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The Economy

Question period focused on the state of the Canadian economy. Conservative members repeatedly said Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, citing negative growth, rising food and energy costs, growing debt, and Parliamentary Budget Officer comments on the government’s fiscal targets, and pressed the government to acknowledge a recession and change direction. Liberal members pointed to 88,000 new jobs, low interest rates and inflation within the Bank of Canada’s range, foreign investment, and the first payments of the Canada groceries and essentials benefit as evidence their plan is helping with affordability, and said the Conservatives ignored U.S. tariffs on Canadian sectors that the government is working to remove. Several exchanges centred on whether it was appropriate to highlight grocery benefit payments, with Conservatives saying such payments signal economic trouble and Liberals defending them as concrete help.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

30 statements

Luc Berthold

Conservative
“Our economy is shrinking, jobs are being lost, and government debt is growing. I want the government to admit that Canada is in a recession.”

  • 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 this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. Three of the last four quarters have seen negative growth. Workers are losing their jobs. Businesses are putting their investment plans on hold. Deficits are skyrocketing. At what point will Liberal ministers admit that we are in a recession? Will they do so after two quarters? Will they do so after three quarters, or after four quarters? Will the Liberal Prime Minister finally tell Canadians whether we are in a Liberal recession or a technical recession?

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Pauline Rochefort

Liberal
“Mining and forestry companies in northern Ontario are investing and expanding. This creates good-paying jobs for our region.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “We need to focus on what we can control.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since May 26.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, this week is a good week for northern Ontario. Well-paid jobs are important. In the north, there are more than 900 companies operating in the mining supply and services sector. Premier Mining Products, a company in my riding, just announced that it is using the regional tariff response fund to modernize and expand its operations. Electra Battery Materials in Cobalt recently made significant investments. Furthermore, we welcomed the action plan to transform the forestry sector that was announced this week. We need to focus on what we can build together—

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Luc Berthold

Conservative
“Canada is the only G20 country in a recession under this Prime Minister. Life is getting harder for Canadians and they are taking on more debt. I want businesses to be able to grow, but the Prime Minister does not see what is happening.”

  • 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, what we want is for all Canadian businesses to be able to prosper and grow, but under this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. I have said it before and I will say it again. When the economy slows down, businesses invest less and the government needs to step in more. Who is paying the most for this? It is costing all Canadians more, as their debt load rises and they have a harder and harder time making ends meet. That is exactly what is happening in Canada today. Everyone sees what is going on, except the Liberal Prime Minister. Will he tell us whether—

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Pauline Rochefort

Liberal
“The government sent out the first grocery payments today to help people with living costs. In my riding, 28,000 people got them. A single person gets $950, and a family of four gets up to $1,890.”

  • 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

Madam Speaker, there is a lot of good news today. It is important to mention that the first Canada groceries and essentials benefit payments were deposited today. In my riding, they went out to 28,000 residents of Nipissing—Timiskaming. A single person will receive $950 and a family of four will receive up to $1,890. As we know, this measure is one of the government’s many initiatives to help Canadians with affordability. Let us celebrate this important day.

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Luc Berthold

Conservative
“The Liberals should not celebrate handing out money for groceries. It proves our economy is in trouble. They need to admit we are in a recession and fix it.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, how can anyone take such delight in people’s poverty, as we have just seen? When a government is forced to hand out money so that people can eat, something is not right. We just heard the entire Liberal Party applaud a measure to help people pay their grocery bills every month. This is unacceptable. Is this really where Canada has ended up? We applaud when the government hands out money because people cannot afford groceries? If the Liberals recognized that we are in a recession, they would do something about it.

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Madeleine Chenette

Liberal
“We are giving money to families and single people to help with groceries and daily costs. The Conservatives should stop criticizing our plan to help Canadians.”

  • 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 a great deal of respect for my colleague, but today he seems to be all doom and gloom. Today, thanks to the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, we are providing $543 to a single person as a GST credit and $1,086 to a family of four. These are concrete measures that people on this side of the House are working on to help families and the most vulnerable. When will the Conservatives understand this and stop criticizing us? We are building a strong Canada.

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Joël Godin

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession, and the government is almost certain to miss its financial goals. I want the government to admit that our country is in a recession.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, a full week has already been wasted. We learned last Friday that Canada is in a recession. The Liberals insist on burying their heads in the sand. They are playing word games. The Parliamentary Budget Officer said yesterday that the Liberal government has a 1% chance of meeting its fiscal anchors. That means it has a 99% chance of failing economically. Will the Liberal government stop burying its head in the sand and admit that our country is in a recession?

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Ginette Lavack

Liberal
“People in my riding are worried about high costs, but our programs are helping them. Tens of thousands of them get money for food and access to dental care.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I have been visiting with people in my riding. I have been going door to door and attending community events. Although people still have concerns about affordability, they see our efforts and tell us we are on the right track. Today, more than 29,600 people in my riding will be better off because of the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. What is more, over 12,000 people in St. Boniface—St. Vital are enrolled in the dental care plan. The impacts are real.

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Joël Godin

Conservative

Linked statement

“Canada is in a recession, and people cannot afford groceries. The Liberals need to admit their plan is not working and fix 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, it is unfortunate to hear what we just heard. It is rather pathetic to be rejoicing about the fact that the government has to give Canadians money so that they can afford to eat. Canada is the only G20 country that is in a recession. The Liberals have a long list of excuses. Meanwhile, seniors are being forced to cut back on groceries. Families are being forced to make big sacrifices to make ends meet. The Liberals need to admit that what they are doing is not working. They need to quickly find solutions to stop this decline. That said, they need to start by admitting that we are in recession.

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Ginette Lavack

Liberal
“Our government is investing in Canadians and businesses. Business owners tell us they want these investments to continue. We also want to create up to 100,000 skilled trade jobs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I must admit that, given the challenges we are currently facing, there is a tremendous amount of work to do. We, on this side of the House, are doing that work. We are investing in Canadians and in businesses. I was very proud to visit the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, where business owners told us that we are on the right track and asked us to continue making these investments, because they support them. We also want to create up to 100,000 jobs in the skilled trades to support all sectors of our industry. That is important.

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Chris Malette

Liberal
“The global economy is changing quickly and causing uncertainty for workers. Our government is working to protect jobs and make life more affordable. Can the parliamentary secretary explain how our grocery benefit will help Canadian families?”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, the world’s economic and trade landscape is undergoing rapid transformations, thrusting countries, businesses and workers, including those in my riding of Bay of Quinte, into a period of uncertainty. Our government is responding accordingly, building a stronger and more resilient Canadian economy and protecting jobs and industries. As that plan takes hold, we are also offering a bridge and a boost to help make life more affordable. Can the parliamentary secretary update this House on the Canada groceries and essentials benefit and what it will mean for Canadian families?

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Peter Fragiskatos

Liberal
“This member does great work. Like all Liberal MPs, he pushed for the grocery benefit. Today, families of four are getting cheques of up to $533 to help with costs.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, this member is doing outstanding work, first of all, on the committees for environment and for defence. He brings with him years of experience as a city councillor and as a journalist. He has been a pillar of his community. Of course, just like every Liberal MP, the member has advocated for the groceries and essentials benefit, a benefit that that will allocate up to $1,900 for a family of four. Today, cheques going out are up to the amount of $533 for a family of four. This is serious support for families because we believe in this country, and that is the approach we take.

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Rachael Thomas

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession under this Prime Minister. Child visits to a food bank in my area are up 112 percent, while the Prime Minister spent almost $200,000 on airplane food for three flights. I want him to tell us if Canada is in a real recession.”

  • 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 this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. The impact is real, not theoretical. Over the past four years, in Lethbridge, one of our food banks has experienced an increase in child usage of 112%. That is children going to the food bank. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister spent nearly $200,000 on inflight catering for just three flights. To put that in perspective, that is enough to treat a family of four to monthly steak dinners at The Keg for 50 years. Will the Prime Minister finally tell us, are we in just a technical recession, or is this a real full-blown Liberal recession?

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Stephen Fuhr

Liberal
“Canada's economy is doing well. Foreign investment, manufacturing, and jobs are up, while interest rates and unemployment are down. Also, 20,000 people in my riding are getting money today to help pay for groceries.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, that member knows very well that the foundations of the Canadian economy remain strong. I will give a couple of good examples of that. Foreign direct investment is at a 23–year high. Interest rates remain low. Inflation remains at the Bank of Canada window. Manufacturing numbers are up. Even productivity in Canada is trending in the right direction. Hot off the press: unemployment is down, job creation is up and 20,000 people in my riding will get the groceries and essentials benefit today. We could not be happier.

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Rachael Thomas

Conservative
“Families in my riding cannot afford food while the Prime Minister wastes taxpayer money on luxury travel. I want to know if he is enjoying his expensive lifestyle while Canadians suffer through a recession.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, what the member just said is that those children in my riding who are suffering from poverty and food insecurity should be thankful for the government because they have never had it so good. Shame on that member for claiming that. These are individuals who are finding it very difficult to make ends meet. Food insecurity is rising and Canadians are struggling. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister splurges on fine wines, braised beef, Normandy butter cups and all sorts of things, while jetting around the world. Is he enjoying his luxurious lifestyle at the expense of taxpayers during a true recession or is it just a technical recession?

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Vince Gasparro

Liberal
“The member votes against every measure to make life more affordable. In my riding, 37,000 people will get money from this grocery benefit.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 26 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 37 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

Madam Speaker, I find it really amazing that the member gets up and is more concerned about debating the price of paper clips than actually trying to help Canadians. She has voted against every affordability measure that has been brought forward. In my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence, 37,000 people are going to benefit from this groceries benefit, so are you telling them they do not deserve it? Shame on you.

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Dane Lloyd

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession. Food and energy prices are going up, and the government is failing to meet its budget goals. I want the government to change direction and fix the economy.”

  • 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, with an economic decline in three of the last four quarters. The Parliamentary Budget Officer is saying that the chance the Liberal government will achieve its fiscal anchor is at less than 1%. We are on the brink of a major energy crisis, with rising inflation from higher energy and higher food prices that are guaranteed. Canada is in a recession today, and it is not looking good for the rest of the year. When will the Liberal government reverse course and stop this economic slide?

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Leslie Church

Liberal
“Our economic plan is working. Canada gained 88,000 new jobs, mostly in construction, and fewer young people are out of work.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, this is a government that is hard at work for all Canadians. We have a plan to build Canada strong, and on days like today we are seeing real progress with 88,000 net new jobs. The largest increase in those jobs is in construction. Youth unemployment fell by nearly a point. In the member’s home province alone there are 14,000 new jobs. Our plan is working. We are hard at work. We are going to keep working for Canadians.

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Dane Lloyd

Conservative
“The government is causing our recession, high food prices, energy costs, and massive debt. I want them to change direction.”
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, this is great news. The Liberal government is finally taking responsibility for something. If it is taking responsibility for today’s job numbers, it must also be responsible for the reason we are in a recession today. It cannot have its cake and eat it too. Canada’s economic growth is negative. Energy and food prices are rising dramatically. Canadians cannot take it anymore. The Liberals promised an economy that would move at speeds not seen in generations, but the only thing we see growing is our massive debt. When will they reverse course and stop failing Canadians?

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Kody Blois

Liberal
“The Conservatives ignore the U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, which we are working to remove. Canada gained 88,000 jobs in May and 150,000 this year. We have a top credit rating and the lowest deficit in the G7. We will keep building major national projects.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 43 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We have a AAA credit rating.”

    Said 9 times by 5 members since May 1.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, what I find quite remarkable is that in the Conservatives’ questions there is never a recognition that the U.S. administration has imposed tariffs on some of our key sectors in this country. We are continuing to make the case to try to remove them. The member blows right by the fact that 88,000 jobs were created in May, primarily in the private sector and primarily in construction, with 150,000 net jobs this year. We have a AAA credit rating. We have a lower deficit. We have the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We have strong fundamentals and are focused on building major national projects, including in that member’s province, to build Canada strong, to build this country strong. We will continue to focus on those plans.

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