Ottawa

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote in a letter — published on Sunday — to Prime Minister Mark Carney that an emergency debate is needed after Statistics Canada’s latest report showed the country had slipped into a "technical recession." Rising in question period on Monday, Poilievre asked of Carney's Liberal party, “Where is he anyway? It’s 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 this House, not from the media, not from anyone.” Poilievre continued, “He (Carney) has created the only G7 country that is in a recession. Instead of running away from accountability, why doesn’t he run in here and do his job.” Speaker of the House Francis Scarpaleggia remarked, “That, I think ,broke a rule. We’re implying that somebody is not in the House when they could be.” Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu replied, “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. In fact, if their jobs were threatened, if their economies were threatened, if their sector was threatened."