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The Economy

During question period on the economy, Conservatives said Canada is the only G7 country in recession, pointing to two quarters of negative growth, rising food bank use and grocery costs, which they attributed to government spending, debt and immigration. They called on the government to admit its economic plan has failed and lower food costs. Liberals replied that a global economic disruption, including tariffs on Canadian goods and wars abroad, is the cause, and pointed to measures they said are helping, including a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, the national school food program, a groceries and essentials benefit of up to $530 for couples, diversifying trade partners, and investments in natural resources and job creation.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Tamara Kronis

Conservative

Linked statement

“More Canadians are using food banks because food costs too much, and Canada has the highest food inflation in the G7. The government's taxes and debt caused this. I want the Prime Minister to lower food costs.”

  • A repeated line

    “More debt and more on the national credit card.”

    Said 12 times by 11 members since May 4.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on World Hunger Day, food security organizations came to the finance committee and told us that more people from more demographics are using food banks more often in Canada. Forty-three per cent of Canadians now say that the cost of groceries severely affects their ability to access food, and food inflation in Canada remains the highest in the G7. The Prime Minister promised to lead, and he did: straight to the only recession in the G7. There are more costs, more taxes and more debt on the national credit card. When is the Prime Minister going to show us that he is not just another Liberal and get serious about reducing the cost of food?

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Sophie Chatel

Liberal
“The Prime Minister is helping Canadians through hard economic times. He cut taxes for 22 million people, started a school food program, and plans to do more to help families afford food.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, talking about seriousness, Canadians know we are in the middle of a global economic disruption. Our Prime Minister is a serious person. He is working hard. He already cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. He also launched the national school food program, which helps families with affordability. In addition, he proposed to launch very soon a national food security strategy, which will really help families during this time of crisis.

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Tamara Kronis

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. The government spent too much money and brought in too many people. This caused higher prices for housing, health care, and food.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, two quarters of negative growth mean we are the only G7 economy in a recession. Excuses and deflection will not cut it. StatsCan has the receipts. Liberals chose to add more debt, more spending and more people. By doing that, they created more pressure on housing, health care and food costs than the system can bear. Every dollar the government adds to the national credit card eventually shows up in the grocery aisle. When the only thing growing faster than grocery prices is the lineups at the food banks, it is no wonder these Liberals have stopped talking about the middle class and those seeking to join it.

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Leslie Church

Liberal
“Next Friday, over 36,000 people in the member's riding will get government money for groceries and essentials. That is up to $530 for a couple. This is part of our plan to make life more affordable and grow the economy.”

  • 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, in that member’s own riding, next Friday over 36,000 of her constituents are going to receive the groceries and essentials benefit. That is up to a $530 payment for a couple in her riding. That is part of this government’s plan to make life more affordable for Canadians, part of a plan that includes efforts not only to make life more affordable but to grow our economy as well. I hope she asks some of those 36,000 constituents whether they appreciate receiving the groceries and essentials benefit.

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Rachael Thomas

Conservative
“Government spending has pushed Canada into a recession. Many Canadians cannot afford food while the Prime Minister spends thousands of dollars on expensive meals on his plane. The government must admit its economic plan failed and change course.”

  • 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, after 11 years of Liberal spending, Canada is in fact the only G7 country in a recession. While one in three working Canadians is going into debt just to put groceries on their table, the Prime Minister, at 30,000 feet, is spending $95,000 on inflight food. We are talking about braised beef, special butter cups and fine wines. Deficits have doubled, costs keep going up and Canadians are falling behind, so when will the Liberal government admit its failure and reverse course?

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Peter Fragiskatos

Liberal
“Our trade relationship with the United States and the world economy are in trouble. We need to work together to protect our future. The Prime Minister is doing that by finding new trade partners, supporting our natural resources, and building ways to sell them.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “The global economy is more than a year into a profound rupture.”

    Said 4 times by 4 members since April 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as we know, Canada has been especially dependent on the relationship with the United States. That relationship is experiencing a rupture. The global economy is experiencing a rupture. The result is that, if we are going to be serious about these matters, we must work together to better this country. If they do not want to listen to the Liberals, that is fine; they should listen to Stephen Harper. We must work together to find ways to ensure our future and our children’s future. That is exactly what the Prime Minister is doing. Diversification is a priority. Building this country up, focusing on our resources and focusing on the infrastructure that will get our resources to market—

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Rachael Thomas

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession because of the Prime Minister. He lives a rich life, but normal Canadians are using food banks, losing their homes, and going bankrupt. I want the government to act.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, those same global problems are being experienced by all countries within the G7, but only Canada’s leader, only Canada’s Prime Minister, has led this country into a recession. It is only Canada. He is not worried, but why would he be? He is fine. He is fine because, again, he is enjoying fine wine, he is enjoying braised beef and he is enjoying luxury Normandy butter cups, whatever the heck that is. That is his reality, but that is not the reality of Canadians. Canadians are lining up at food banks like never before. Canadians are defaulting on their mortgages, and Canadians are declaring bankruptcy. When will the government wake up to reality, the reality that is faced by everyday Canadians, and do something about it?

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Yasir Naqvi

Liberal
“The economy is facing hard times because of unfair trade fees on our goods and wars around the world. Our government has a plan to trade with more countries. We are also investing hundreds of billions of dollars to help create good jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians recognize that we are living in some really economically uncertain times. There are unjustified tariffs on Canadian autos, steel, lumber and aluminum, and there is a war going on in the Middle East that is impacting our economy and the global economy. That is why this Prime Minister and this government have a plan. Our plan includes diversifying our trade, making sure that we are engaging with other countries so that we can sell more of our goods and services. That is why we are investing hundreds of billions of dollars into our economy, so that we can keep creating good-paying jobs for Canadians.

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