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The Economy

During question period on the economy, Conservative members said Canada is in a recession, citing a United Way report on food insecurity and anxiety about finances, a Canadian tech company investing in Ireland instead of Canada, record food bank use in Manitoba, and what they described as luxury spending on the Prime Minister’s travel; they asked the government to change its economic policies, cut spending, and lower food prices. Liberal ministers and members replied that the economy shows strength, pointing to 88,000 new jobs, a rising trade surplus and record exports, low unemployment in Ontario, and the highest foreign direct investment in 18 years; they also said Conservatives vote against measures such as dental care, the groceries and essentials benefit, child care, and grocery rebates. The exchange consisted of these opposing characterizations of the economy and each other’s records.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

11 statements

Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“Canada's economy is in recession. A Canadian tech company just invested 140 million dollars and 400 jobs into Ireland instead of Canada because Ireland has lower taxes and fewer rules. Why did we lose this investment?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as the G7 gets under way, the Prime Minister remains the only leader of a G7 or G20 economy that is in recession. The Prime Minister should travel, but Canadians expect results from that. When he was back home in Ireland this weekend, investment was leaving Canada. On Saturday, Open Text’s Waterloo-based AI company announced a $140-million investment in Ireland. That is 400 new jobs for Ireland. Ireland has lower taxes, less regulation and a better business environment. Why did this investment not get made in Canada?

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“The Conservative leader does not understand the economy. Experts say our economy is doing well, including adding 88,000 jobs. Our government will keep making Canada strong while he just uses slogans.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 24 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 75 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “no one can understand the economy if they have never worked a day in it, like the Conservative leader”.

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  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build Canada strong.”

    Said 33 times by 14 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, no one can understand the economy if they have never worked a day in it, like the Conservative leader. Maybe he should listen to actual economists in Canada, like BMO’s chief economist, who said adding 88,000 jobs should silence the critics. What about RBC’s Frances Donald, who said that it is the wrong diagnosis, “neither accurate nor helpful”. The head of C.D. Howe gave his thoughts on the economy. I could go on and on. On this side of the House, we are going to build Canada strong. The Conservative leader can continue with empty parking lot press conferences, props and slogans.

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Jacob Mantle

Conservative
“Young Canadians are struggling the most with food, money, and jobs under this government. When will the government stop hurting young people?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the government’s props and slogans are cold comfort to the young generation of Canadians, who are feeling its failures most acutely. The United Way’s report last week confirmed that food insecurity concerns are highest among young Canadians, income declines are most acute among young Canadians and fully 91% of the next generation feel personal financial anxiety. Add on top of that the highest unemployment rate in 35 years. When will the government stop selling out the next generation?

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Karim Bardeesy

Liberal
“Canada's economy is doing well, especially for young people and in Ontario. Unemployment is down, and full-time jobs are up.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there are some very promising signs in the Canadian economy, especially in Ontario and especially for youth. The Ontario unemployment rate is now the lowest in two and a half years. The Toronto unemployment rate is the lowest since November 2023. Full-time jobs are up 154,000, 99,000 of which were for youth. There are some very promising signs in this economy. We have investment both going to Canada and in— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Karim Bardeesy

Liberal
“Foreign investment in Canada is at an 18-year high. Our tech companies are doing well selling their products abroad. We should support them instead of criticizing them.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 33 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have very promising results with incoming investment, the highest investment in over 18 years in foreign direct investment into Canada. It is very good to have very strong Canadian companies that are both exporting their products and finding trading opportunities elsewhere. I think we should celebrate and talk up these strong Canadian technology companies instead of running them down.

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Vincent Ho

Conservative
“Canadians are struggling to afford food and pay their bills while the Prime Minister spends a lot of money on his own travel food. I want him to change his economic policies to end the recession.”

  • A repeated line

    “When will the Liberal Prime Minister end his costly budgeting so Canadians can afford to live?”

    Said 13 times by 12 members since April 28.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister is the only G7 leader and the only G20 leader who has delivered a recession in his own country. A United Way survey found that 60% of Canadians are anxious about their finances, 38% face food insecurity and 40% are losing sleep over how to stretch their paycheque. Meanwhile, this Liberal Prime Minister’s luxury inflight catering bill has reached nearly $1 million over 14 trips, including $175,000 for food on a single trip, which is enough to feed a family for 55 years. Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly Liberal policies that put Canada into a recession, so Canadians can afford to live again?

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Evan Solomon

Liberal

Linked statement

“The Conservatives should support Canada instead of criticizing it. Canada gained 88,000 jobs in May, our trade surplus is up 55 percent, and our exports set a record. The Conservatives also voted against helping people pay for groceries.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 29 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, instead of tearing down this country, which the Conservatives do, or counting airline miles, they should help build it up. The May jobs report showed that Canada created 88,000 new net jobs. Do they mention that? No. Our trade surplus is up 55%. Do they mention it? No. Our total exports are at a record high. Do they mention it? No. When we have a groceries and essentials benefit to help Canadians, do they vote for it? No. Why do they not get on board and help build up Canada?

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Vincent Ho

Conservative
“Liberal policies are causing Canadians to suffer from high rent, poverty, and hunger. The government wastes money that should go to lowering taxes and building homes. I want the Prime Minister to stop this waste, cut government staff, and fix these bad economic policies.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are not tearing down Canadians. It is Liberals who are keeping down Canadians. Those Liberal talking points will not help the full-time workers living in RVs and trailers because they cannot afford homes, or the families spending 120% of their income on food and rent alone, or the 22% of Canadians who have personally experienced poverty, or the one in five households that are food insecure. Every dollar wasted on Liberal luxury is a dollar not used to lower taxes, build homes, improve safety or help Canadians make ends meet. Will the Liberal Prime Minister end the waste, cut the bureaucracy and reverse the Liberal policies that caused this recession?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Conservatives vote against our programs that help people with dental care and groceries. They vote against our new projects and investments. I want to know what the Conservatives actually support.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 12 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when we propose programs like dental care or the groceries and essentials benefit, anything that could help vulnerable Canadians, these Conservatives are against. When our closest ally launches an unjustified trade war, what do Conservatives do? They say we are having a “hissy fit”. When the Prime Minister goes and brings back tens of billions of dollars of jobs and investment to this country and proposes major projects, what do the Conservatives do? They vote against that. What, for the love of all that is good, are the Conservatives for?

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Grant Jackson

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is spending tax money on luxury travel while families struggle to buy food. In Manitoba, food bank use is at a record high, and almost a third of those people have full-time jobs. The government needs to take real action to lower food prices.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, despite leading Canada into a recession, the Prime Minister continues living in luxury, racking up $1 million in inflight catering alone. Meanwhile, more and more Manitoba families are struggling just to put food on the table. Last week, Harvest Manitoba shared its Manitoba poverty report card, which says it all, giving the government an F in its poverty rating and advising that of the record-setting 60,000 Manitobans who visit food banks monthly, 30% are employed full-time. What? If full-time workers cannot even afford food, these gimmicks and rebates are not going to cut it. When is the government going to take serious action to reduce food prices in this country?

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Rebecca Chartrand

Liberal
“I represent very poor communities. The member opposite votes against child care, grocery rebates, and tax cuts that help people in Manitoba. He needs to start voting to help them.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I represent some of the poorest communities in this country, so when the member opposite tries to lecture me on affordability, I have to ask: Why does he vote against every single measure that is supporting Manitobans, including affordable child care, grocery rebates, automatic tax filing and cutting taxes at the pump? He needs to get onside and start voting and working for Manitobans.

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