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The Economy

Question Period focused on the economy and cost of living. Conservative members said Canada is in a recession, that many Canadians face food insecurity and cannot afford housing, and pointed to government spending, including on in-flight catering, as examples of waste; they asked the Prime Minister to change his policies. Liberal members responded that their policies focus on jobs, child care, dental care and support for vulnerable people, pointed to work on safety legislation and international trade issues, and criticized the Conservatives’ own economic plans. Some of the exchange centred on Saskatchewan, with a Liberal member citing growth in the province’s agricultural sector and a Conservative member listing cuts he attributed to that member.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Lianne Rood

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession. People cannot afford food and housing because of Liberal policies. I want the Prime Minister to change these policies.”

  • A repeated line

    “It is not global forces; it is Liberal choices.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since June 12.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is the only G7 leader and Canada is the only G20 country that is currently in a recession. Full-time workers are living in RVs because they cannot afford homes. Families are spending over 120% of their income on food and rent, and two in five Canadians are struggling to put food on their tables, all while a record 2.2 million Canadians are having to rely on food banks. The recession is not global forces; it is Liberal choices. Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly policies so Canadians can afford to live?

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Peter Fragiskatos

Liberal
“The member focuses on silly things like paper lids instead of real issues. Our Liberal policies focus on the economy, jobs, child care, and health care to build a better future for our kids.”

  • 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, this member spent a half hour in a video going after Tim Hortons for converting to paper lids. Paper lids are her contribution to this discussion. She talks about Liberal policies. Liberal policies are squarely focused on the economy, on jobs, on youth, on child care, on dental care and on pharmacare. They are focused on making sure we have a prosperous environment and a prosperous society to give back to our kids.

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Lianne Rood

Conservative
“Canadians cannot afford groceries while the Prime Minister spent almost $1 million on flight food. I want him to change his policies so people can afford to live.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Liberal claims of success are completely detached from reality. Canadians are crowdfunding their way through this cost of living crisis, and the Prime Minister has blown nearly $1 million on luxury inflight catering on just 14 flights, including $175,000 on one single flight. That bill could feed a family in Middlesex—London for 55 years. Canadians cannot afford groceries, so will the Prime Minister stop his outrageous luxury lifestyle, on the taxpayer’s dime, and reverse his policy so Canadians can afford to live again?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal

Linked statement

“Conservatives are using people's problems for political gain instead of helping them. Our government is already passing laws to make our streets safer, stop hate, and protect victims. We can handle the economy and keep people safe at the same time.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 8 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 42 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, when my Conservative colleagues see a vulnerable Canadian, they see a political opportunity to exploit. We see people who we want to help. This question has been asked and answered. It has been fascinating to me, over the last number of weeks, how the Conservatives have completely dropped their focus on public safety in this country. Let me tell the House why. We have a legislative agenda that is going into effect. The Bail and Sentencing Reform Act is now law in Canada. Later today, we are going to vote on the combatting hate act, and by the end of the week, we are going to adopt the protecting victims act. We can balance the economic interests of the country, the needs of families and public safety at the same time. Let us not just focus on political opportunities.

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Warren Steinley

Conservative
“Many Canadians cannot afford enough food. I want the Prime Minister to change his costly policies so people can afford to live.”

  • 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 has said affordability is the best it has been in decades, but in reality, 38% of Canadians face food insecurity. One in five say all food in the home has been eaten and there is no money left to buy more. It is no wonder Food Banks Canada gave the Liberal government an F on food insecurity. Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly policies, which caused this crisis, so Canadians can afford to once again live?

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Buckley Belanger

Liberal
“Saskatchewan has doubled the value of its farm products over the last ten years without help from the Conservatives. Our government has supported Saskatchewan and will keep doing so.”

  • 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 39 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 just want to talk about agriculture for a moment. For the last 10 years, these folks have been here literally doing nothing. Back home in Saskatchewan, we have Saskatchewan’s back. In the last 10 years, it has doubled the value of the amount of all agricultural products without the federal Conservative caucus’s help. The government stood by Saskatchewan and will continue to have Saskatchewan’s back. In the meantime, the Conservatives can sit back for another 10 years. We have this.

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Warren Steinley

Conservative
“The member from northern Saskatchewan has failed our province. He cut the Snowbirds, shut two farm research stations, and did not fund the RCMP museum. If the government is doing well, why are Canadians struggling?”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 50 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “the biggest embarrassment to come out of Saskatchewan since the Riders lost the Grey Cup for having too many men on the…”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this member from northern Saskatchewan is the biggest embarrassment to come out of Saskatchewan since the Riders lost the Grey Cup for having too many men on the field. Let me make a list of what this guy has actually delivered. He cancelled the Snowbirds. He shuttered two agriculture research stations. He never delivered money for the RCMP museum in Regina. If the Liberal government is doing so great, why are Canadians struggling so much?

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Buckley Belanger

Liberal
“Our government is building global partnerships and handling tough international trade issues. Canada cannot afford the Conservatives' economic plans, which make no sense.”

  • 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 29 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 Prime Minister is methodically building a vast, exciting world partnership. This front bench is dealing with some very tough issues around trade wars and international conflicts. This caucus is doing the work to assist in every way possible. What the country cannot afford is the voodoo economic plan of the Conservatives. They make no sense. They have not made any sense in the last 10 years, and I doubt very much that we will see anything that makes sense over the next 10 years.

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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