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The Economy

During question period, members questioned the government about the state of the Canadian economy. Conservative members said Canada is in a recession, with shrinking GDP, falling business investment, a deficit double what was expected, higher grocery costs, fewer housing starts, growing food bank use, and high unemployment, and they asked the Prime Minister to take responsibility for this record. Liberal members replied that the economy is resilient and growing, pointing to 88,000 new jobs, rising wages, lower rents, tax cuts, cost-of-living supports, a national school food program, and investments in Quebec projects such as the Contrecoeur port expansion, mining, and aircraft manufacturing, and they suggested the opposition consult recent economic reports.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession and business investment is down. I want the Prime Minister to defend his poor economic record to Canadians.”

  • 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, the Liberal Prime Minister has been running the country for over a year now. My question is very simple: Where are the actual results for Canadians? Canada is the only G7 country that is in a recession. The GDP has contracted in three of the last four quarters. Business capital investment has fallen for five consecutive quarters, and Canada has the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7. With a track record like that, it is no wonder the Prime Minister is having a hard time explaining himself, but I would like him to stand up and defend his miserable record to Canadians.

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Caroline Desrochers

Liberal
“The economy is improving. We added 88,000 jobs, rents are dropping, and wages are going up. We also cut taxes, gave people money for food and essentials, and started a school food program. Conservatives voted against these helps for Canadians.”

  • A repeated line

    “We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians.”

    Said 17 times by 12 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where my colleague is getting his information, but I would encourage him to refresh his search skills, because then he would see that we added 88,000 new jobs to the economy, that the cost of rent is starting to drop and that wages are on the rise. However, we know that too many Canadians are still unable to cope with the high cost of living. We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We implemented a national school food program. We have the Canada groceries and essentials benefit for 12 million Canadians. I really hope that, while the Conservatives are in their ridings this summer, they will take some time to think about all of the times that they voted against Canadians during this parliamentary session.

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Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“The deficit doubled, living costs rose, fewer homes are being built, and 2.2 million Canadians use food banks. I want the Prime Minister to defend this record.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I hope this government will take the data from Statistics Canada and the budget into account. This past year, the deficit was twice as high as expected. The cost of living went up. Housing starts have declined since May. Unfortunately, and this may be the worst part of this government’s record, 2.2 million Canadians, one-third of them children, have to rely on food banks for food. That is the Liberal record. Can the Prime Minister stand up and defend his record?

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“Our economy is strong and still growing. The Conservatives should read the latest economic report to see the facts.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this government’s record is that it has created a very resilient economy. Despite headwinds from the south, our economy continues to grow. In fact, last week I encouraged my opposition colleagues to check out the C.D. Howe Institute’s Business Cycle Council. I would again encourage them to do so. They should read its report. They might find it very enlightening, and it might change the Conservatives’ message, which is out of sync with reality.

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Jacques Gourde

Conservative
“The Prime Minister has hurt our economy. Groceries cost more, business investment is down, and Canada has high unemployment. I want the Prime Minister to take responsibility for this recession.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 85 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “this Prime Minister is nothing but an illusion”.

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  • A repeated line

    “Canada has the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7.”

    Said 10 times by 9 members since April 28.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, really, this Prime Minister is nothing but an illusion. A banker is supposed to be good with numbers, yet here is the Prime Minister’s track record: every family will be spending an extra $1,000 on groceries in 2026, business capital investment has fallen for five consecutive quarters, and Canada has the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7. This record makes us the only G20 country in recession. The Prime Minister is not being accountable to Canadians. Will he take responsibility for his recession?

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Claude Guay

Liberal
“The opposition is ignoring our work on the economy. We backed port and mining projects in Quebec that bring in billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. We also helped bring new airplane manufacturing jobs to the province.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 38 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our colleagues have short memories, and I am not convinced they read the news. They seem to have forgotten that we announced the Contrecoeur expansion of the port of Montreal, which will create 8,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract $1.2 billion in investment. The Nouveau Monde Graphite mine in Matawinie will create 1,000 new jobs and attract $1.2 billion in investment. Did they also miss the news about the new Indonesian aircraft that are to be built at Bombardier in Quebec, creating thousands of additional jobs in the aerospace sector? We are going to—

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