The sitting was dominated by a Conservative opposition motion declaring that Canada is in a recession and blaming the Liberal government’s economic policies. The main bill debated in Private Members’ Business was S-227, the Arab Heritage Month Act. The central political argument was whether Canada’s two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth constitute a recession caused by Liberal policy failures, or a temporary technical contraction driven by global trade wars and geopolitical instability.
The opposition motion, moved by Jasraj Hallan (CPC), asserted that Canada has the only G7 economy in recession, the worst household debt and housing costs in the G7, and the second-highest unemployment. It called on the government to present a plan to reverse its economic policies. Conservatives argued that Liberal tax increases, anti-development laws and deficit spending had driven investment out of the country and pushed 2.2 million Canadians to food banks. Liberals countered that the contraction was a technical recession of 0.1% GDP, that Canada faced the same tariff and conflict headwinds as other nations, and that the IMF still projected Canada would have the second-strongest G7 growth in 2026. The Bloc Québécois criticized both sides, arguing the recession debate obscured real problems in exports, forestry and employment insurance. The NDP focused on food bank data and EI reform. The motion was not voted on during the sitting; a recorded division was requested by Kelly McCauley (CPC) after debate concluded.
Oral Questions was dominated by the recession announcement. The Leader of the Opposition (CPC) repeatedly asked why Canada was the only G7 country in recession, accusing the Prime Minister of hiding from questions. Government ministers answered that Canada was in a trade war not of its making, that non-U.S. exports were rising, and that the government had a plan to build major projects and diversify trade. A secondary theme was public safety and anti-Semitism, with Melissa Lantsman (CPC) criticizing the government’s new advisory council on anti-Semitism, and Minister Evan Solomon defending the government’s anti-hate bill and funding for synagogue security. A brief exchange on the temporary foreign worker program saw Conservatives argue it suppresses wages and costs $1.6 billion to administer, while Minister Patty Hajdu said usage had declined and the program prioritizes Canadian workers.
In Routine Proceedings, Don Davies (NDP) introduced C-278, which would require MPs who cross the floor to seek a by-election before joining another party’s caucus. Christine Normandin (BQ) introduced C-279 to repeal the Clarity Act. Several petitions were presented on crime, farmland preservation, child care, human rights in Iran, transgender rights, floor-crossing recall mechanisms, and brain injury strategy. A question of privilege was raised by Jenny Kwan (NDP) concerning the Minister of Immigration’s statement during Committee of the Whole that study permit decisions for 130 Palestinian students would be completed in 10 days; Kwan said officials later contradicted that timeline. The government responded that the parliamentary secretary’s earlier disputed remarks were a matter of debate, not privilege. The House later gave unanimous consent to advance to Private Members’ Business. Bill S-227, the Arab Heritage Month Act, received third reading speeches from multiple parties and was supported by all speakers.