The Economy

During Question Period on the economy, the Conservative leader repeatedly asked whether Canada is in a recession and said government spending and new programs had produced the weakest per-person growth in the G7, asking the Prime Minister to defend his record himself. Liberal ministers responded that Canada is in a trade war, and pointed to measures such as enhanced loans for the forestry sector, infrastructure and major projects built with Canadian materials, investment in the skilled trades, and support for farmers. Some time also went to announcements about funding for small craft harbours serving rural coastal and Indigenous communities.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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12 statements

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“Canada is the only major economy in a recession, and our growth per person is the lowest in the G7. The Prime Minister's decisions caused this, and his excuses do not make sense.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the government’s excuses for the Liberal recession kept changing. First, they said it was world factors. Then we pointed out that none of the other G20 countries are in a recession. Mexico, which shares a border with the U.S. and is fully integrated with the U.S. economy, is not in a recession. Only this country, under this Liberal Prime Minister, is in a recession. His explanation yesterday was, “We see some weakness, in part because of clear decisions by the government.” That at least is fair. He claims that we are not bringing enough immigration. If that is the case, why is it that Canada has the lowest per capita GDP growth of any G7 country?

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

Liberal
“We are in a trade war over lumber tariffs. Because of this, our government is giving billions of dollars in loans and funding to support the forestry industry.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are in a trade war, something the Leader of the Opposition conveniently forgets or does not forget, depending on how it serves him. That is why today, with the lumber tariffs remaining unjustified and unfair to workers, businesses and communities, we have announced enhanced BDC loans, two new direct lending facilities, $400 million to regional development agencies and billions of dollars to support our forestry projects across Canada. We are going to continue to work with provinces and territories—

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The Prime Minister will not defend his record. His policies, heavy spending, and new government agencies have pushed Canada into a recession. I want him to explain why our economic growth per person is the lowest in the G7.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot even get up and defend his economic record as it is so bad. Instead, he has one of his backbenchers explain that the Liberals are spending billions and billions of dollars on new bureaucracies they have set up. That is exactly why the economy is in a recession. It is because he has continued on with the same Liberal policies of the last 10 years: the same anti-development laws, the same expansion of bureaucracy, the same corporate welfare, 12 new government agencies, and Canadians paying the bill with higher and higher prices. We all know that Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. Can he explain why Canada has the lowest per capita GDP growth in the G7?

John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour)

Liberal

Linked statement

“We have an economic plan to deal with the trade war. We are building major projects, roads, and hospitals with Canadian materials and union workers. We are also investing in the skilled trades.”
  • A repeated line

    “That is how we build Canada strong.”

    Said 20 times by 14 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not want theatrics. The Conservative leader knows full well that we are in a trade war, which is creating real headwinds for the Canadian economy. However, we have a plan and we are confident in that plan. One key pillar of that plan is building infrastructure, major projects in the national interest and community infrastructure like roads, bridges and hospitals right across this country with Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian unionized workers. At the end of the day, we made a historic investment in the skilled trades. That is how we build Canada strong.

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is wrong when he says investment is up. Government data shows business investment has dropped for five quarters in a row. I want him to tell us if we are in a recession.”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 42 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, if the Prime Minister really believed any of that, he would get up and say it himself. Instead, he states a few falsehoods and then goes into hiding; he cannot defend his own position. He is spreading false information when he says investment is up. Let me quote verbatim from Statistics Canada, the Liberals’ own government stats agency: “Business capital investment fell 0.7% in the first quarter of 2026, the fifth consecutive quarterly decline.” Does this meet the master economist’s definition of a technical recession, yes or no?

David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

Liberal
“The leader of the official opposition has no plans for the country, but he spent nine million dollars on his personal office in 2024.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians are hearing here is not the sound of fury. It is the sound of nothing. He has no plan. He has no fiscal plan, no economic plan, no industrial plan, no defence or security plan, no supports and no social plan, but what he does have is a track record of spending $9 million in his personal office in 2024.

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“The Prime Minister cannot defend his economic record. His policies help a few rich people while everyday Canadians pay the price. Canada is in the only recession in the G20. I want him to tell us if this is a technical recession or a real one.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the question was for the Prime Minister, but he continues to be unable to defend his own economic track record. This was supposed to be his great strength, but once again, we see the same thing every time he goes anywhere. He gets a fancy title and a tiny group of people get very rich, making everybody else poor. There is a small group who get handouts and favours, whether for space pads or $200,000 for meals in private jets, while the Canadian people end up paying the price with the only recession in the G20. Will he stand up today and tell us, are we in a technical recession or a real recession? Which is it?

Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Liberal
“The opposition is just talking. I have been travelling across Canada talking to farmers, and they have not.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 18 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in the House today, there is a lot of rhetoric coming from the other side. Let me say that I have been travelling across the country talking to farmers. Nobody over there has been talking to farmers. Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Liberal
“I will keep speaking up about farmers to make the opposition care about how important farming is.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, every time I get on my feet in this House and talk about farmers, it is a good day. If that is what it takes to get a reaction over there about how important farming is in this country, then that is what we need to do, and I will do it every time.

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Opposition

Conservative
“Canada is the only major peer country in a recession, and the Prime Minister caused it. He cannot fix it if he will not admit it. Will he tell us if we are in a recession?”
  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 56 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “This is supposed to be his great strength”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the question was for the Prime Minister. This is supposed to be his great strength. Remember we were told he was a master economist. I guess he must have some sort of unique ability to be the only leader in the G7 to find a way to negotiate his economy into a recession. Every other one of the 19 countries has avoided a recession. Mexico, neighbours with the United States as well, has avoided a recession. It is because of the Liberal policies that he continues to implement and even accelerate that we find ourselves in this place. The problem is that the Prime Minister cannot get us out of a recession if he cannot first admit that we are in one. Will he stand today and tell us if we are in a recession?

Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries

Liberal
“We are spending almost $1 billion on small craft harbours to help rural coastal Indigenous communities.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to share with everyone in the House and all Canadians listening some good news: almost $1 billion for small craft harbours. What this means for Canada’s rural coastal indigenous communities is— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries

Liberal
“Small harbours are very important to rural, coastal, and Indigenous communities. I am working with others to make sure fishing funding goes out to fishers soon.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, these small craft harbours are the core of our rural coastal indigenous communities. That support is generational. I am also working with my colleagues across the country to ensure that for the fisheries fund, another critical source of support for harvesters in this country, the funding is out shortly.

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