Debates of June 1st, 2026

The Economy

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only country in the G7 in a recession. After two straight quarters of economic decline, the consequences are everywhere. One in four Canadians is food-insecure. Millions of people are struggling to put food on the table. Canadians are cutting back and lining up at food banks, yet reports of the Prime Minister's lavish catering and elite events continue to pile up. The Prime Minister spent more money on airplane food for three flights than the average family would spend on food for an entire decade.

How can the Prime Minister justify spending so lavishly while Canadian families are struggling to afford the basics?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake rose to ask the question. It is important for her to remind her constituents that we are investing between $3 billion and $4 billion in her riding. We are making massive investments in the base there. She knows so.

We also announced a very progressive move to procure the GlobalEye plane with Saab last week, with 3,000 new jobs in Canadian aerospace and defence and 22,000 jobs in Canadian multi-mission aircraft. The list goes on and on.

I know the Conservatives do not want to hear it. They are too busy running down this beautiful country.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the truth is that the Prime Minister continues to spend lavishly while Canadians struggle to put food on the table. After more than a decade of Liberal inflationary spending, Canadians are being stuck with the bill while government racks up debt and pays for luxury perks. Food Banks Canada's newest poverty report card warns that too many Canadians have incomes not meeting the cost of living and having a job is no longer a reliable path to stability. Let that sink in. Working Canadians now make up one in five food bank clients.

The Prime Minister says this recession is a result of global economic crisis and tariff problems. If that is true, why is there no other country in G7—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Secretary of State for Labour.

[John Zerucelli, Liberal, Secretary of State (Labour)]

Mr. Speaker, we have Canada's first European LNG agreement, more than $30 billion in investments secured; the Nouveau Monde Graphite mine project in Quebec, over 1,000 new jobs, shovels in the ground; the Darlington new nuclear project, 18,000 construction jobs; the Contrecoeur port expansion, shovels in the ground; and 150 Airbus A220s, the largest order of Canadian-built aircraft in Canadian history.

As the Conservatives know, Canada is facing a trade war. We have a plan, and we are building.

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised the fastest-growing economy in the G7. Instead, Canada is the only G7 country in a recession: not a technical recession, a full-blown recession with two consecutive quarters of contraction. Since this Prime Minister took office, Canada has had three out of four quarters of contraction. While 2.2 million Canadians are at the food bank, this Prime Minister spends almost $200,000 on inflight catering on three flights. That $200,000 could feed 10 Canadian families for a whole year.

Will the Prime Minister own his economic failure, get a trade deal, build a pipeline and stop spending like a Liberal?

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister has been clear: It is time to invest to build Canada strong.

I will point out that in that member's riding, that includes the Black Creek sanitary sewer, which will expand waste-water servicing capacity to the Black Creek watershed. This is just one of the many projects that we have under way to build Canada strong. We are investing in infrastructure, and we are investing in housing. We are making these important investments in communities across Ontario so that we can create jobs and economic prosperity for all Canadians.

[Roman Baber, Conservative, York Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, lights are out on the north side of the House, no more excuses. Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. Where is the fastest-growing economy? Instead, we have the highest household debt in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment, and insolvencies are at the highest level since 2009. All these metrics got worse under this Prime Minister, but he continues to choke Canadian energy with his net-zero fantasy.

Will the Prime Minister take our advice, repeal his anti-pipeline laws, axe the industrial carbon tax and bring back Canada's economy?

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, in every corner of this country, from coast to coast to coast, we are seeing work on incredible projects that strengthen our economy while creating good jobs: the expansion of the Port of Montreal, the Darlington nuclear facility, the Mersey River wind farm project in Nova Scotia, the Scarborough subway extension, the Hamilton LRT and the upgrade of the Cambie Street Bridge in Vancouver. We are investing in Canada to build Canada strong.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only country in the G7 in a recession. Imagine hiring someone for a job and in the interview they said that they would give the fastest-growing economy in the G7, but they actually delivered the only economy in the G7 in a recession. It is the exact opposite result to the promise. What would be the consequence? I think accountability would be a good start.

Instead of taking accountability, though, the Liberals are blaming the tariffs. If this were true, then why is Canada the only country in the G7, with all facing tariffs, in a recession?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, it is important to remind everyone that we are in a trade war with the United States. This does present unique challenges for our economy, which is why this government has taken action to help Canadians with affordability.

Notably, on Friday, 12 million Canadians will receive the groceries and essentials benefit. This is a $950 benefit for a single Canadian, over $1,200 for a couple and upwards of $1,800 for a vulnerable family of four. This will make a real difference for Canadians, and we are proud to support these commitments.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if these measures actually did anything for affordability, we would not have the lineups at the food banks that we are seeing. This exact program is going to reach fewer than half of Canadians out there who are working at jobs.

I am going to repeat the question. France is facing tariffs, Germany is facing tariffs, Italy is facing tariffs. Japan is facing tariffs. Why is Canada the only country in the G7 with our economy in a recession?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are working hard and this government is working hard for Canadians. We have taken real action on affordability. This includes making the national school food program permanent, which represents savings of up to $800 for a family with children in school. We have made investments in child care and dental care and continue to invest in the Canada child benefit.

We are there to support Canadians as they face affordability challenges and as we face this tariff war with the United States.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is now the only G7 country in a homegrown made-by-Liberal recession. This must be the new world order the Liberal Prime Minister keeps bragging about. There have been two back-to-back quarters of negative growth and three contractions in the last four quarters. Food bank use has exploded nationwide and has doubled in just seven years. One in 10 in the GTA now relies on food banks, with a record 4.1 million visits just last year, more than quadrupling since 2019, and lower-income families spend over 100% of their income on essentials.

If this recession is really caused by tariffs and global energy problems, then why is no other G7 country in a recession?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, instead of cherry-picking data, maybe the member should listen to the Bank of Canada governor who said we should look at key indicators. We have the best net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 and the strongest fiscal position in the G7. The list goes on and on.

On this side, we are going to focus on building a strong economy. On that side, they continue with the rhetoric.

Indigenous Affairs

[Lori Idlout, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Uqaqtittiji, last month, a group of us met Joe, a long-haul truck driver in Kavvilihiktuuq, also known as Hope Bay. We learned that he and his family have been stewards of the land for generations. Inuinnait in the area continue to manage the area. They have determined and will continue to help govern decisions regarding economic potential.

The recent announcement of a new Inuit-led wind project at the Hope Bay mine shows what can be achieved through partnerships with Inuit organizations. Would the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources share how our government—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member from Nunavut for her important advocacy in the riding. Conservatives should start to listen to her a little more.

The Hope Bay project shows what we can accomplish when Inuit partners are at the table from the start. This $2‑billion investment will create jobs, generate economic opportunity and support long-term prosperity in Nunavut. Our—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

There is some commotion. I do not know where it is coming from, but it is definitely in that corner.

We are going to have to start over, but we will wait until things settle down.

From the top, the hon. Minister of Energy.

[Tim Hodgson, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Hope Bay project shows what we can accomplish when Inuit are at the table from the start. This $2‑billion investment will create jobs, generate economic opportunity and support long-term prosperity for Nunavut. Our government's $25‑million investment in the Inuit-owned Hope Bay wind project will help reduce diesel use and improve energy security in the Arctic.

That is how we build Canada strong for all.

Justice

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the ugly face of Liberal weak-on-crime policy rears its head again. This time, a Toronto carjacker stole a $1‑million Ferrari at knifepoint, but, thanks to Liberal laws, he will serve the sentence in the comfort of his own home. This is the legacy of 11 years of Liberal weak-on-crime laws. The Prime Minister claims to be tough on crime, but Bill C-16 would undermine mandatory minimums with a get-out-of-jail-free card.

When will the Liberals get serious, take the crime crisis head-on and ensure that jail means jail for violent offenders?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, we have made more changes to the Criminal Code of Canada than any other government by strengthening bail provisions and lengthening sentences, and guess what, auto theft is down across this country due to the efforts we have made in resourcing, law enforcement, making sure our borders are stronger and catching criminals. I hope the other place will pass the bail and sentencing bill as soon as possible. We are also reinstating minimum sentences.

[Dalwinder Gill, Conservative, Calgary McKnight, AB]

Mr. Speaker, after 11 years of the Liberal government, violent crime is up 55%, gun crime is up 130% and extortion is up 330%. Weak-on-crime Liberal laws continue releasing violent repeat offenders back onto our streets, and families across our country are paying the price. In Calgary, families are being threatened with extortion and having their homes shot at almost every week.

When will the Liberal government get serious, take the crime crisis head-on and lock up repeat violent offenders and criminals?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)]

Mr. Speaker, we have taken action and are seeing the results. Just recently, Peel Regional Police arrested over 17 individuals linked to extortion cases. That investigation took about eight months. We have brought lawful access legislation forward in the House. If the Conservatives had been on board and had helped us pass the legislation, that investigation would have only taken a month and we could have decreased the number of victims that the Conservatives are creating in this country.