Ottawa, ON – Melissa Lantsman, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement on the economy:
“A year and a half ago, Mark Carney promised that he would deliver the fastest-growing economy in the G7, and this growth would create an economy that works for Canadians with accountability coming ‘by their experience at the grocery store.’ The results show that none of his rhetoric has changed the reality people are feeling every day.
“Since Q1 of 2025, while the rest of the G7 experienced average growth of around 1.7 per cent and Australia grew by 2.5 per cent, Canada’s economy shrank by 0.1 per cent under Carney. Even if growth rises slightly, the Canadian economy is facing ‘growth rates along a permanently poorer trajectory’ compared to the one before Carney took office, according to Trevor Tombe.
“Not only have Liberal policies created a permanently weaker economy, they’re also hitting Canadians directly at the grocery store. Canadians are paying for the highest food inflation in the G7 as prices rose 3.9 per cent – almost double the inflation target – in June, according to the OECD.
“That’s the 17th consecutive month that food inflation has outpaced overall inflation, leading to 76 per cent of Canadians saying that grocery costs are having the biggest impact on their household finances. High prices have also led to 38 per cent of Canadians experiencing food insecurity, according to United Way.
“Higher prices aren’t just leaving families with less money, it’s pushing more of them to food banks. The Daily Bread Food Bank reported that client visits rose again to 3.8 million between July 2025 to June 2026, almost triple what it was five years earlier. Daily Bread had to distribute 8.1 per cent more food, providing 300,000 meal servings or 40.7 million pounds of food across Toronto.
“But instead of providing relief by cutting spending that causes inflation and lowering taxes to leave more money in Canadians’ pockets, the average Canadian now spends 41.9 per cent of their income paying taxes, according to the Fraser Institute. That’s as the cost of shelter, food and clothing rose 7.5 per cent while the average family is paying 5 per cent more in taxes since last year.
“A permanently slower economy, higher taxes and unaffordable prices at the grocery store: are these the results he promised? It’s time for real economic growth that turns rhetoric into reality. Conservatives will deliver by unleashing our resources, rebuilding our industrial base and letting Canadians keep more of their money to restore an affordable life in an affordable Canada.”