Poilievre says he'll back Carney's GST rebate as MPs debate in question period

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Government House leader Steven MacKinnon answered Poilievre's second question and took time to rib the Conservative leader a little bit.

Speaking in French, MacKinnon said he expressed "solidarity" with Poilievre as he is set to face his leadership review later this week.

"I am certain he will be able to convince a majority of his members to support his leadership," MacKinnon said, with Liberal MPs chuckling around him.

Poilievre has made his entire round of questioning about the cost of groceries.

Despite criticizing the GST rebate the Liberals' announced today, it sounds like the Conservatives are willing to support it.

"The prime minister has revived a Trudeau-era rebate — which we'll let pass," he said before arguing the government needs to do more to address the cost of living.

The first question always goes to the leader of the Official Opposition. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre talked about the rising cost of food. He asked when the government would cut the deficit, arguing that it would help lower costs.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne answered on behalf of the government and argued that the government is helping Canadians, pointing to the GST rebate Carney announced earlier today.

Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer just spoke to reporters as he was heading into the House of Commons chamber and was asked about the Liberals' proposed GST rebate. His answer leaves his party a bit of wiggle room to manoeuvre one way or the other.

On one hand, Scheer called the rebate a "recycled Trudeau-era policy" that wouldn't offer enough help to Canadians struggling with affordability. Scheer criticized the measure for being temporary, and instead said the government should cut the federal deficit and remove a suite of taxes.

That being said, the House leader didn't completely close the door on Conservatives backing the proposed rebate.

"Conservatives will always support measures that provide relief, even if they are temporary," he said.

Question period is starting now, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre up first.

Hi folks, I'm a writer with the politics web team.

Before every question period, MPs are given time to make statements in the House. 

They often talk about work they've done in their constituencies, policy issues they're championing, heap praise on a notable resident of their ridings or, if they're in opposition, throw shade at the government.

On the Hill, these statements are often called "SO-31s." That's in reference to the standing orders, the rules that govern the House of Commons. Standing Order 31 lays out that MPs should be given time to make statements.

'We're a big family': Ontario premier and Carney settle differences over pizza

After Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized Ottawa's deal to bring thousands of Chinese EVs into Canadian markets last week, he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney Monday for a 'very productive meeting' and a few slices of pizza in Toronto. 'At the end of the day, make no mistake about it. We are one country,' Ford said.

Ford said they had a wide-ranging discussion about the various issues facing the economy. 

"Energy, critical minerals, Ring of Fire, auto, those are key things — drivers of our economy," Ford said.

"All about Team Canada, all aligned," Carney said.

"I found it twice as productive," the prime minister added with a smile, referencing his two pizza slices compared to the premier's one. 

Ford and Carney will meet again later this week when the premiers gather in Ottawa for a first ministers' meeting.

Ford picked up the tab for the pizza. Carney said he’d pay the next time they grab a meal.

"We're not going to Pizza Nova. We're going somewhere expensive, if he's buying," Ford joked. 

Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford just wrapped up a meeting in Toronto, before picking up lunch at Pizza Nova.

There has been some tension between the two leaders in recent days, especially after Ford blasted the deal Carney signed with China that will allow for a set number of Chinese electric vehicle imports in exchange for tariff relief on some farm products and seafood.

Ford fears these new Chinese imports could damage the domestic auto sector, which has been hard hit by Trump's tariffs.

Carney, meanwhile, has said the number of incoming EVs is small — fewer than 50,000 a year — and there's a chance a Chinese automaker could set up shop in Canada as a result of this new agreement. 

Asked if they've patched things up, Ford said: "We never had a problem." 

"We're a big family and sometimes brothers and sisters may disagree," he said. "But at the end of the day, we're one country. We're Team Canada, both of us. Yeah, is there differences? Sure there is. But we agree on 99 per cent." 

Ford said he pressed Carney to greenlight big projects to boost the economy. "Let's get approvals. Let's get shovels in the ground. Let's get moving."

And, if you're wondering about pizza choices, Ford got a single slice of vegetarian while Carney opted for two: Hawaiian and Nonna's Favourite (olive oil, mozzarella, chunks of plum tomato with a sprinkling of basil).

Before question period starts, the House of Commons is hearing government orders. Then statements from members begin at 2 p.m. ET.

Question period is up after that.

I'm an editor with the parliamentary bureau. 

With the House of Commons back today, we'll be watching the first question period of the year starting at 2:15 p.m. ET.

But Carney won't be there. He's meeting with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Toronto this afternoon.

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