Employment

Question period focused on employment and the job market. Conservatives cited Statistics Canada figures showing a roughly 29-year low in workforce participation, 110,000 jobs lost over two months, and the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7, arguing young Canadians are hit hardest and asking the government to change course, including reversing two laws affecting the resource industry, and noting a committee had made 16 recommendations on youth employment. Liberals pointed to 160,000 jobs created this year, a $430-million investment in union-led training, announced projects such as Churchill Falls and Gull Island that they said would create thousands of jobs, and argued members had not acknowledged the impact of American tariffs and the trade war on the economy. One Liberal response also referenced programs supporting youth employment.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

10 statements

Garnett Genuis, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan

Conservative
“Fewer Canadians are working now than at any point in almost 30 years. The government is ignoring this jobs crisis and pretending everything is fine.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada has hit an alarming 29-year low in workforce participation. A smaller proportion of Canadians are in the workforce today than at any point in almost 30 years, but the Liberals shut down debate this morning on the unemployment crisis and continue to claim that everything is fine. How bad does workforce participation have to get before they notice: a 60-year low, a 100-year low?

John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour)

Liberal
“Canada has created 160,000 jobs this year. We also announced $430 million over five years for union training and apprentice programs to build a skilled workforce.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 91 of 100

    Of this answer, 93% addressed the question that was asked.

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  • A repeated line

    “Let us build Canada strong together.”

    Said 4 times by 2 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in fact, Canada this year has created 160,000 jobs and has created a huge workforce. I am actually quite pleased to take the opportunity to announce that last week we made a major announcement of $430 million over five years for union-led training, new expanded training centres, new ways to recruit and train apprentices, and new modern equipment. That is how you build the skilled workforce of the future. That is what we need to do in this country. We need to build this country. Let us build this Canada together.

Garnett Genuis, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan

Conservative
“The share of Canadians working or looking for work is at a 29-year low. This is a serious problem. I want the minister to admit people are struggling and do something about it.”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 58 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “stop patting himself on the back”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is unbelievable to me how much the minister has his head in the sand. These are Statistics Canada job numbers that were released the week before Friday. It is clear, in black and white, that we are at a 29-year low in workforce participation. I have a news flash for the minister: That is not good news. That is not “everything is fine” news. That is a five-alarm fire. When will the minister stop patting himself on the back, recognize that Canadians are struggling, and actually do something about it?

Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

Liberal
“The member pushes for low-quality private colleges that do not help young people get good jobs. Our summer job and work programs actually help youth work more and earn more money over their lives.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan has been at committee many times, advocating for substandard education for youth through private career colleges, which was part of the topic that we were discussing with the opposition just moments before. That is not the kind of thing that helps retain young people and get them into good jobs. In fact, what we have is strong evidence about the work that we do to make sure young people have access to quality jobs, through Canada summer jobs and work-integrated learning, and those result in not only stronger labour force attachment but better earnings over their lifetime. Maybe that member should stop—

Rosemarie Falk, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake

Conservative
“Canada lost 110,000 jobs in two months, and young Canadians are hurting the most. Will the government change its policies so young people can find work?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada reported that Canada lost 68,300 jobs in September, amounting to 110,000 jobs lost in just two months. Young Canadians are the ones bearing the brunt of these losses. For a young Canadian trying to land their first job, build experience and save for a home, these are not just statistics. They represent lost opportunities and a delayed future. Will the Liberals reverse course on their policies that are holding young Canadians back?

Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)

Liberal
“Canada's economy grew in the second quarter, and Saskatchewan helped lead that growth. We are seeing record investment there in potash and uranium mining, and we want to keep supporting that development.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 9 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that Canada’s economy grew by 0.08% in the second quarter, and one of the leaders in that growth in the economy was the Government of Saskatchewan. We are seeing record investment, not only in potash but in uranium mining. Saskatchewan is an exciting part of our country. We want to continue fostering that development, and one of the things that has led to the excitement in Saskatchewan is that most of the federal Conservatives—

Rosemarie Falk, Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake

Conservative
“Canada has high unemployment and fewer people working because Liberal policies pushed jobs and investment away. I want the government to reverse two laws that hurt our resource industry.”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 91 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “maybe that member does not know”.

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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, maybe that member does not know, but Canada has the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7, and the labour force participation rate fell below 65% in September, the lowest level in almost 30 years outside of the pandemic. That is the result of over a decade of harmful Liberal policies that have chased jobs and investments out of this country. Canadians who are facing job losses need action now. Will the Liberals take that real action and unleash our economy and commit to reversing Bill C-69 and Bill C-48?

Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Liberal
“The Conservatives do not mention American tariffs or the trade war hurting our economy. Even with those tariffs, we are fighting back and creating jobs. We announced hundreds of new jobs recently in London, Montreal, and across the country. We will keep creating jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when I listen to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, they never mention the American tariffs. They never mention what the trade war is doing to our economy and how much, notwithstanding these unjustified American tariffs, we are fighting back. I will give some examples. We were able to announce just today, with Xona Space Systems, 126 jobs; at Hitachi Energy in London, Ontario, last week, 550 jobs and $500 million of investments; and also, at Jubilant Radiopharma, 255 jobs in Montreal. We will continue to create jobs across this country.

Gabriel Hardy, Montmorency—Charlevoix

Conservative
“Young people cannot find jobs, and Canada has its lowest job numbers in 30 years. A committee made 16 suggestions to fix this, but the Liberals just voted to stop debating the issue. I want the Prime Minister to explain why his government is avoiding talking about our young people's future.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canada is experiencing its lowest level of labour market activity in 30 years. While our young people are desperately searching for their first job, a parliamentary committee heard from 38 witnesses and made 16 recommendations for action. What is the Liberal government’s response? They will look into the matter. They support the recommendations in principle and have taken note of them. That is great. Today, the Liberals voted to end the debate on youth unemployment because it seems they have more important things to do in the House than discuss this issue. It is a political game being played by the Conservatives, apparently. Can the Prime Minister tell us why his government is avoiding talking about our young people’s future?

Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Liberal
“We have good news about jobs. The project at Churchill Falls and Gull Island will create 23,000 jobs. Other projects in Contrecœur, Nouveau Monde Graphite, and Alto will also create jobs, and we are helping tradespeople get trained.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, like the finance minister, I have very good news for the member. I am happy to oblige because he missed a lot of news over the past few months. He missed the announcement that the project in Churchill Falls and Gull Island in Quebec and Labrador will generate 23,000 jobs, not to mention the project in Contrecœur, the Nouveau Monde Graphite project, the Alto project, of course, and all the efforts we are making to help tradespeople get the right training.

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