“Canada lost 42,000 jobs in August, and youth unemployment is almost 13%. These losses happened before trade talks with the United States failed, so government policies are to blame. The government must change its policies, fix immigration and job training, and build more homes so people can get back to work.”

“Mr. Speaker, August job numbers delivered more challenging news for the Canadian economy. Some 42,000 jobs were lost, and there was a further increase to the youth unemployment rate. The youth unemployment rate now sits at 12.9%. Job numbers for August are calculated for the reference week of August 9 to 15, before trade talks broke down with the United States. While tariffs and countertariffs will impose costs, Canada lost 42,000 jobs before these talks broke down. That is the result of domestic policy choices that are making it harder for all Canadians, particularly young people, to find jobs. For a year, Conservatives have been promoting our constructive jobs plan: unleash the economy, fix immigration, fix training and build homes where the jobs are. We need an economic action plan to strengthen our country and restore jobs and opportunity for the next generation. We cannot control what happens beyond our borders, but we can reverse the policies that have been hurting jobs in our economy here at home for the last 11 years. Let us get to work so Canadians can as well.”