Debates of June 2nd, 2026

The Economy

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the per capita GDP growth rate is about as high as the Prime Minister's question period attendance rate. He should be answering questions about the fact that, under his leadership, Canada is the only G7 country to be in recession. Today, he said that investment in Canada has increased over the last two quarters. Let us look at the Statistics Canada report.

In the first quarter of 2026, business capital investment fell by another 0.7%, marking a fifth consecutive decline.

Why is the Prime Minister spreading misinformation?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan, but we are also facing headwinds. It is clear that with the tariff threats, wars in the Middle East and wars in Europe, Canada is facing headwinds, but we have a plan.

Our plan is working. We have a defence plan to spend money here. We have a plan for industry and, indeed, businesses are purchasing more equipment and materials. We have a plan for major projects.

The real question is why does the Leader of the Opposition seem so happy to gloat over the fact that Canada is facing headwinds? Why is he not presenting his own plan?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Prime Minister. We do not need more excuses. He has delivered the only recession in the G7. Mexico is not in recession. It is just as integrated with the United States and shares a border with that country. The Prime Minister finally emerged to take media questions on his recession today, and he blamed it on the fact that immigration, as he claims, is not high enough and that per capita GDP is actually not so bad. The only problem is that, in the last year, per capita GDP has only grown by 0.2%.

Does he really expect a parade for 0.2%?

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

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians, except for the Leader of the Opposition, understand that we have the most integrated economy with the Americans in the world. They understand our economy continues to show resilience in the face of illegal and unjustified tariffs. They understand we are facing two global economy-destroying wars. Canadians want us to work to build, not to talk down, Canada. That is why we are building nuclear. That is why we are building transmission. That is why we are building ports. That is why we are building roads. We can keep going. They should stop talking us down.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are building a recession, and they are building excuses. The fact is that all other G7 countries face tariffs and global wars. Mexico is just as, if not more, integrated with the United States; and none of those other countries are in a recession. Only the Liberal Prime Minister has delivered that. After five days, he finally emerged to talk to the media, after hiding from answering questions, and blamed the recession on the fact that immigration is not high enough. Per capita GDP has increased by 0.2%.

Why the—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Minister of National Defence.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has some kind of phony and artificial narrative. I do not know where he is drawing this from. He picks up pieces of information. He tries to weave them together. What is interesting is that he has no plan. He has nothing to say. The last time he had a plan, he told Canadians to go invest in cryptocurrency. For God's sake, let us take a look at where that is at.

Why does the Leader of the Opposition not get up and give us a real plan, and instead of running down this incredible country, build this country forward and build it up?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the question was for the Liberal Prime Minister. The Prime Minister said:

Experience shows that when the economy enters recession, the poorest are hit the hardest, [and]...the lower-skilled, lower paid people tend to lose their jobs first.

And recessions disproportionately affect the young.... Graduating in a recession is generally bad news for someone’s earnings....

In the extreme, prolonged recessions can lead to permanent labour market scarring, with potentially devastating effects on livelihoods, identities and communities.

This is people's lives.

The Prime Minister caused this painful recession. Will he show up, stand up and own up?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, do members know what Canadians are excited about? Canadians are excited about building up this country, building Canada strong. Whether it is things like a new NORAD base, a new wind project, mining projects in my neck of the woods in northern Ontario, new ports, or new opportunities for people to participate in the skilled trades, the Conservatives talk down every opportunity Canadians have.

Canadian workers are tired of being undermined in the House. They know we have their back. They know we are building big, and they are going to do it with us.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, yes, Canadian workers are tired. They are tired of working six days a week and not being able to afford their rent. They are tired of showing up at the grocery store and having to hand products back at the checkout because they cannot afford to pay for them. They are tired of making their way over to the food bank and finding that the food bank is empty. They are tired of a Prime Minister who causes this recession and then does not have the courage or the decency to show up in the House of Commons and take ownership of—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I was expecting that on the last question, because now I cannot remove a question from the hon. Leader of the Opposition.

The hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs has the floor.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, last year, Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets grew by more than 17%. Canada has the fastest-growing economy in the G7, this year and next. In the first four months of this year alone, we secured more than $10 billion in commercial deals for Canadian businesses.

Speaking of infrastructure investments, there is Ksi Lisims, Mackenzie Valley Highway and Contrecoeur. Canada was ranked the world's most attractive destination for foreign direct investment. There is a reason: We are building Canada—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Order. The hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

Small Business

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we were promised that the issue of tariffs and trade would be fixed in June 2025. Clearly, that did not work out. It is not the Prime Minister's fault. It is Donald Trump's fault. One year of dithering later, here we are again, and now the Prime Minister wants a 16-year agreement. I agree, that is fine with me, but it will certainly take a little longer than two weeks.

In the meantime, will the government help SMEs with a wage subsidy that would help retain expertise and jobs in Quebec?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that we are there for our businesses, especially our SMEs. We are there for businesses in Quebec and across Canada. In fact, just one month ago, we announced some new funding: $1.5 billion for the steel, aluminum and copper sectors. I have been in contact with a number of stakeholders in Quebec and across Canada. They are very grateful for our help.

In the meantime, while the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade is in Washington, we will be there, not just for any agreement, but for a good agreement for Canadians.

Forestry Industry

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in all of this, there is no provision for what virtually everyone in the field is asking for: a wage subsidy program that would help maintain employment relationships, preserve expertise within companies, and prevent foreign workers with specialized skills from being sent home. There is nothing on this for these companies.

In the meantime, our forestry industry is in trouble and our sawmills are closing.

Will the government implement the cost-free solution proposed by the forestry industry to resume lumber exports?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, obviously, we will be there for our forestry industry, just as we have been there for the aluminum, auto and steel sectors. We are indeed facing headwinds on the trade front with the United States, but we will always be there for the people. In fact, the Prime Minister will be in Quebec later today to drum up billions and billions of dollars in infrastructure investments for communities both small and large across Quebec.

We will always be there for Quebeckers and for the communities.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette—Manawan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the tariff crisis has just forced Matawinie's biggest employer to seek protection under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The Saint-Michel sawmill and its 250 jobs need immediate, debt-free liquidity, otherwise it is all over. The Bloc Québécois warned the government that its support measures for the forestry sector would not be enough. Ottawa needs to buy back 50% of the countervailing and anti-dumping duties paid by our companies. This measure would cost the government nothing, but it could save businesses like the Saint-Michel sawmill.

When will the government understand that urgent action is needed?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, of course our thoughts are with the workers in Saint-Michel-des-Saints because we know that this is a very difficult time for the forest products sector across the country.

That is also why we will be there for them. We currently have a plan for steel, aluminum and copper, which is very beneficial under the circumstances, knowing, of course, that unjustified and unjustifiable tariffs are being imposed on these sectors. However, the Minister of Natural Resources and I are working to ensure that these BDC products can also be made available to the forestry sector.

I look forward to working with my colleague on this because we need to support communities across the country.

The Economy

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister wants Canadians to believe that this recession is the fault of the world. Tariffs, energy prices and global uncertainty are all convenient Liberal excuses. However, every nation in the G7 face those same conditions, yet Canada alone has fallen into a recession. Twenty billion dollars in net investment has fled this country under his watch. That is a failure of Liberal economic policy.

If the world is to blame, then why is Canada the only G7 country in a recession?

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

Mr. Speaker, clearly the Conservative leader is missing in action again when it comes to anything constructive with respect to the economy. Where is he? Where is he today with anything constructive?

Canadians do not want political theatre. They want a government that is serious about this economy. We are going to diversify our trade, we are going to build major projects, and we are going to invest in unions and workers. On this side of the House, we are serious about building an economy, the strongest economy in the G7. The Conservative leader is missing in action again.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Let us try to stay away from metaphors.

The hon. member for Newmarket—Aurora.

[Sandra Cobena, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the member can spin, deflect and dress up this issue however he likes, but why should Canadians believe that the Liberal government's promises about the future are true, when the numbers today prove that the Liberals cannot manage the present?

Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. The Prime Minister told Canadians that we have the best deal in the world with the U.S. Oil prices are surging. Canada should be thriving. Instead, our economy has contracted three out of the last four quarters.

I will ask again, if the world is to blame, then why—