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The Economy

Question period focused on the economy and the cost of living. Conservative members cited a United Way survey on financial anxiety and food insecurity, a Food Banks Canada report, and recent job losses, saying Liberal policies and the carbon tax have caused a recession and asking the Prime Minister to reverse them; one member also cited the Cenovus CEO’s view that a new pipeline is unfinanceable. Liberal ministers pointed to tax cuts for 22 million Canadians, the groceries and essentials rebate, dental care and child care, a $2.7-billion trade surplus, job growth, and foreign investment such as Shell’s, attributing economic difficulties to the trade war with the United States rather than their policies, and noting opposition votes against their measures. Some exchanges also touched on Saskatchewan, including canola sales to China and the records of that province’s MPs.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

19 statements

John Barlow

Conservative
“The head of Cenovus said building a new oil pipeline is impossible to fund. Liberal policies and the carbon tax make big projects like this impossible to invest in and have caused a recession. Why does the Prime Minister still support them?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is clear they are not taking any lessons from the business leaders in this industry. The CEO of Cenovus was crystal clear that building a new pipeline and expanding oil production to fill it is “unfinanceable”. That means the Liberals’ anti-energy policies and carbon tax make investing in nation-building projects impossible, but the Liberals supporting these anti-energy policies should not be a surprise. When he was Trudeau’s fiscal adviser, the Prime Minister endorsed those policies and implemented the carbon tax. Why does the Prime Minister still support these policies that have plunged Canada into a recession?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“Shell just invested $20 billion in Canada and is about to invest another $40 billion. The opposition should help build the country instead of just reading headlines.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, maybe instead of reading headlines, he would actually talk to people like the CEO of Shell, who just invested $20 billion in this country and is about to invest another $40 billion in LNG Canada, too. Why do they not actually try to help build?

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Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“New reports show that life is getting harder for Canadians under the Liberal government. Most Canadians are now stressed about money. When will the government change its policies?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, every month, there is a new report that shows how difficult life has become under the Liberal government. Last night, it was a damning report from Food Banks Canada, and this month we have a report from United Way that says 60% of Canadians now have anxiety just thinking about their finances. It has gotten worse in the last year under the Liberal government. At what point do the Liberals realize their policies are causing all of the problems that Canadians are facing and reverse course?

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Rechie Valdez

Liberal
“Our government is focused on making life more affordable. We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians, helped people pay for food, and gave seniors dental care. We will keep creating jobs and lowering costs.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, at the centre of everything we are working on as a government is affordability. In my riding of Mississauga—Streetsville, it is a worker who can keep more of their money in their pocket since we are cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians. We have also provided Canadians with the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. We are providing Canadians with that type of support. It is even the senior who can get access to a dental care appointment. What do the Conservatives have against seniors who are smiling? Thanks to our government, we are going to be there, we are going to make jobs and we are going to make life more affordable for them.

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Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The government made life so expensive that it has to send people money to buy groceries. The government should stop these costly policies and follow the Conservative plan instead.”
Official Hansard

It is really unbelievable, Mr. Speaker. Every week, they stand in the House of Commons and brag about the fact that for the first time in Canadian history, a government has to send money to Canadians so they can buy groceries. Let us think about that for a minute. That is the country they have created in Canada. Things have gotten so expensive under their watch, they actually have to send Canadians money for groceries, and then they brag about it. It is almost like someone thanking the arsonist who burned down their house for putting out the fire. It is their policies that are causing all the problems. Why will they not realize it, stop their costly policies, reverse course and follow the Conservative plan?

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Rechie Valdez

Liberal
“Even though we are in a trade war, Canada's economy is strong. We have a 2.7 billion dollar trade surplus, and our economy is growing faster than Germany, Japan, and Italy. Our policies will save the average family 20,000 dollars.”

  • A repeated line

    “Canada is in a position of strength.”

    Said 7 times by 6 members since May 26.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what we are hearing from the other side, we recognize that we are in a trade war. Despite this, Canada is in a position of strength. We heard today that Canada posted a $2.7-billion trade surplus, the highest in 15 months. Our economy is growing nearly twice as fast as that of Germany and Japan and nearly three times as fast as that of Italy. We are going to be there to support Canadians. We are going to make sure we create affordability. In fact, $20,000 is what the average family is going to be able to save, thanks to our government’s policies. We are going to build this country strong and support Canadians at the same time.

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Rhonda Kirkland

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford food and basic needs. Liberal policies have caused this crisis and put our economy into a recession. I want the Prime Minister to drop these costly policies.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years of Liberal inflation, a new United Way survey confirms what Canadians have been saying for years. They are struggling to afford life. One in five Canadians has experienced poverty, 38% struggle with food insecurity and 60% have real anxiety about their finances. While Canadians are stretching every dollar, the Prime Minister has stretched Canada’s economy into the only recession in the G20. Will he finally abandon the costly Liberal policies that caused this crisis, or is making life unaffordable part of the plan?

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Kody Blois

Liberal
“We know people are struggling with high costs. That is why we gave people money for groceries and essential goods.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are challenges across the country and that there are people struggling with the cost of affordability. That is exactly why we have put in place the groceries and essentials rebate— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Kody Blois

Liberal
“Our government cut taxes and helped people pay for food to deal with hard times. Canada's problems are caused by foreign wars and trade trouble with the United States, not our policies.”

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  • A repeated line

    “We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians.”

    Said 17 times by 12 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are challenges across the country. That is exactly why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. It is why we have put in the groceries and essentials rebate. It is why we have doubled down on social programs that matter for everyday Canadians. However, we reject the premise of the Conservatives’ question, that the government’s policies have resulted in the challenges that Canadians are facing. We are facing a trade war from our largest trading partner: 75% of our goods and services go to the United States. There is a war in the Middle East and a war in eastern Europe. We are dealing with the circumstances and putting forward an economic plan to build this country and support Canadians at the same time.

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Rhonda Kirkland

Conservative
“Canadians cannot afford groceries and rent, and auto workers are losing their jobs. I want the Prime Minister to admit that his policies caused this recession.”

  • A repeated line

    “Ordinary Canadians are paying the price.”

    Said 8 times by 8 members since May 7.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the only thing growing faster than Canadians’ grocery bills is the gap between Liberal talking points and reality. The president and CEO of United Way warns, “This is not a crisis on the horizon. It is happening now”. In Oshawa, that is a single parent or a senior choosing between groceries and rent, or an auto worker who has lost their job and is still waiting on the U.S. trade deal the Prime Minister promised but has failed to deliver. Why does the Prime Minister refuse to accept the facts? His policies are driving the G20’s only recession, and Canadians are the ones paying the price.

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Kody Blois

Liberal
“Our plan created 88,000 jobs last month and supports our car industry. I want to know why that member votes against tax cuts and help for Canadian businesses.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, may I respectfully ask why that member votes against the measures that support the good people of Oshawa and the people across this country? As we said in the last answer, we are here fighting for Canadian industry and business. That member has voted against tax cuts for Canadians. That member has voted against strategic financing to support the auto sector in this country. The Minister of Industry is working with that sector to support members. That member stands up and does not recognize that we have created 88,000 jobs in the last month alone. We have a plan to help build the country strong and support Canadians who are facing vulnerability at this time.

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Steven Bonk

Conservative
“Canada is in a recession and many Canadians are struggling to buy food and pay bills. I want the Prime Minister to admit his policies caused 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

Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear: Under the Liberals, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. A United Way survey shows that 60% of Canadians are worried about their finances, 40% of them are losing sleep over bills and food insecurity is on the rise. I hear from families that work hard and do everything right, and are still struggling to make ends meet. Some farmers, the very people who produce our food, are now having to turn to food banks. Why does the Liberal Prime Minister refuse to admit that his costly policies are driving Canadians deeper into debt, forcing more families to food banks and making life less affordable every single day?

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Buckley Belanger

Liberal
“We know people are struggling.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we understand that there is a lot of struggle— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Buckley Belanger

Liberal

Linked statement

“We know Canadians are struggling, and we are working to help. For ten years, the Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan did nothing to help. I am asking the people of Saskatchewan to work with us to build the economy instead of trusting the Conservatives.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we understand that there are struggles within Canada, and we are addressing those struggles. However, for 10 long years, 14 Conservative MPs from Saskatchewan did absolutely nothing to help the situation throughout the country. Their disservice is shameful, and our patience has run out in Saskatchewan. I tell the people of Saskatchewan not to let the Conservatives limit their power and limit their ability, but to join us in building that great Canadian economy.

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Steven Bonk

Conservative
“Life has gotten worse in that member's riding. Food and living costs are up, and people are even getting scurvy. The government needs to reverse the policies that caused this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, for 11 long years, that member has been attacking our province. Under every single measurement I can find, his riding has gotten worse. Food insecurity is worse. The cost of living has increased. Food inflation has increased. There is even a re‑emergence of scurvy. A 16th‑century disease that we thought we had banished to the history books is now in his riding. When will the government finally reverse its costly policies that are making life inhumane for Canadians?

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Buckley Belanger

Liberal
“The Conservatives did nothing to support farmers in Saskatchewan or promote Canadian canola. Our government did, and our Prime Minister promoted our canola to the world.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will not take any lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to supporting our agricultural community in Saskatchewan. The Conservatives did absolutely nothing to recognize that Canadian canola is the best in the world. What did we do? Our Prime Minister marketed our canola— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Buckley Belanger

Liberal
“The opposition has no plan to help Canadian farmers. Our Prime Minister made a deal with China, which is the second-biggest buyer of our canola. Our government has done more for farmers than they ever did.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, they had nothing in their platform to support the Canadian agricultural sector. Our Prime Minister secured the second-largest customer for canola, and that is China. We will compare, any day of the week, what they have not done versus what we have done on this side of the aisle.

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Ted Falk

Conservative
“Canadians are losing sleep worrying about how to pay for food, gas, and housing. The government has put Canada into a recession. I want the Prime Minister to reverse his costly policies.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are losing sleep because of the Prime Minister. A new United Way report confirms that 40% say they lie awake, worrying how to stretch their paycheque to pay for food, gas and housing. While Canadians are awake with anxiety, these Liberals are asleep at the wheel, refusing to acknowledge that they have driven Canada into the only recession in the G20. Canadians carry the stress and lose the sleep while the Liberals keep hitting the snooze button on the consequences. Will the Prime Minister wake up and reverse his costly policies that are keeping Canadians awake at night?

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Rebecca Chartrand

Liberal
“Our plan is working for Canadians. The member opposite votes against helping people in Manitoba with cheaper child care, lower gas taxes, easier tax filing, and money for groceries. He should support our work instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to be on this side of the House. Canadians voted for this new government because we have a plan and that plan is working. I do not know why the member opposite has voted against every measure that is supporting Manitobans: affordable child care, cutting taxes at the pump, automatic tax filing, and the groceries and essentials benefit that came out last Friday, which is supporting so many citizens in his riding. He needs to get on board and start supporting what we are doing on this side of the House.

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