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The Economy

During question period on the economy, the Conservative leader repeatedly asked why Canada is the only G7 country in recession, saying the Prime Minister was making excuses, wrongly blaming immigration, and should take responsibility given his past statements that recessions hurt the poorest and youngest hardest. Liberal ministers responded that the economy is resilient despite tariffs and global conflicts, pointing to growing non-U.S. exports, wage growth outpacing inflation, investment in defence, nuclear power, ports and other major projects, and commercial deals secured for Canadian businesses; they also challenged the Conservatives to present their own plan and said they were talking the country down.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative

Linked statement

“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. The Prime Minister is making excuses instead of fixing it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Liberal Prime Minister. Five days after learning that Canada was the only G7 country in recession, the Prime Minister finally decided to answer a question from the media and offer fresh excuses. He says the reason we are in a recession is that immigration is too low and that per capita GDP is actually very good. Per capita GDP has risen by 0.2%. Is the Prime Minister expecting a parade for that?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“Our economic plan is working. We are selling more goods to countries other than the United States, pay is growing faster than prices, and foreign businesses are investing more here than in other top nations. Also, the Prime Minister answers questions instead of insulting the news.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 7 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister answers questions rather than insulting the media. That is the first point. The second point is that I think it is important to understand that our plan is working. Our non-U.S. exports are on the rise; in fact, they are doubling. The other point is that wages have consistently outpaced inflation. Furthermore, we can see that Canada is the most attractive destination in the G7 for foreign investment. It is clear that our plan is working.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession and business investment has dropped for five quarters in a row. The Prime Minister is wrong when he says investment is up. Why is he saying things that are not true?”

  • A repeated line

    “Canada is now the only G7 country in recession.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since June 1.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the per capita GDP growth rate is about as high as the Prime Minister’s question period attendance rate. He should be answering questions about the fact that, under his leadership, Canada is the only G7 country to be in recession. Today, he said that investment in Canada has increased over the last two quarters. Let us look at the Statistics Canada report. In the first quarter of 2026, business capital investment fell by another 0.7%, marking a fifth consecutive decline. Why is the Prime Minister spreading misinformation?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“Canada faces global challenges, but our economic plan is working. We are investing in defence, industry, and major projects. The Leader of the Opposition should present his own plan instead of celebrating hard times.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 70 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “why does the Leader of the Opposition seem so happy to gloat”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan, but we are also facing headwinds. It is clear that with the tariff threats, wars in the Middle East and wars in Europe, Canada is facing headwinds, but we have a plan. Our plan is working. We have a defence plan to spend money here. We have a plan for industry and, indeed, businesses are purchasing more equipment and materials. We have a plan for major projects. The real question is why does the Leader of the Opposition seem so happy to gloat over the fact that Canada is facing headwinds? Why is he not presenting his own plan?

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. The Prime Minister is making excuses instead of fixing it. Our economy barely grew last year, and he should not be proud of that.”

  • A repeated line

    “He has delivered the only recession in the G7.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since June 2.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Prime Minister. We do not need more excuses. He has delivered the only recession in the G7. Mexico is not in recession. It is just as integrated with the United States and shares a border with that country. The Prime Minister finally emerged to take media questions on his recession today, and he blamed it on the fact that immigration, as he claims, is not high enough and that per capita GDP is actually not so bad. The only problem is that, in the last year, per capita GDP has only grown by 0.2%. Does he really expect a parade for 0.2%?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“Canada's economy is strong, even with foreign tariffs and wars. We are building nuclear power, power lines, ports, and roads. The Conservatives should stop talking down our country.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 69 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “all Canadians, except for the Leader of the Opposition”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians, except for the Leader of the Opposition, understand that we have the most integrated economy with the Americans in the world. They understand our economy continues to show resilience in the face of illegal and unjustified tariffs. They understand we are facing two global economy-destroying wars. Canadians want us to work to build, not to talk down, Canada. That is why we are building nuclear. That is why we are building transmission. That is why we are building ports. That is why we are building roads. We can keep going. They should stop talking us down.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canada is the only major peer country facing a recession, and the Prime Minister is making excuses for it. Other countries face the same global problems but are not in a recession. The Prime Minister is wrongly blaming our economic problems on low immigration.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are building a recession, and they are building excuses. The fact is that all other G7 countries face tariffs and global wars. Mexico is just as, if not more, integrated with the United States; and none of those other countries are in a recession. Only the Liberal Prime Minister has delivered that. After five days, he finally emerged to talk to the media, after hiding from answering questions, and blamed the recession on the fact that immigration is not high enough. Per capita GDP has increased by 0.2%. Why the—

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“The Leader of the Opposition does not have a real plan for the country. His only past idea was telling people to buy cryptocurrency. He should stop talking Canada down and share a plan that helps us move forward.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 17 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 13 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, the Leader of the Opposition has some kind of phony and artificial narrative. I do not know where he is drawing this from. He picks up pieces of information. He tries to weave them together. What is interesting is that he has no plan. He has nothing to say. The last time he had a plan, he told Canadians to go invest in cryptocurrency. For God’s sake, let us take a look at where that is at. Why does the Leader of the Opposition not get up and give us a real plan, and instead of running down this incredible country, build this country forward and build it up?

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister once said that recessions hurt the poorest and youngest people the most. Now he has caused a recession. He needs to take responsibility for it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the question was for the Liberal Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said: Experience shows that when the economy enters recession, the poorest are hit the hardest, [and]...the lower-skilled, lower paid people tend to lose their jobs first. And recessions disproportionately affect the young.... Graduating in a recession is generally bad news for someone’s earnings.... In the extreme, prolonged recessions can lead to permanent labour market scarring, with potentially devastating effects on livelihoods, identities and communities. This is people’s lives. The Prime Minister caused this painful recession. Will he show up, stand up and own up?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“Canadians want to build big projects like wind power, mines, and ports. The Conservatives keep criticizing these opportunities. We support Canadian workers, and we are building these things together.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 29 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 33 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, do members know what Canadians are excited about? Canadians are excited about building up this country, building Canada strong. Whether it is things like a new NORAD base, a new wind project, mining projects in my neck of the woods in northern Ontario, new ports, or new opportunities for people to participate in the skilled trades, the Conservatives talk down every opportunity Canadians have. Canadian workers are tired of being undermined in the House. They know we have their back. They know we are building big, and they are going to do it with us.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canadian workers cannot afford rent or groceries. I blame the Prime Minister for this bad economy, and he should come here and take responsibility for it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yes, Canadian workers are tired. They are tired of working six days a week and not being able to afford their rent. They are tired of showing up at the grocery store and having to hand products back at the checkout because they cannot afford to pay for them. They are tired of making their way over to the food bank and finding that the food bank is empty. They are tired of a Prime Minister who causes this recession and then does not have the courage or the decency to show up in the House of Commons and take ownership of— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Anita Anand

Liberal
“Our economy is growing quickly. Canada sells more goods abroad, brings in global investment, and helps businesses secure billion-dollar deals. We are also building major projects across the country.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, last year, Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets grew by more than 17%. Canada has the fastest-growing economy in the G7, this year and next. In the first four months of this year alone, we secured more than $10 billion in commercial deals for Canadian businesses. Speaking of infrastructure investments, there is Ksi Lisims, Mackenzie Valley Highway and Contrecoeur. Canada was ranked the world’s most attractive destination for foreign direct investment. There is a reason: We are building Canada— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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