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The Economy

During oral questions on the economy, the Conservatives asked whether the government would admit Canada is in a cost-of-living crisis, pointing to the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s growth estimate, unemployment at 6.7%, and rising food bank use. The government answered that affordability is its top priority and cited its affordable housing spending, the suspended federal gas tax, the Canada child benefit, the school food program, and the disability benefit, while noting the Conservatives voted against those measures. The Bloc Québécois raised concerns about Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, saying it gives ministers too much power over projects and threatens Quebec’s say over its land, Indigenous rights, workers’ strike rights, and the environment. The government replied that the bill will create jobs and major projects for Quebec and the rest of Canada and encouraged the Bloc to support it.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Luc Berthold

Conservative
“The Prime Minister says our economy is growing faster, but the numbers show it is not. Canadians are struggling to pay their bills. I want the Prime Minister to admit that there is a cost-of-living crisis.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on August 22, the Liberal Prime Minister, in yet another of his speeches, boasted that our growth is accelerating. Is that so? The Parliamentary Budget Officer has just set the record straight. Growth is only at 0.9% in 2026. Unemployment stands at 6.7% and inflation at 3.1%. While the Liberal Prime Minister spouts pretty words and makes the wrong predictions, Canadians are working hard, tightening their belts and struggling to pay their bills. Will he finally acknowledge the serious cost-of-living crisis, after 11 years of Liberal rule, or will he once again show us just how out of touch he is?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal

Linked statement

“Helping people afford life is our top priority. We spent money on affordable housing, paused the federal gas tax, and helped with grocery costs. The Conservatives keep voting against these measures. I hope they will support them in the future.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, affordability is the number one priority. That is why we have made historic investments in affordable housing and taken other measures, such as suspending the federal gas tax and providing relief on groceries and essential items. The problem is that, every time we have proposed affordability measures, the Conservatives have voted against them. I hope that, one day, we will be able to count on their support to build a strong Canada, together.

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Luc Berthold

Conservative
“More Canadians are using food banks and cannot pay for groceries. Canadian families are cutting back and going without just to pay their bills. I want the government to admit that Canada is facing a serious cost of living crisis.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that every time the Liberals announce a new measure, more and more Canadians turn to food banks, and more and more Canadians are unable to pay their grocery bills. That is the reality. The Liberals may claim they are doing a lot, but the reality on the ground suggests that they are out of touch with what is happening. People can no longer make ends meet. For Canadian families, the discipline the finance minister was talking about means going without, cutting back on groceries, and putting off purchases to pay the bills. Will they at least acknowledge after question period that Canada is facing a serious cost of living crisis?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We help Canadians every day, but the Conservatives voted against our child benefit, our school food program, our disability benefit, and our grocery benefit.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • A repeated line

    “We introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.”

    Said 29 times by 19 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that when we introduced the Canada child benefit, the Conservatives voted against it. When we introduced the Canada national school food program, the Conservatives voted against it. When we introduced the Canada disability benefit, the Conservatives voted against it. When we introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Conservatives voted against it. On this side of the House, we know that we must stand up every day to defend Canadians. That is exactly what we are doing, and we will continue to do so.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“This bill gives the government too much power and hurts the environment. It could let ministers control all of Quebec without ever asking Quebec first. I want the Prime Minister to admit this bill goes against Quebec's interests.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Liberal ministers showed up in committee to defend the abuses of power in Bill C‑39, a bill that even Stephen Harper would not have dared dream of introducing, as La Presse editorial writer Paul Journet noted yesterday. In theory, according to one minister’s testimony, all of Quebec could become a region of national interest, even though the Liberals obviously do not see why they would go that far. That is how much power the bill gives them at the expense of the environment. Does the Prime Minister realize that his bill is clearly contrary to Quebec’s national interest when Quebec was never consulted?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“This bill is good for our country and its unity. It will create jobs for young Quebeckers and help both Quebec and Canada grow.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the leader of the Bloc Québécois, today is a very good day for Canadian unity. We thank the people of Alberta who, like Quebeckers have always done, voted to be part of a country that stands tall, a country that is building itself. Yes, Bill C‑39 will enable us to continue building this great and beautiful country, provide young Quebeckers with job opportunities and help Quebec and Canada grow.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“I want the Prime Minister to answer my question. This bill harms Indigenous people, workers' rights, the environment, and Quebec's control over its own land. How can the government claim that doing all of this unites the country?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, democracy and the art of answering questions are having a very bad day. Indigenous communities are concerned about being dispossessed of their land. Environmentalists are alarmed by the Prime Minister’s shift toward oil. Workers are outraged that their right to strike has been taken away. The government could take control of parts of Quebec’s territory outside the rule of law. Does the Prime Minister think that harming indigenous people, labour rights, the fight against climate change and the territorial sovereignty of Quebec and the provinces constitute the national interest, national unity or consensus?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We already answered all of the Bloc's questions yesterday. This bill gives Quebeckers the growth, jobs, and major projects they want. The Bloc should vote for it.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Bloc Québécois was obviously not present at yesterday’s sitting, when all questions from his party and all members were answered. On the contrary, we have explained and outlined the measures we will take to give Quebeckers what they are asking for. What they are asking for is growth, job opportunities, projects like Churchill Falls or Nouveau Monde Graphite, like the Contrecoeur port, and to build a strong country. Bill C‑39 is the right solution, and the Bloc Québécois should vote in favour of it.

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  5. Oral Questions The Environment 2 statements
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  16. Oral Questions Justice 2 statements
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  19. Private Members' Business Canada Revenue Agency Act 6 statements
  20. Government Orders Canadian Fuel Affordability Act 164 statements
  21. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  22. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  23. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements