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The Economy

In question period on the economy, Conservatives said Canada is in a recession, pointing to high housing and food costs, record food bank use, and Quebec businesses cancelling investments or moving to the United States, and asked the Prime Minister to change his policies. Liberals replied that the Prime Minister returned from the G7 with 13 new agreements worth over $5 billion in investments, including from seven countries, and pointed to G7-leading growth, exports, foreign investment, and Quebec’s aerospace sector. Liberals also highlighted their child care savings, while Conservatives questioned government spending and the timeline of grocery pricing legislation. Most exchanges stayed on these competing claims about the economy’s direction.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Andrew Lawton

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is the only leader among our allies to push his country into a recession. Canadians are struggling with housing and food bank use is at record highs. I want him to explain why he says life is affordable.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is time once again. All of the G7 leaders are gathering together, and our Prime Minister has lots to talk about. He can brag that he is the only one of them to lead his country into a recession in the time he has been in office. In fact, he is the only leader in the G20 to do that. The fact that Canada is in a recession is just one measure of the way things are not going well for so many Canadians. We have families living in RVs in parking lots, we have seniors sleeping in Tim Hortons because they have nowhere else to go, and we have food bank usage at record highs, yet the Prime Minister says affordability is the best it has been in years. If this is the best, will he tell us what the worst would look like?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Prime Minister is returning from the G7 with 13 new agreements. These deals will bring over $5 billion in investments to Canada, including new contracts for critical minerals and defence.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 17 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as the G7 wraps up in France, I know Canadians are very proud to be represented by the Prime Minister on the world stage and will be very proud to learn, as he returns, that he returns with 13 new agreements that will generate over $5 billion of investments in our country, new contracts for critical minerals, new contracts for Canadian defence firms as part of the SAFE arrangement and new partnerships to build a stronger, more self-reliant Canada in a troubled world.

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Andrew Lawton

Conservative
“The Prime Minister makes announcements instead of taking real action. He has not signed any new trade deals, and life is getting harder for Canadians. Over two million people, including many children, had to use food banks in just one month last year. I want the Prime Minister to change his plans and fix this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have heard the Prime Minister’s announcements before. What we have not seen is real action. Again, the Prime Minister has travelled around the world and failed to deliver a single new free trade agreement, while Canadians suffer. Even the Liberals’ so-called surveillance pricing announcement yesterday will not even be in effect until at least 2028, meaning it is yet another announcement that is not delivering results for Canadians. Of food bank users in Canada, 2.2 million in a single month last year, one-third are children. When will the Prime Minister reverse course and stop driving Canadians into the food banks?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Our Prime Minister is making business deals around the world, including 13 deals worth 5 billion dollars. We are growing Canada's economy, increasing exports, and bringing in record amounts of foreign investment.”

  • 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 40 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, while the Conservatives are busy making videos, our Prime Minister is busy bringing deals. Members have heard it: 13 deals and $5 billion. That is what leadership is about. That is what Canada in the world is about. We are busy building the strongest economy in the G7. We have exports that are going to overseas markets. We are attracting a record level of foreign direct investment. Every day is a good day to fight for Canadians.

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“The Prime Minister says the economy is doing well, but we are in a recession. Businesses in Quebec are cancelling investments and moving out of Canada. Does the Prime Minister realize his policies are driving businesses away?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claimed that the cost of living is the best it has been in decades, but I have some news for him: We are in a recession. Along with my Conservative colleagues, I travelled across Quebec last week to hear from entrepreneurs. In Beauce, Bellechasse, the Lower St. Lawrence, Saguenay and Quebec City, the conclusion is always the same: Investments are being postponed, planned expansions are on hold and some companies are moving their operations outside of Canada. Does the Prime Minister understand that his greatest failure has been creating a climate in which businesses prefer to produce elsewhere?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Canada's economy has the second-highest growth among G7 countries. Companies are investing here, and Quebec's aerospace industry is doing well. Our government supports Canadian businesses and workers, and the Conservatives should praise them too.”

  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.”

    Said 15 times by 6 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my colleague will be pleased to hear that the Canadian economy ranks second in the G7 in terms of growth. Not only are we seeing growth, but we are also seeing investment; Bombardier is a perfect example of that. Quebec’s aerospace industry is thriving. We have always been there to defend our industries. We have always been there to defend our workers. Together, we will build the most resilient economy in the G7. I hope that one day, the Conservatives will stand up to congratulate our entrepreneurs, our businesses and our workers. On this side of the House, we will do so every day.

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Pierre Paul-Hus

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling with money, and businesses are leaving for the United States. This means Canada is losing jobs. The economy has stopped moving, and the government is ignoring it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think that the Minister of Finance is out of touch with reality. What we see on the ground, what we have observed, is that this is not working at all. What is more, a poll shows that 60% of Canadians are anxious because they do not have enough money and do not know how things will turn out. Then there are our entrepreneurs. As I said when I asked the first question: they have stopped investing. Those who are already in the United States are sending all their business there. That means job losses in Canada. Where is the good news in all this? Everything has come to a standstill. Nothing is moving forward. Does the Prime Minister realize that?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“The Conservatives criticize our economy, but our government is proud of it. We have skilled workers, strong industries, energy, critical minerals, and trade deals. We will keep supporting our workers and business owners.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we hear the Conservatives talk against the economy. On this side of the House, we are proud. We are proud to have the most skilled workers in the world. We are proud to have an auto industry, a maritime industry, and an aerospace industry. We are proud to have critical minerals for the 21st century. We are proud to have abundant energy, renewable energy and nuclear energy. We are proud to be the only G7 country to have a free trade agreement with all the other G7 countries. On this side of the House, we will continue to support our entrepreneurs and our workers. We will continue to be proud of the Canadian economy.

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Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“Canadians cannot afford housing or food because of the government's spending and rules. I want the Prime Minister to cancel the policies that caused this crisis.”

  • A repeated line

    “Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly policies causing this crisis so Canadians can afford to live again?”

    Said 7 times by 7 members since June 10.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that affordability is the best it has been in a decade, but full-time workers are living in RVs and trailers because they cannot afford a home. Families are spending over 120% of their income on rent and food alone. People are even skipping surgeries and other major life events just to survive. The Liberals’ inflationary spending, red tape and antidevelopment policies created this recession and cost of living crisis. It is not global forces; it is Liberal choices. When will the Prime Minister reverse his costly policies that caused this crisis so Canadians can afford to live again?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“Our child care plan saves Ontario families up to $13,000 a year per child so parents can go to work. The Conservatives keep voting against this help, and they should start supporting it.”

  • 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 34 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, the real question is this: When will the Conservatives stop voting against the very constituents they claim to stand up for and support? Here in Ontario, for example, a family can be saving up to $13,000 per child per year in early learning and child care fees, which is something that helps people ensure they can get to work and keep those good-paying jobs that these guys keep talking about, but they obviously do not understand how an economy works. On this side, we are doing everything we can to make sure that families, workers, people who are struggling and people who are entering the workforce have the supports to build this economy strong. Maybe the Conservatives should get on board.

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Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“Canadians cannot afford food, but the Prime Minister spent almost one million dollars of public money on airplane meals. His plan to lower grocery prices will not help until 2028. I want him to stop making Canadians pay for the economic crisis he caused.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we cannot make this up. The Prime Minister says affordability is the best it has been in a decade. Then ministers in the House rise and take credit for programs they implemented to address all the damage they caused. Their promised surveillance pricing legislation to lower grocery costs will not even take effect before 2028. While millions of Canadians cannot afford to eat, the Prime Minister spent nearly $1 million on inflight catering, and all of that on the taxpayers’ dime. When will this Prime Minister stop making Canadians pay for a crisis he built, a recession he caused and dinner that he put on their tab?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“We announced five billion dollars in new investments from seven other countries to help build Canada. The Conservatives should help us build too instead of working against us.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 19 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 38 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, while I know the member across does not want to help us build Canada, let us talk about who does want to help us build Canada. Today, we announced $5 billion in new investment from Japan, Italy, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Portugal. They want to help us build. Why do the Conservatives not try and help build?

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More from sitting 138

All 39 items ·
  1. Oral Questions The Economy 12 statements
  2. Oral Questions Democratic Institutions 6 statements
  3. Oral Questions Small Business 14 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Economy 10 statements
  5. Oral Questions Agriculture and Agri-Food 2 statements
  6. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  7. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 2 statements
  8. Oral Questions Health 7 statements
  9. Oral Questions Employment 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Public Safety 6 statements
  11. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Natural Resources 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Transportation 4 statements
  16. Private Members' Business Private Members' Business 3 statements
  17. Government Orders Government Business No. 13—Proceedings on Bill C‑22 18 statements
  18. Private Members' Business Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada Act 8 statements
  19. Government Orders Government Business No. 13—Proceedings on Bill C‑22 82 statements
  20. Government Orders Government Orders 3 statements
  21. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 5 statements