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The Economy

Question period on the economy and cost of living. Conservatives said Canada is in a recession, pointing to rising grocery prices, full food banks, high rents, and more than 15,000 GoFundMe fundraisers Canadians have set up to cover basic needs; they asked the government to cut spending and reverse its policies, and raised questions about specific government cost overruns. Liberals replied that the economy is strong, citing job gains in May, a growing trade surplus, new contracts, and supports such as the groceries and essentials benefit, and pressed Conservatives to say which programs they would cut, noting the opposition had voted against those supports. One Liberal response also addressed immigration, citing declines in temporary residents and asylum claims.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

10 statements

Eric Lefebvre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister says life is affordable, but the country is in a recession. Food costs more, food banks are full, rents are too high, and thousands of seniors are waiting for benefits. Will the Prime Minister admit his first year in government was a failure?”

  • A repeated line

    “The reality is that Canada is in a recession.”

    Said 3 times by 3 members since June 8.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will soon be adjourning for the summer and going home to our communities. The Prime Minister says that the cost of living is the best it has been in decades. The reality is that the country is in a recession, and Canadians know it. Canadians know that grocery prices have gone up. Canadians know that food banks are overwhelmed. Canadians know that rents are unaffordable, on the eve of July 1. We know that 48,000 seniors are still waiting for their benefits because the Cúram system is a Liberal fiasco. Will the Prime Minister admit that his first year in government has been a flop?

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal
“Our economy is doing well. In May, we added 88,000 jobs, including 154,000 full-time jobs and 27,000 in construction. Our trade surplus grew, and the government just signed 5 billion dollars in new contracts.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that in May, we created 88,000 jobs. Canadians know that in May, there were 154,000 full-time jobs. Canadians know that 27,000 of these jobs were in the construction sector. Canadians know that the trade surplus grew in April and May. Canadians know that, just yesterday, the Prime Minister announced 13 contracts worth $5 billion. Canadians know this—

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Eric Lefebvre

Conservative
“The government's bad choices caused Canada to enter a recession. I want to know who approved a 5-billion-dollar cost overrun and a 200-million-dollar land lease, and when the minister found out about them. I also want the Prime Minister to end these failed policies.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I truly appreciate my colleague. Could he explain how the Liberal government led Canada into the only recession in the G20? This was due to a multitude of bad decisions and poor management. There are two issues I am still waiting for answers on: the $5-billion cost overruns for Cúram and the $200-million lease on a parcel of land. My questions are simple. When was the minister informed? Who signed those contracts? Lastly, will the Prime Minister scrap his failed policies?

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Carlos Leitão

Liberal

Linked statement

“Our economy faces real pressure from trade problems with the United States. Many small businesses closed under the previous Conservative government, but our government is helping businesses recover.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are going to keep going. Canadians know that, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, 5,000 small businesses closed their doors. Canadians know that the Canadian economy is under pressure from the United States. No, that is not an excuse. I heard my colleagues say that the international context is an excuse. Come on, how could that be an excuse? It is very real, very tangible. There is a trade war being waged by a partner that used to be trustworthy but is not anymore. We in the government are helping businesses get back on track, and we are going to succeed.

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Richard Martel

Conservative
“Thousands of Canadians need online fundraisers just to pay for basic needs, while the Prime Minister spent nearly $1 million on food for 14 trips. Will the Prime Minister cut back on his spending so Canadians can afford to live?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Prime Minister claims that the cost of living has never been better. However, that is not what the CBC is reporting. More than 15,000 Canadians have set up GoFundMe campaigns to pay for their basic needs. Meanwhile, I am not convinced the Prime Minister is tightening his belt. He spent nearly $1 million on catering for just 14 trips, all at the expense of taxpayers who are struggling to put food on the table. Will the Prime Minister cut back on his inflationary spending so Canadians and Quebeckers can get some breathing room?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Conservatives complain about government spending making prices go up. But they will not say which programs they want to cut, like health care, dental care, or school food.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the summer adjournment is almost here, but one mystery remains unsolved. What exactly counts as inflationary spending? Does health care count? Does dental care count? Does the Canada child benefit count? Does the national school food program count? The Conservatives keep going on and on about inflationary spending, but they cannot pinpoint which of these items constitutes inflationary spending.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative
“Canadians have started more than 15,000 online fundraisers this year just to pay for rent, food, and bills. I want the Prime Minister to cut government spending so everyday life costs less.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know the Liberals are used to stepping over panhandlers who are shaking their coffee cups on the street, and now they can just scroll past them online. More than 15,000 fundraisers have been launched by Canadians on GoFundMe since January to cover rent, groceries and utilities. These campaigns are not from some unexpected tragedy. They are for covering the everyday cost of living under the Liberal government. Will the Prime Minister rein in his inflationary spending so Canadians can stand on their own two feet again?

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Evan Solomon

Liberal
“The Conservatives vote against the help we offer Canadians, like the grocery benefit and our bill to stop high prices. I want them to support these bills instead of just complaining.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is confusing to us on this side how, every day, the members of the opposition party vote against every support for Canadians, yet they raise the issue. This month, Canadians will get the groceries and essentials benefit. The Conservatives voted against it. We are taking action against surveillance pricing to stop price gouging. How could they help people do that? They could support the bill. What are they doing? They are not doing it. For a change, I suggest they try supporting some of the measures to help Canadians instead of just talking down the economy.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative
“Liberal policies are making life too expensive. People work full-time but still cannot afford food or rent. The Prime Minister needs to reverse these policies.”

  • A repeated line

    “Will the Prime Minister reverse his costly policies causing this crisis so Canadians can afford to live again?”

    Said 7 times by 7 members since June 10.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if all of these Liberal policies were working, our people would not be reduced to begging on the Internet just to get by. These programs do nothing for the millions of Canadians who are working full-time and still cannot afford groceries or rent because of the Liberals’ made-in-Canada recession. That is why they are forced into using food banks, crowdfunding online and living in RVs and parking lots. When will the Prime Minister reverse his costly policies, which have left Canadians with no other choice?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Our plan to manage immigration is working. Temporary residents are down by 73 percent, asylum claims are down by 63 percent, and rents have dropped for 20 months.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that colleague has asked that question a number of times, and it has been answered. Let me tell him what Canadians do want to know. Canadians know that the government is focused on building a stronger economy to responsibly manage migration. We have tightened our processes, and the latest numbers prove it: the temporary resident population is down 73%; asylum claims are down 63%; the non-permanent resident population has dropped for 18 consecutive months; and asking rents have dropped for 20 months. Numbers do not lie, and our plan is working.

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More from sitting 138

All 39 items ·
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  3. Oral Questions Small Business 14 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Economy 10 statements
  5. Oral Questions Agriculture and Agri-Food 2 statements
  6. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  7. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 2 statements
  8. Oral Questions Health 7 statements
  9. Oral Questions Employment 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Public Safety 6 statements
  11. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Natural Resources 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Transportation 4 statements
  16. Private Members' Business Private Members' Business 3 statements
  17. Government Orders Government Business No. 13—Proceedings on Bill C‑22 18 statements
  18. Private Members' Business Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada Act 8 statements
  19. Government Orders Government Business No. 13—Proceedings on Bill C‑22 82 statements
  20. Government Orders Government Orders 3 statements
  21. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 5 statements