House of Commons Hansard #126 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was recession.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Offender Rehabilitation Act Second reading of Bill C-240. The bill, Bill C-240, seeks to allow courts to mandate rehabilitative measures for offenders during incarceration, tying progress—including treatment and training—to parole eligibility. Proponents, including Conservative members, emphasize that the legislation aims to tackle addiction and address fentanyl trafficking while promoting recovery. The motion for second reading was adopted unanimously by the House and referred to committee. 7500 words, 1 hour.
Bill C-31—Time Allocation Motion Members debate a time allocation motion for Bill C-31. Conservative and Bloc MPs criticize the government for limiting debate on a massive omnibus bill, raising concerns about lack of transparency and broad defence procurement authority. Minister Miller defends the measure, arguing the budget is vital for economic investment and cultural funding, while accusing the opposition of obstructing necessary governance. 4700 words, 35 minutes.
Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2—Speaker's Ruling The Speaker rules that Bill C-31 will be separated into three distinct votes at second reading, acknowledging that provisions regarding air travel complaints were not sufficiently detailed in the 2025 budget documents. 1000 words.
Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2 Second reading of Bill C-31. The bill implements provisions from the November 2025 budget. While Liberals defend it as necessary for [defence procurement] (/debates/2026/6/1/chris-bittle-3/), opposition parties heavily criticize the government for [shutting down debate] (/debates/2026/6/1/tamara-kronis-6/) on the massive legislative package. Conservatives highlight the severe impacts of [housing costs] (/debates/2026/6/1/garnett-genuis-1/), while the Bloc Québécois protests the [lack of consultation] (/debates/2026/6/1/marilene-gill-4/) on key industrial concerns. Additionally, the Green Party raises alarms regarding the bill's [weaker environmental standards] (/debates/2026/6/1/elizabeth-may-2/). 30400 words, 4 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
The Economy Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre requests an emergency debate following a recent Statistics Canada report, arguing that Canada’s economic contraction and high cost of living constitute a national emergency requiring immediate government attention and action. 1000 words.
Remarks by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry Gérard Deltell raises a question of privilege, accusing the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry of deliberately misleading the House by denying that Canada is in a recession despite recent GDP contraction data. 1000 words.
David McGuinty LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition should take note of some of the facts. For example, 3,500 jobs annually are being created with our joint support ships contract; 2,300 jobs to produce our AOP ships; 1,800 jobs for our fixed-wing search and rescue; 700 jobs for our remotely piloted aircraft system; and 5,300 direct jobs for our River class destroyers. The list is very long.
The Leader of the Opposition should stop running down Canada and join us in our efforts.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, it is the Liberal Prime Minister who is running down our economy and then running away from accountability for it. Where is he, anyway? It has been four days since Statistics Canada reported that Canada is the only G7 country in a recession, and the Prime Minister has not answered one question, not in the House, not from the media, not from anyone. This is the guy who said to hire him in a crisis. Well, now he has made a crisis. He has created the only G7 economy that is in a recession.
Instead of running away from accountability, why does the Prime Minister not run in here and do his job?
The EconomyOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
That, I think, broke a rule. We are implying that somebody is not in the House when they could be. I would warn members against doing that because at some point I might have to dock questions.
The Minister of Jobs and Families has the floor.
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, in fact, when the global winds of uncertainty were blowing, what did this government do? We took immediate action to put things into place to protect workers if their jobs were threatened, if their economies were threatened or if their sector was threatened. Every time we take action to protect workers, these guys vote against it. Just recently, $6 billion to skilled trades workers, including apprentices in the pipeline right now, to help make sure they can complete their training and get those fantastic-paying jobs. These guys are ignoring the—
The EconomyOral Questions
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, with Canada being the only G7 country in a recession, there are very real human costs. Today those came to light as Food Banks Canada published a report giving the government a failing grade, indicating that one quarter of all Canadians now live in food insecurity. A quarter of food banks have actually run out of food in the last year.
What is a single mother who cannot afford groceries supposed to do when she gets to an empty food bank? How is she supposed to feed her kids?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, yet again I think the Leader of the Opposition should read the entire report, because although people are of course struggling, in fact, what the national food bank said was that it is seeing some reasons for optimism because of the very things they have called for, like automatic tax filing, the introduction of the groceries and essentials benefits, expanded dental care and investments in child care, things they know are positive and bringing down the cost of living for Canadians. I will point out that the Conservatives voted against all those measures.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, we know that the Liberals keep backtracking on environmental issues time and again. Their backtracking even led the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie to resign.
Despite all this backtracking, the Liberals keep repeating that they will meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets. We are wondering how. That is why, last Thursday, the Bloc Québécois demanded to see the figures the Liberals are using as the basis for their claim that emissions will fall despite all the measures they have sacrificed. The minister did not have that data.
Now does she have the figures on the impact of the backtracking announced this year?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois likes to talk about backtracking, but perhaps we could focus more on the progress we have made.
What progress is that? I could talk about the tightening of methane regulations: That alone will reduce emissions by 400 megatonnes. I could talk about what we have done on the electricity front. In fact, we gave Hydro-Québec exactly what it asked for in order to have a stronger and more resilient electricity grid.
We are getting the job done and reducing emissions at the same time.
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, clearly, the minister still does not have the figures.
We want figures for this year, because this is the year the Liberals announced a new pipeline and new LNG projects, cut Alberta's industrial carbon price, scrapped the oil and gas emissions cap, suspended the clean electricity regulations, cancelled the carbon tax, and the list goes on.
Today, even though they do not have any figures measuring the impact of this backtracking, the Liberals keep insisting that they are going to meet their climate targets. How are we supposed to believe that?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, we are going to talk about lists, since apparently Bloc members like lists: I talked about strengthening methane regulations; I talked about working on the electrical grid. I could talk about what we are doing internationally: We are leaders in international climate finance.
If my colleague wants to talk about other things, we could talk about what we are doing for electric vehicles here in Canada. We are doing a lot of work. We are in favour of investments in clean technology. We are fighting climate change and we will keep on fighting.
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Mr. Speaker, my colleague's list did not even include the backtracking on environmental assessments, the protection of endangered species, and so on.
The Canadian Climate Institute says the government will not meet its climate targets. The Pembina Institute says the same thing. The former environment minister who resigned says the same thing, too. All we are asking the government is to provide evidence when it says it will meet its targets despite its backtracking.
It cannot.
Are the Liberals are not telling the truth? That is the only possible conclusion.
Joël Lightbound LiberalMinister of Government Transformation
Mr. Speaker, if the Bloc Québécois wants to talk numbers, then let us talk numbers.
Thirty per cent of our lands and waters will be protected by 2030. We are investing $3.8 billion in the 2030 nature strategy. The clean energy tax credits requested by Hydro-Québec will benefit Quebec. We are providing up to $90 billion to electrify our grid, to benefit Hydro-Québec, and to build the future with Quebec.
Shall we talk numbers? The enhanced methane regulations will enable us to reduce methane emissions by 75% by 2030.
That is what climate action and environmental action are all about.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary East, AB
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?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
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.
Jasraj Singh Hallan Conservative Calgary East, AB
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?
Wayne Long LiberalSecretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
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.
Carol Anstey Conservative Long Range Mountains, NL
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?
Joanne Thompson LiberalMinister of Fisheries
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.
Carol Anstey Conservative Long Range Mountains, NL
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?
Joanne Thompson LiberalMinister of Fisheries
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.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
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?
Ryan Turnbull LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
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—
The EconomyOral Questions
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
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?