Politics is an amazing game. At times, it says so much without creating a furor. At other times, it sparks uproars without anything substantial said or done.

On September 15, 2025, when the House of Commons reassembled, it not only gave a warm welcome to the Leader of the Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, back on the floor, but also saw two first-time MPs of Indian origin – Jagsharan Singh Mahal and Amarjeet Gill – rise to speak.

They participated in both government business and the private members’ statements period. The spotlight, however, was on Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre as they held their first-ever verbal joust in the House of Commons. It marked the beginning of the second sitting of the House as MPs returned to Ottawa for the fall session.

PM Carney had already made his debut in parliamentary debates when the newly elected House held its first sitting after the April 28 general election.

New to electoral politics, Carney took several questions from opposition MPs last spring. Poilievre, however, was absent, having lost his long-held Carleton seat in April.

When Poilievre rose for the first time in the new House, he apologized for his late arrival, saying, “I had some meetings with extremely important people in East-Central Alberta.” He had returned to Parliament through his August byelection win in Alberta’s Battle River–Crowfoot riding.

He thanked the voters of his new riding, previously held by former MP Damien Kurek, who resigned his seat to allow Poilievre to run. That contest saw a record number of more than 200 candidates on the ballot.

Poilievre also thanked Carney for quickly calling the byelection, as promised, adding, “I wonder if one day he might regret that decision.”

Perhaps unwilling to spoil the opening day’s cordial tone, Poilievre refrained from launching attacks on the Liberal government. Instead, he struck a conciliatory note:

“In a spirit of good faith, I wonder if he agrees that our goal should be a Canada where hard work is rewarded, where food and homes are affordable, where streets are safe, where borders are solid, and where we’re all united under a proud flag.”

PM Carney responded in kind: “I’m sure I speak for all parliamentarians in welcoming the member for Battle River–Crowfoot back to the House of Commons,” drawing applause from both sides.

The Prime Minister added that Poilievre might notice a “few things that have changed since he was here last,” including the Liberals’ largest women’s caucus in Canadian history and the spirit of collaboration that led to the passage of the Building Canada Act and a Bloc Québécois bill protecting supply management in trade negotiations.

“I agree with the sentiment and objectives of the Leader of the Opposition,” Carney said.

Conservatives had played a pivotal role in helping the minority Liberals pass the Building Canada Act in the spring, despite opposition from the Bloc and NDP, who feared it would allow Ottawa to bypass existing laws to fast-track projects. The Tories supported it as a “better-than-nothing” measure.

From that point, the tone between the two leaders sharpened. Poilievre remarked that some things had indeed changed in the Commons. 

“I look around this place, and when I left, there was a Liberal prime minister who was making excuses about breaking promises, running massive deficits. Costs, crime, chaos were all out of control,” he said. “And whereas today we have a Liberal prime minister breaking promises, making excuses, running massive deficits, with costs, crime, and chaos out of control.”

Poilievre added that in a “nonpartisan spirit,” Conservatives would simply insist Carney keep his promises, whether on making Canada’s economy the strongest in the G7 or reducing the cost of food.

Carney shot back that Poilievre had missed key developments: the Liberal income tax cut, the passage of Bill C-5 eliminating barriers to internal trade, the removal of GST on new homes under $1.5 million for first-time buyers, and the creation of the new housing agency, Build Canada Homes.

“This government has been absolutely focused on improving affordability for Canadians,” Carney said. “We are building the strongest economy throughout the worst crisis in our history.”

Related posts:

Pierre Poilievre Set to Re-Enter Parliament Through Alberta By-Election, Refuses Severance Package Pierre Poilievre Wins Battle River–Crowfoot Byelection in Landslide, Returns to House of Commons Pierre Poilievre Faces Record Candidate Count in Alberta Byelection Immigration and Bail Reforms Set to Rock Ottawa