that things are not getting any better. Families, seniors and young people are anxious about their finances and their future. The worst of all scenarios have crept into the minds of Canadian business: doubt and uncertainty. The Liberal Prime Minister has the distinction of walking into the G7 meetings as the only leader to push their country into recession. Will he rethink his costly policies, which have caused this recession?

Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Liberal
“The opposition only criticizes Canada, but our government is building energy projects across the country.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 33 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “We are building new nuclear in Ontario.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since May 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, while the opposition talks Canada down, we are building. We are building with $8 billion in Goose Bay. We are building new wind farms in Nova Scotia. We are building new nuclear plants in Ontario. We are building new pipelines in British Columbia and Alberta. All they do is talk us down. We are building.

John Brassard, Barrie South—Innisfil

Conservative
“The Prime Minister's policies caused our recession and hurt Canadians. Millions of people are struggling to buy food and pay their bills, while rich friends of the government do well.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada’s decline did not start last April. It was catalyzed six years ago, when the current Prime Minister was Trudeau’s economic adviser. The Prime Minister’s fingerprints are all over the failed policies that have caused Canada to be the only G7 country in a recession. While well‑connected Liberals and corporate buddies are doing well, the crumbs the Liberals feed to families, seniors and young people cannot mask the fact that 60% of Canadians feel anxious about their finances, 40% are losing sleep, 38% have food insecurity and 2.2 million Canadians visited food banks last year. Does that sound like everything is working well?

Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Liberal
“Canada is doing well today, and the provincial premiers are hopeful about our future. The Conservatives should help us build the country instead of criticizing it.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 39 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, I know they want to go back six years and re-fight an election from six years ago. Unfortunately, it is today, which is good for Canada. What we hear is the Premier of Alberta saying she has never been as optimistic about the country. We hear that from all of the premiers. They want to build with the government. Instead of talking us down, why do the Conservatives not get on board and help build this country?

Luc Berthold, Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford food and housing while the Prime Minister wastes money on luxury trips. I want him to stop the spending and policies that made life so expensive.”
  • A repeated line

    “The Prime Minister is now the only G7 leader to push his country into recession.”

    Said 5 times by 5 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister will attend the G7 summit today as the only leader to have led his country into a recession. Full-time workers are living in RVs because they can no longer afford housing. According to United Way, 60% of Canadians are anxious about their finances, and 38% are food insecure, yet the Liberal Prime Minister finds a way to spend $1 million on luxury inflight meals. Will the Liberal Prime Minister finally put an end to the inflationary spending, bureaucracy and policies that created this Canadian cost-of-living crisis?

Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant

Liberal
“Canada's economy and wages are growing, and our government is working to create jobs. The Conservatives say they care about people, but they voted against programs that help Canadians pay for groceries, dental care, and child care.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 21 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the economy, forecasts indicate that Canada will have the second-fastest growth among G7 countries. Wages have been rising faster than inflation for 38 months, but we recognize that challenges remain. That is why, on this side of the House, we are working tirelessly to deliver major projects, create jobs and generate wealth across the country. However, when I see the Conservatives come in every day, hand on heart, with all the empathy in the world, when they voted against measures that have helped millions of Canadians—whether it is the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Canadian dental care plan, or the Canada child benefit—I want to urge them to take a step back and start walking the talk.

Luc Berthold, Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to get by because of inflation. I want the Prime Minister to stop spending so much public money on luxury meals while travelling.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, they want us to applaud them for putting a bandage over a wound they created. That is the issue. I have a message for the Prime Minister, who is at the G7. I also have a message for this minister. Rogelio Rigor, a Quebec father working two jobs, told La Presse, “I was just barely surviving.” He had to file a consumer proposal. This is the Liberal Prime Minister’s real economic record. Instead of spending nearly $1 million on luxury meals while travelling, is the Liberal Prime Minister prepared to give up his smoked salmon, considering that Rogelio has sacrificed everything as a result of Liberal inflation?

Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant

Liberal
“Thousands of people in the member's riding get money from our programs for child care, dental care, and groceries. He voted against these programs. I want him to stop giving speeches and start voting for things that help his voters.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 36 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I do not have their names, but there are 13,586 families in his riding who are getting their share of the $101 million from the Canada child benefit, which he voted against. I do not have their names, but there are 13,500 families who depend on it. I do not have their names, but there are 39,000 people in his riding who benefit from the Canadian dental care plan. I do not have their names, but tens of thousands of his constituents are benefiting from the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit. I urge him to stop making grand speeches in the House and start voting for his people.

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