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The Economy

Question period focused on the cost of living and the economy. The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, said Liberal taxes and deficit spending have driven up the cost of gas, groceries, rent, and mortgages, cited a small-business survey about costs, and asked the Prime Minister to admit life is less affordable. Prime Minister Mark Carney replied that the government is cutting income taxes, reducing the GST on new homes, keeping the fuel tax low, and sending groceries and essentials benefits, and pointed to external pressures from the tariff war, Ukraine, and Iran, as well as job growth and economic performance.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

10 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister made living costs go up by raising taxes and doubling the deficit. Gas, groceries, and housing all cost more now. I want him to admit that Canadians are paying more than ever.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the Prime Minister back as well as the Canadians who are watching us now. The Conservatives’ message to them is that we will fight on their behalf—to save them money on gas and groceries, on their mortgages and rent—because they work hard. This Liberal Prime Minister is costing them. This Prime Minister has driven up inflation by doubling the deficit and raising certain taxes. Does the Prime Minister still believe that affordability is the best it has been in a decade, as he said, or will he admit that Canadians are paying more than ever before?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“We are working to make life cheaper for Canadians. We are cutting taxes for 22 million people, lowering and eventually ending the sales tax on new homes, keeping the fuel tax low, and giving people money for food and basic needs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 47 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this government will continue to work tirelessly to make life more affordable for Canadians by cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, by reducing and eventually eliminating the GST on the purchase of a new home, by extending the fuel excise tax and by providing the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister's taxes and spending have made rent, food, and gas cost more. In March, he said life in Canada was more affordable than it had been in ten years. Will he admit that people are actually paying more than ever?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, to the Prime Minister, welcome back to Parliament. To the Canadian people, the message of Conservatives is that we will fight to save Canadians money this session of Parliament: save them money on their rent and mortgage, save them money on gas and groceries and save them money here at home at their kitchen table, where they are paying more than ever for food because the Prime Minister is costing them. He doubled the deficit and has increased industrial carbon taxes and other fuel taxes, driving up their cost of living. The Prime Minister said in March that affordability was the best it has been in a decade. Does he believe that, or would he admit that people are paying more than ever?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“We are making life more affordable for Canadians by cutting taxes and sending grocery rebates to 12 million people. We also fund child care, dental care, and school meals, which save families $20,000, even though the member opposite voted against them.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “Dental care and the national school food program.”

    Said 4 times by 4 members since May 7.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is a reason we have Hansard. This government will continue to work, without fail, to improve affordability for Canadians, cutting taxes on income and cutting taxes for first-time homebuyers. The groceries and essentials benefit’s next cheque is coming in October, with 12 million Canadians getting the benefit. Above all, we will be providing the essential social services that the member voted against, every single one: child care, dental care and the national school food program, with $20,000 of savings for Canadian families.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canadians cannot afford high food prices, and people are working multiple jobs just to buy groceries. I want the Prime Minister to admit that life is not more affordable and that people are paying more than ever.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has proven once again that he is absolutely out of touch and Canadians are absolutely out of money. All they have gotten from him is big talk around the world and big bills here at home. Lalita, for example, from Mississauga, told me this morning that she has to work two jobs now, one as a waitress and one as an insurance broker, to pay the insane grocery prices the Prime Minister promised he would reduce. She cannot eat speeches, summits or signing ceremonies. Will the Prime Minister admit that affordability is not the best it has been in a decade and that in fact Lalita is paying more than ever before?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“Wars in Ukraine, Iran, and trade fights with the United States are raising the cost of gas and groceries. We are helping Canadians by sending a cheque of up to $1,900 next month for a family of four, along with other benefits.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what this government knows is that there are three wars affecting Canadians: the tariff war from the Americans, the war against Iran and the war against Ukraine. They are pushing up fuel prices. They are pushing up grocery prices, so we are providing immediate support to Canadians. The next groceries and essentials benefit cheque is coming next month, up to $1,900 for a family of four. Across that, we support Canadians with the school benefit and beyond.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister's high spending and fuel taxes are driving up costs. Many small businesses say they are struggling, and half tell people not to start a business right now because it costs too much. I want the Prime Minister to reverse these policies to bring down costs for small businesses and workers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, “and beyond”, the Prime Minister doubled the deficit, contributing to inflation. He has introduced a new fuel tax, partially offsetting the one that we forced him to put on hold. He is increasing the industrial carbon tax. Today, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business revealed that 20% of its members say their businesses are “weak” or “critical”. Only 18% said they would recommend other people start businesses. Fifty per cent say not to start a business right now because the costs are too high. Conservatives want to save money and jobs through small business. Will the Prime Minister reverse his inflationary policies so we can bring down the costs on our small business consumers and workers?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“The industrial carbon tax does not raise the price of groceries or fuel. Our clean fuel rules help canola farmers, and we are cutting taxes for businesses. The member opposite should vote for these measures.”

  • 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, let us walk through those in order. With the industrial carbon tax, the impact on groceries is zero. The impact of clean fuel regulations on a bushel of canola is over a dollar. For a bushel of canola in Battle River—Crowfoot, it is over a dollar. The impact on fuel prices is zero. This government is cutting taxes for business. The head of the CFIB praised the productivity mega deduction. I look forward to the member opposite voting in favour.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The government's fuel rules will raise gas prices by up to 17 cents a litre. People are already struggling to afford food and pay their debts. I want the Prime Minister to admit that life is not affordable right now.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister’s own environment department’s report reveals that the impact of the fuel standard is seven cents this year, rising to 17¢ per litre by the end of the decade, so he should check his own documents, or he should listen to Justin, who told me in a letter on August 11, “I cannot afford to eat properly. I skip meals and rely on cereal for breakfast. I’m incredibly frugal, but my debts are still growing faster. I constantly stress and cry over my financials. The middle class is being eliminated.” Will the Prime Minister look Justin in the eye and tell him that affordability is the best it has been in a decade?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“Our government is helping everyday Canadians. We added 200,000 jobs over the past year, and our economy grew faster than other major countries last quarter. We are making Canada richer and less dependent on the United States.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 29 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 30 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

Mr. Speaker, this government is working for Justin. This government is working for Justine, and the Justins and Justines across this country. We are working to create jobs, 200,000 jobs net over the course of the last year, with the fastest growth in the G7 in the last quarter. We are making this country more independent from the United States, more resilient and more prosperous. While we are doing that, we are providing Canadians like Justin with a boost today and a bridge to tomorrow.

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