The C.D. Howe Institute's Business Cycle Council, Canada's unofficial authority on recession declarations, stated it is premature to label the economy as being in a recession. This follows Statistics Canada's report of two consecutive quarters of GDP decline, which some economists view as a technical recession. However, the council urges caution, arguing that the current economic weakness is neither widespread nor persistent enough to warrant such a label. Council member Steven Ambler explained that they assess three criteria—pronounced, persistent, and pervasive declines in economic activity—before declaring a recession. They noted that the recent GDP decline is not as significant as previous downturns that led to recession declarations. Additionally, the unemployment rate fell to 6.6% in May, marking the first notable employment gain since November, suggesting some resilience in the job market. The political debate continues, with the Conservative party blaming the Liberal government for the economic situation, while Prime Minister Mark Carney anticipates uneven growth as efforts are made to reduce reliance on the U.S. economy.