The Economy

During the final question period of the session, question period exchanges on the economy focused on the cost of living and the state of the economy. The Conservatives asked repeatedly why groceries, gas, housing and mortgage costs remain high, why the deficit has doubled, why Canada is in a recession and business investment has fallen, and when life will become affordable again; they also noted the Prime Minister was not present to answer. The Liberals responded that the session was productive, with 21 bills passed including criminal justice reforms and affordability measures, that Canada is among the fastest-growing economies in the G7 with strong business investment, and that the Prime Minister brought back trade deals worth $5 billion from the G7 summit; they also noted several Conservative premiers are working with the government. Some time went to summer wishes and comments about the session’s end.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

7 statements

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The cost of food, gas, and housing is near an all-time high. Canada is in a recession, and the government has doubled the deficit. I want the Prime Minister to defend his record.”
  • 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, as this Prime Minister wraps up his third session, I am asking people a question. Are groceries, gas, and mortgage payments any cheaper? Are the streets any safer? Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. The Prime Minister has doubled the deficit. The cost of gas, groceries, and mortgage payments are nearing an all-time high. Instead of more illusions, promises and excuses, will the Prime Minister stand up now to defend his disastrous record?

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“I want to ask the Prime Minister a question. He is not here to defend high living costs, the recession, and the growing deficit.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my question was for the Prime Minister, who missed his 100th question period to avoid defending his record on the cost of living, the Liberal recession, the doubling of the deficit—

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“Life is getting too expensive and Canada is in a recession. I want the Prime Minister to take responsibility and tell us when life will become affordable again.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will be careful about the fact that the Prime Minister cannot defend the cost of living, which is skyrocketing, or the Liberal recession, which is the only one in the entire G20. Instead of offering illusions and making excuses, he should take accountability. Will he stand up in the House of Commons and tell everyone when life will become more affordable and when the Liberal recession will end?

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“Life costs more and crime is up under this Prime Minister. He doubled the deficit, housing costs went up, and fewer homes are being built. I want the Prime Minister to defend these bad results.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister ends his third session, I ask this question: Are our groceries, gas and mortgage payments more affordable than they were a year ago, and are our streets safer or more riddled with crime? Aside from his endless announcements, excuses and promises, the Prime Minister has doubled the deficit and increased housing costs. Homebuilding is actually down. Gas, groceries and mortgage payments are nearing record highs. Will the Prime Minister put aside the illusions and stand up in this House of Commons now and defend his disastrous results?

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The government's bad choices have caused a recession, rising crime, and high prices. Business investment has dropped for five quarters in a row, which is the worst in the G7. I want the Prime Minister to take responsibility for this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, no, we do not plan for a restful summer. We plan to fight all summer long against the Liberal recession, Liberal inflation, the rising Liberal cost of living and the rising Liberal crime crisis in our streets. Let us take, for example, investment. The Liberal Prime Minister promised he would increase it. He has delivered five consecutive quarters of declining investment. This is the only G7 country to have done that. It is one of the reasons that our country is in a recession, which means paycheques are down and the cost of living is up. The Canadian people deserve accountability and results. Will the Prime Minister stand and deliver both now?

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“Canada's economy is shrinking, not growing. It has shrunk in three of the last four quarters, and living costs are up. I want the Prime Minister to defend this record.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that is not just an illusion; that is a hallucination. The government’s own statistical agency says the economy is shrinking. It shrunk this quarter, and it shrunk the quarter before that. In fact, it shrunk three out of the last four quarters. We cannot be the second-fastest growing when we are shrinking, as the Minister of Finance might appreciate and relate to. My question is for the Prime Minister, who has delivered the only recession in the G7 with the consequence of higher costs for Canadians. Will he stand and defend the results instead of—

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The Prime Minister has ruined the economy in every job he has had. He caused high inflation, doubled housing costs, and caused a recession. I want him to take responsibility for this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister cannot defend his disastrous record. It is the same path and journey with him every single time. He takes on a big, fancy job, then he causes disastrous costs for people and then he moves on before he can be held accountable. He caused the worst inflation in the G7 as the governor of the Bank of England, along with a housing crisis. He was Justin Trudeau’s economic adviser, doubling housing costs, debt and food bank line-ups. Now he has delivered the only G7 recession, and he is unable to defend his results. Will the Prime Minister stand today and give accountability and results to hard-working Canadians?

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 139

  1. Government Orders Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 53 statements
  2. Government Orders Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act 14 statements
  3. Government Orders Arab Heritage Month Act 3 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Economy 13 statements
  5. Oral Questions Government Priorities 2 statements
  6. Oral Questions Government Priorities 2 statements
  7. Oral Questions Housing 11 statements
  8. Oral Questions The Environment 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Housing 4 statements
  10. Oral Questions The Economy 6 statements
  11. Government Orders Government Orders 3 statements
  12. Oral Questions Public Safety 5 statements
  13. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  14. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 6 statements
  15. Oral Questions Gender-Based Violence 2 statements
  16. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 6 statements
  17. Oral Questions Justice 2 statements
  18. Oral Questions Justice 4 statements
  19. Oral Questions Foreign Affairs 2 statements
  20. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  21. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  22. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  23. Oral Questions Prime Minister of Canada 2 statements
  24. Oral Questions Official Languages 2 statements
  25. Oral Questions The Economy 4 statements