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The Economy

Question period focused on the economy, following reports that Canada entered a recession and that the government is unlikely to meet its own deficit targets. Conservative members said Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, pointed to lower employment, weak business investment and borrowing above what was planned, cited the parliamentary budget officer’s findings on the deficit projection, and asked whether the government would acknowledge these figures, including raising the dumping of Chinese aluminum. Liberal members replied that the economy is adding jobs — citing 88,000 or more in recent figures — that unemployment is down, wages are outpacing inflation and foreign investment is up, and pointed to affordability payments being sent to households, trade diversification, and talks with the U.S. on sectors like steel, aluminum and autos. Several exchanges also turned on each side accusing the other of talking down the economy or voting against affordability measures.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

14 statements

Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, and our growth will be worse than expected for the next few years. Why is Canada the only country in a recession?”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 41 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

  • 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

Madam Speaker, let us imagine I was pulled over by police on the way here this morning, and I said to the officer, “Officer, I know I was technically speeding but it was just a couple kilometres over the speed limit.” I do not think that would work, because a recession is a recession is a recession, and Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. Under the hood of that recession is even more bad news. The parliamentary budget watchdog said that Canada’s growth has been downgraded for both 2026 and 2027. The best case is now effective stagnation. Why is Canada the only country in a recession?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“The opposition is ignoring good economic news. We added 88,000 jobs, unemployment is down, and foreign investment is up. We lowered fuel taxes, raised the capital gains exemption, and are spending money on housing, infrastructure, and defence. Our economic plan is working.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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  • A repeated line

    “We are making massive investments in housing.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since June 5.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I have never seen this in my 22 years in the House. I have never heard such good news be disparaged and cast aside, and they continue to run down the Canadian economy. We added 88,000 jobs. Unemployment is down. Foreign direct investment is up. We have dropped the fuel excise tax. We have increased our capital gains exemption. We are making massive investments in housing, in infrastructure and in defence. In short, we have a plan and that plan is working.

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Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“Fewer Canadians and young people have jobs now than at the start of the year. Business investment and productivity are down. I want to know why the government is cheering this bad news.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I have only been here a year, but I have never heard so much bad news be cheered by the government. Fewer Canadians are working today than at the beginning of the year. Fewer youth are working today than at the beginning of the year. Business investment continues to lag. In fact, it is below the replacement rate. That means we have lower labour productivity. As Krugman said, “Productivity isn’t everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything.” It seems like the government does not care about that. In fact, it will cheer this bad news. Why is that?

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Rechie Valdez

Liberal

Linked statement

“Our economy is doing well despite U.S. tariffs. Canada has created over 147,000 jobs, youth unemployment is down, and wages are growing faster than inflation. Women are leading this job growth, and we are doing better than the United States.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, in the face of global uncertainty and U.S. tariffs, our country remains strong. I do want to cite that in the face of this, Canada has created over 147,000 jobs. We have already heard today youth unemployment is going down, wage growth is outpacing inflation by 4.7% and Canadians are working. In fact, who is leading the way? Women are leading. They are working in this country. They are delivering. That is something to be celebrated. This also exceeds the United States.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The budget watchdog found the government left 7 billion dollars out of its deficit forecast. That will cost each Canadian 150 dollars. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent 200,000 dollars on food and wine for three flights while more people use food banks. Did he mislead Canadians, or is the country in a recession?”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the only leader in the entire G20 to plunge their economy into a recession was exposed by the PBO for leaving $7 billion out of the deficit projections. That is an extra $150 out of each Canadian’s pocket. However, it does not matter to the guy who has sent a record number of Canadians into food banks, while he stuffs his face with $200,000 of crème brûlée and fine wines on just three taxpayer-funded flights. Was the Prime Minister technically misleading Canadians or are we in a full-blown Liberal recession?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Conservatives keep asking the same fake question, but they vote against helping people. Today, our government is sending out money for groceries and essentials, including $543 for single people. The Conservatives oppose this help, but we support Canadians.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 18 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 34 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

Madam Speaker, I think people are really puzzled at these scripted questions from the Leader of the Opposition. Over 35 times a day, the Conservatives stand up and read the same wrong, fake question, yet they fail to defend their votes to the very people they pretend to uphold. Today, in Canadians’ bank accounts, we will see the groceries and essentials benefit, which will provide a single person with a base GST credit of $543. The Conservatives are against it. We are supporting Canadians.

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Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The government's plan to help people during this recession is not enough, and it will miss its own deficit targets. I want the Prime Minister to tell us how bad this recession really is.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 60 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “stop stuffing his face with taxpayer-funded crème brûlée”.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, his answer on plunging the economy into a recession is to give Canadians $18 a week. The PBO also exposed the government for having a less than 1% chance of meeting its own deficit-to-GDP ratio fiscal target. That is a better chance than a Liberal actually answering a question in this place. Will the Prime Minister stop stuffing his face with taxpayer-funded crème brûlée and tell us if we are in a technical recession or a full-blown Liberal one?

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Adam van Koeverden

Liberal
“I respect the member, but his leader told him to insult us. We will stay positive. Our plan created almost 90,000 jobs, many in construction, to help build the country.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 17 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “I have a great deal of respect for my colleague.”

    Said 7 times by 6 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I have known the member for a number of years and, in fact, I have a great deal of respect for him. He overcame enormous personal challenges to be in the House, which he has been open about. That is why I respect him, but he conducts himself in this way. The opposition leader’s office, I guess, has given orders for him to throw insults like this, and the rest of it. We are not going to focus on that. We are going to engage in a positive approach to politics. What do we find? Almost 90,000 jobs were created, many of which are in the construction sector. He is from Alberta. He talks about the trades. We need to build the country up. That is exactly what we are going to do. We have a plan—

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Pat Kelly

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, and the government is already failing its own spending rules. Will the government admit this?”

  • 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

Madam Speaker, last Friday, we learned that under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. Yesterday, we learned that there is only a 1% chance that their latest fiscal anchor will hold. The Liberals have, so far, refused to acknowledge their own government’s reports. Will they admit today that they caused the only recession in the G20 and that they are already breaking their latest fiscal anchor, or are they going to say that it is all just a technicality?

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Tom Osborne

Liberal
“Conservatives vote against help for Canadians and then complain that life costs too much. They also put down our economy while we are trying to fix it. We are building our country with Canadian workers and materials. The Conservatives should support our work.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, when Conservatives vote against affordability measures and then complain about affordability, Canadians see that as disingenuous. What is also disingenuous is when they talk down the Canadian economy while we are trying to find solutions. The U.S. is Canada’s largest trading partner. It only stands to reason that we would have the largest impact. We are building Canadian infrastructure using Canadian labour and Canadian materials. We are building trade corridors with other countries. I ask the other party to join us in believing in Canada, in believing in Canadians and in believing in building Canada—

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Pat Kelly

Conservative
“The government is borrowing $72 billion this year, which is more than it planned. It also led our economy into a recession, and future deficits will be much worse. Will the finance minister admit he has lost all credibility on the economy?”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, of course we believe in Canada. We believe in Canadians. We do not believe in the Liberal government, because it is the only government in the G20 to lead its economy into a recession. This week, we also learned that the government is borrowing $72 billion this year, not $65 billion as stated in the budget. The Montreal Economic Institute said that the deficit is on track to exceed $117 billion by 2035, and that is even without new spending. Will the finance minister admit that this week’s reports have destroyed whatever fiscal credibility he thinks that he might still have?

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Yasir Naqvi

Liberal
“Our focus is to build the economy. We are opening new trade markets, and Canada has added 88,000 new jobs. Today, we are also sending families money to help pay for groceries and basic needs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 26 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I appreciate that the opposition has a job to do, which is to critique the government, but, as a government, our focus is to build our economy. That is why we have been working very hard to make sure that we diversify our trade and that we open more markets for Canadian businesses. The results are coming in. It has been reported that 88,000 new jobs have been created. We are also not leaving people behind. That is why, as of today, the groceries and essentials benefit is going to be coming to people. They will be getting, additionally, up to $533 for a family with two kids. This is how we are helping Canadians.

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Kathy Borrelli

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession. The government should protect Canadian jobs by stopping cheap, illegally dumped Chinese aluminum.”

  • 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

Madam Speaker, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country to fall into a recession. Just by stopping the illegal dumping of cheap subsidized Chinese aluminum, the government could help aluminum extrusion companies be profitable, provide jobs for hard-working Canadians and put food on their tables. Will the Liberal Prime Minister tell aluminum workers that Canada is in a recession or just a technical recession?

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Kody Blois

Liberal
“Some industries like steel, cars, and forestry are having a hard time. We are talking to the American government about trade, and we are helping affected workers. At the same time, Canada added 88,000 jobs, and we are working to grow the whole economy.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, we know the challenges for certain sectors in the Canadian economy on aluminum, on steel, on auto and forestry. Our Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade and our ambassador in Washington, Janice Charette, who has been appointed, are engaging with the U.S. administration. The member talked about jobs. I do think it is important to recognize that there were 88,000 jobs created in the Canadian economy. We know that there are challenges in particular sectors and that is why the Minister of Industry has been helping, with targeted programs to support workers and those industries being impacted. At the same time, we are focusing on building the Canadian economy across the country.

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