Jagsharan Singh Mahal

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 15 wordsit is always an honour to rise on behalf of my community of Edmonton Southeast.Greeting Positioning · 30 wordsAs Parliament returns for the fall sitting, I am proud to stand in the House with my Conservative colleagues as we fight for a more affordable life for all Canadians.Positioning Claims · 55 wordsThis evening, I have the privilege of debating legislation that not only is Conservative in principle, but reflects a policy that Conservatives have been pushing for months. The tabling of Bill C-38 by the government represents a successful policy push by Conservatives that would help ease the strain on the wallets of millions of Canadians, Positioning · 17 wordsbut while this legislation is a step in the right direction, it does not go far enough.Positioning Claims · 91 wordsEarlier this year, the federal government temporarily suspended the fuel excise tax, reducing the tax on gasoline by 10¢ per litre and on diesel by four cents per litre.¹ That relief was supposed to expire after Labour Day.² Conservatives fought that tax increase and called on the government to extend the relief. Now the government has changed course. Under Bill C-38, the excise tax would remain suspended until the end of January, ³and half of the tax would return in February and March, before the full tax would return in April.⁴ Positioning · 8 wordsAny relief for working Canadians is good news, PositioningProcedure · 10 wordsbut Canadians should understand what this legislation would actually do.Procedure Claims · 33 wordsIt would not eliminate the tax. It would delay its return, and it would leave in place other federal taxes and regulatory costs that continue to affect the price Canadians pay for fuel. Reasoning · 77 wordsThat matters because fuel is not simply another household expense. Fuel moves our economy. It gets workers to their jobs. It powers farm equipment. It moves building materials to construction sites. It delivers food to grocery stores and products to businesses across this vast country. When the cost of fuel increases, those costs do not remain at the gas station. Those costs move through our supply chains and eventually land on the bills paid by Canadian families. Claims · 65 wordsWe are already seeing the pressures. In July, gasoline prices were up over 25% compared with the year before.⁵ Energy costs were up over 16%.⁶ Transportation costs increased by over 7%, ⁷while grocery prices rose another 3%.⁸ Canadian households now carry about $1.76 in debt for every dollar of disposable income.⁹ At the same time, consumer insolvencies are up over 5% from the year before.¹⁰ Positioning · 19 wordsThese are not simply numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent real Canadians trying to make their paycheques stretch further.Positioning Claims · 214 wordsJust this Sunday on my way to the Edmonton airport, my ride-share driver shared some of the struggles he faces every day. This hard-working man from south Edmonton is named Peter. Peter came to Canada 25 years ago and built a life for himself and his family. He owned and operated a small business in our community, employed local residents and contributed to Canada’s economic engine. After almost three decades of working hard and providing for his family on a single income, it was finally time for him to retire, but there was a problem. The rapidly increasing cost of living meant that his retirement savings could no longer keep up with the price of everyday essentials. After decades of contributing to Canada’s economic base and providing for his family, Peter’s wife is now forced to work a retail job. At the same time, Peter cannot enjoy his well-deserved retirement years. Instead, he drives for a ride-share service five days a week just to keep his head above water. Unfortunately, Peter’s story is all too common among Canadians. We used to have a simple bargain in this country: work hard, earn a decent paycheque, provide for one’s family, buy a home in a safe neighbourhood and, after decades of work, enjoy a secure retirement. Positioning · 49 wordsAfter 11 years of Liberal government, that bargain has been torn apart.¹¹ Canadians like Peter can no longer enjoy the fruits of their labour because the cost of basics continues to eat away at their paycheques and savings. That is why Bill C-38 cannot be where this conversation ends.Positioning Claims · 16 wordsThe government itself recognizes that fuel tax relief benefits truckers, agriculture, housing, construction and delivery businesses. Reasoning · 24 wordsIf lower fuel taxes help those sectors today, then Canadians should not be satisfied watching those taxes being returned in only a few months. Positioning · 6 wordsConservatives are proposing something more substantial.Positioning Claims · 68 wordsWe have called on the government to remove all federal taxes on gasoline and diesel until at least Canada Day 2027.¹² That means going beyond the excise tax suspension and addressing costs attributed to the clean fuel regulations and the industrial carbon tax. The common-sense Conservative proposal would save drivers up to 25¢ per litre and put as much as $1,000 back into the pockets of Canadian families.¹³ Positioning · 10 wordsThat is the difference between temporary relief and meaningful relief.Positioning Claims · 24 wordsConservatives fought the return of the fuel excise tax after Labour Day. The government changed course, and Canadians will save money because of it. Positioning · 20 wordsThat is a positive development, but we should not confuse a temporary extension with a solution to Canada’s affordability crisis.Positioning Claims · 15 wordsCanadians still face high fuel prices, rising grocery bills and household budgets stretched too thin. Promise · 22 wordsConservatives will always fight for measures that leave more money in Canadians’ pockets while continuing to push for greater and longer-lasting relief, Vague promisePositioning · 56 wordsbecause Canadians like Peter did everything we asked of them. They worked hard, built businesses, raised their families, paid their taxes and contributed to their communities. They deserve more than another temporary relief. They deserve a Canada where hard work once again provides the opportunity to get ahead, build a good life and retire with security.Positioning Promise · 27 wordsThat can only be done by extending government tax relief until at least July 1, 2027, ¹⁴and permanently removing the clean fuel standard and industrial carbon tax.¹⁵