When he’s in the House of Commons during the daily 45-minute Question Period, Mark Carney appears to enjoy himself. Whereas it’s never shown on TV cameras—House of Commons personnel, not broadcasters, control the visuals—those in the galleries will often see Carney smiling and joking with members of the opposition, including Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
However, Carney is rarely present for Question Period. A Global News analysis of the official record of House of Commons proceedings, known as Hansard, shows that Carney has been present for 28 of the 96 QP sessions since the 2025 general election. (The PMO said he’s been present in QP 29 times). This represents an attendance rate of 29.2 per cent, which is lower than Justin Trudeau’s record in the first year after his election in 2015—41 of 89 sessions, or 46.1 per cent—and lower than Stephen Harper’s record after his election in 2006—61 of 95 sessions, or 64.2 per cent.
“I believe he could do a few more,” said Conservative MP Ben Lobb (Huron-Bruce). He finds Carney’s attendance record puzzling, stating, “He should be here a little bit more.” The daily QP session can sometimes be unproductive, with some Conservative MPs using their time to create content for social media. However, it remains the primary opportunity for opposition MPs to ask the prime minister to explain his policies.
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer reminded Carney during the first QP session after the 2025 election that, “Here’s where democracy lives and this is where we provide rigorous scrutiny of every word [the PM] says and every dollar he spends on behalf of Canadians.” Prime ministers typically answer questions only from leaders of recognized parties during what is known as the “Leaders’ Round.”
Carney has largely continued this practice, responding to questions primarily from Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois. The NDP, having failed to win enough seats to become an officially recognized party, has not had any of its questions answered by Carney during Question Period. NDP MPs have limited opportunities to ask questions, as their slots are at the end of the 45-minute session.
“You know, 1.2 million Canadians voted for us. I don’t think it’s too much to ask the prime minister to wait an extra 10 minutes to answer questions that will be put to him,” said NDP interim leader Don Davies. Carney’s office stated that he has participated in Question Period 29 times during the 21 weeks the House of Commons has sat, responding to questions from the leaders of both officially recognised opposition parties and taking a collaborative approach.
The Hansard record shows that Carney departed from his usual practice only once, on Nov. 17, responding to a question from Green Party MP Elizabeth May when her support was needed for a confidence vote on the budget. During his time in office, Trudeau established a practice of answering questions from all opposition members once a week on Wednesdays.
Lobb noted that Trudeau’s weekly round allowed MPs to address local or regional issues, citing a current controversy regarding a proposed high-speed rail line between Toronto and Montreal. Dan Albas, Conservative for Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna, believes a prime minister should be present in QP “whenever possible just to hear the temperature of the country and to hear from the representatives.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How often has Mark Carney attended Question Period since the 2025 election?
According to a Global News analysis of Hansard, Carney has been present for 28 of the 96 QP sessions since the 2025 general election.
Which parties has Carney typically responded to questions from during Question Period?
Carney has primarily responded to questions from the leaders of the Conservative Party and the Bloc Québécois.
What did Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer say to Carney during the first QP session after the 2025 election?
Scheer reminded Carney that Question Period is “where democracy lives and this is where we provide rigorous scrutiny of every word [the PM] says and every dollar he spends on behalf of Canadians.”
Given the differing attendance rates of recent prime ministers, what impact might Carney’s approach to Question Period have on the dynamic between the government and the opposition?
