Discussion · Government Orders
Jacques Gourde Conservative
“We need to cut the fuel tax to help farmers and consumers. Diesel prices are going up, and farmers have to pay much more for fuel to bring in their crops while selling their food at regular market prices. They need relief.”
“Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague’s speech. He seems to be assuming that if we lower taxes, the oil companies will pocket that money. We could discuss and debate that, but what I find unfortunate about his remarks is that he overlooked the fact that diesel prices are currently rising. Let me give an example from the agricultural sector. This fall, farmers have pay up to 25¢, 30¢, 40¢ or 60¢ more per litre to bring in the fall harvest, a harvest that will not necessarily sell for a higher price, because farmers sell their products at the prevailing world market prices. They are the ones who will have to absorb this staggering increase in energy costs. I think it would be a good idea to give them a little breathing room, but my colleague does not seem to agree that consumers should get that breathing room.”
Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague’s speech. He seems to be assuming that if we lower taxes, the oil companies will pocket that money. We could discuss and debate that, but what I find unfortunate about his remarks is that he overlooked the fact that diesel prices are currently rising. Let me give an example from the agricultural sector. This fall, farmers have pay up to 25¢, 30¢, 40¢ or 60¢ more per litre to bring in the fall harvest, a harvest that will not necessarily sell for a higher price, because farmers sell their products at the prevailing world market prices. They are the ones who will have to absorb this staggering increase in energy costs. I think it would be a good idea to give them a little breathing room, but my colleague does not seem to agree that consumers should get that breathing room.