Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

The Economy

Question period focused on the economy. Conservative members said Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, citing 112,000 jobs lost this year, declining business investment, rising food bank use, and young people leaving Newfoundland and Labrador for work, and pressed the Prime Minister to explain why Canada is faring worse than its G7 peers. Government ministers responded that Canada is in a trade war and facing global headwinds, but that the economy is among the fastest-growing in the G7, pointing to rising non-U.S. exports, high foreign investment, billions in commercial deals, and spending on housing, defence, infrastructure, and projects like small craft harbours in Newfoundland and Labrador. Most exchanges returned to these competing pictures of the economy’s health.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

14 statements

Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“Canada is the only country in the G7 in a recession, and we lost 112,000 jobs early this year. I want the Prime Minister to explain why our economy is doing worse than the rest of the G7.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 72 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “the grand illusionist, the Liberal Prime Minister”.

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “Why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession?”

    Said 16 times by 13 members since May 29.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the grand illusionist, the Liberal Prime Minister, is the only leader in the entire G7 who has driven their economy into a recession. Liberals and their paid media want Canadians to believe this full-blown Liberal recession is just a technical one, but there is nothing technical about the single mom who is putting back groceries who just lost her job. In fact, the Prime Minister lost 112,000 jobs in the first three months of this year and gave Canada the second-worst unemployment in the entire G7. If this truly is about global problems, why is Canada the only country in the entire G7 in a recession?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

Wayne Long

Liberal

Linked statement

“Canada is in a trade war, but our economy is strong. We have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7, and foreign investment is high. Our party is working to help the economy, while the Conservatives just talk.”

  • A repeated line

    “We have the second-fastest growth in the G7.”

    Said 12 times by 5 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, although the Conservatives seem to want to celebrate it, we are in a trade war. We do face some headwinds. Let us look at some economic facts. We have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7. Non-U.S. exports are on track to double over the next decade, foreign direct investment is at twice the rate of our nearest G7 peer, and we now rank as the most attractive country in the world for infrastructure investment. On this side of the House, we are focused on building a strong economy for Canadians. The Conservatives are full of bluster, rhetoric and press conferences.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B– View analysis

Jasraj Hallan

Conservative
“The government has hurt our economy. Business investment is down, the economy is shrinking, and millions are using food banks. I want the Prime Minister to explain why Canada is in a recession.”

  • A repeated line

    “After 11 years of the Liberal government.”

    Said 25 times by 19 members since April 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years of the incompetent Liberal government, there is nothing left to celebrate. The single mom who lost her job has nothing to celebrate. The 2.2 million Canadians going to a food bank have nothing to celebrate. In five straight quarters, business investment has declined. In three out of the last four quarters, the economy has shrunk. Twenty billion dollars of investment has fled to the U.S. because of the incompetent Prime Minister since he took power. Instead of trying to make America great again, why does he not tell us why Canada is the only G7 country in a recession today?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

Wayne Long

Liberal
“Our government has strong economic leadership. We are building a strong economy by cutting taxes and spending money on housing, defence, and infrastructure. The opposition only offers empty talk.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 23 of 100

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

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build the strongest economy in the G7.”

    Said 15 times by 6 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in the last election, Canadians had a choice. They elected a Prime Minister with world-class economic and business credentials. We are going to build the strongest, most resilient economy in the G7. At home, we are investing. We are investing in infrastructure, defence and housing. We are cutting taxes. We are going to build a strong, resilient economy. On that side of the House, it is nothing but empty parking lot press conferences, props, bluster and rhetoric.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade D+ View analysis

Carol Anstey

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. The government has made life too expensive and cost people their jobs, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador. I want to know why other G7 countries are not in a recession if our problems are global.”

  • 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, Canada is the only country in the G7 in a recession. In Newfoundland and Labrador, parents are watching their children pack their bags to leave the province because the Liberal government is driving up the cost of living, killing opportunities and local jobs. This is a full-blown Liberal recession. Statistics Canada has confirmed that in my province, one in 10 workers are unemployed. Nationally, insolvencies are at their highest level since 2009 and household debt is the worst in the G7. If Canada’s recession is just about global energy and tariffs, why is it that no other G7 countries are in a recession?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Joanne Thompson

Liberal
“Our government is investing in Newfoundland and Labrador. We are spending almost $1 billion on small craft harbours to support fishing and create jobs. We are also spending $15 million to clean up lost fishing gear. These programs help our economy and put people to work.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 29 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, while my colleague across the aisle once again gets up and reads the same notes, I want to remind her that in our province of Newfoundland and Labrador, announcements made by this government are resonating. There is almost $1 billion for small craft harbours. Not only does this support the fishing sector, but it also creates jobs. There was an announcement last week of $15 million, $5 million a year, for ghost gear retrieval. The call is out for communities in our province to also participate in this. These programs are building economies, getting people working and growing Canada strong.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C– View analysis

Carol Anstey

Conservative
“Canada's economy is shrinking, and unemployment and debt are rising. I want the Prime Minister to admit the economy is failing and fix it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the minister can quote all the empty good-news Liberal promises she wants, but the real data has already arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador. The facts are already in, and they prove that we have the worst economy in the G7. While other nations grow, our economy is shrinking, and our young people are paying the price. With one in 10 workers unemployed at home, skyrocketing consumer insolvencies across the country and increasing mortgage delinquencies, when will the Liberal Prime Minister stop quoting out-of-touch Liberal projections, face the facts of economic failure and fix the mess that he has created?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A– View analysis

Joanne Thompson

Liberal
“Our programs are helping young people in Newfoundland and Labrador get job training and work on big projects. We are also spending nearly $1 billion on small craft harbours to create jobs in rural towns.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here we go again with the feigned indignation. In actual fact, in our province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the apprenticeship program is investing in young people with Red Seal certifications and getting them to work on projects like Bay du Nord. Again, there is almost $1 billion for small craft harbours and getting people to work in rural communities. Instead of reading tired notes, I encourage the member to actually speak to people in our province and find out how important these jobs are.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“The Liberals claim our economy is growing fast, but it is shrinking while other G7 countries grow. Over 112,000 Canadians have lost full-time jobs this year. I want the government to explain why Canada is the only G7 country in a recession.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, for the last several months, the Liberals have repeatedly gaslit Canadians by repeating the PMO talking point that we have the fastest-growing economy in the G7, but the reality is we have the only shrinking economy in the G7. The Liberal Prime Minister was touted as some kind of an economic genius, but all he has delivered is a shrinking economy and 112,000 Canadians who have lost their full-time jobs this year. If this is truly about global events, as the Liberals keep saying, why is Canada the only G7 country that is now in a recession?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A View analysis

Ryan Turnbull

Liberal
“Canada's economy faces the same global challenges as other countries, but it is still strong. The Conservatives are wrong to claim otherwise. Our exports and foreign investment are up, and our economy is expected to grow quickly.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are learning in this House that just because Conservatives say things over and again with righteous indignation, it does not make it any more true. Canada’s economy is facing the headwinds that every other economy around the world is facing. The Bank of Canada governor came to the public accounts committee today and cautioned the Conservatives about taking one indicator over another and prioritizing it too much. In reality, our economy is strong. It is projected to have the second-fastest growth. Our non-U.S. exports are up, foreign direct investment is at its highest point in almost 20 years, and wages have—

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B+ View analysis

Kyle Seeback

Conservative
“Canadians are suffering under this Liberal government. This year, 112,000 people lost their jobs, and one in four cannot afford enough food. Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, and I want the government to explain why.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 37 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I can say this. No Conservative will ever apologize for getting up and fighting against this bad Liberal government. Let us talk about some numbers that the member says we are making up. According to Statistics Canada, 112,000 Canadians have lost their jobs this year. According to Food Banks Canada, 25% of Canadians are now food insecure. These are not fake numbers. The member should know that. These are real people who are suffering as a result of the Liberal government. If it is all about external events, as the Liberals keep saying, why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession? How about a real answer?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C+ View analysis

Ryan Turnbull

Liberal
“Canada's economy is strong under our government. We are spending money on housing, building projects, the military, and new technology. Foreign investment in Canada is the highest it has been in almost twenty years.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 34 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let me give the member a real answer. Canada’s economy is strong and becoming more resilient under this government. We will never apologize, on this side of the House, for being optimistic about the future we are building in this country, together with all Canadians, with generational investments in housing, infrastructure, defence, innovation and productivity. We are seeing the highest level of foreign direct investments in nearly two decades. That is good news. Canadians know it. We will continue building a stronger—

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C View analysis

Tamara Jansen

Conservative
“Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, and we lost over 112,000 jobs in three months. Investors and jobs are leaving. 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, Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. People vote with their feet when they have no other way to vote, and investors vote with their dollars every single day. Right now they are voting against Canada. More than 112,000 jobs have disappeared in just three months. Behind every one of those jobs is a Canadian wondering how to pay the rent, buy groceries and keep the lights on. If the Liberals insist this is all because of global conditions, why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession? When will the Prime Minister admit that his policies have driven investment and jobs elsewhere?

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

Anita Anand

Liberal
“Canada's economy is doing well. Our exports to countries other than the U.S. grew by over 17% last year. We are expected to have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7, and we are making billions of dollars in new deals around the world.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

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

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, last year Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets grew by over 17%. Canada is expected to have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 this year and next, and in the first four months of this year alone, we landed over $10 billion in commercial deals. Over the past year, Canada has secured more than 20 economic and defence agreements across five continents. Countries are choosing Canada. We are ranked the world’s most attractive place for investment, and we will build—

View on ourcommons.ca Grade A+ View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 126

All 35 items ·
  1. Private Members' Business Offender Rehabilitation Act 7 statements
  2. Government Orders Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 39 statements
  3. Government Orders Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 16 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Economy 12 statements
  5. Oral Questions The Environment 6 statements
  6. Oral Questions The Economy 14 statements
  7. Oral Questions Industry 4 statements
  8. Oral Questions The Economy 10 statements
  9. Oral Questions Canadian Identity and Culture 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions The Economy 18 statements
  11. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 3 statements
  12. Oral Questions The Environment 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Foreign Affairs 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Justice 6 statements
  15. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  16. Government Orders Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 89 statements
  17. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 3 statements
  18. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 3 statements