Discussion · Government Orders
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Québécois
“The Conservatives always try to help oil companies. The government has already cut the gas tax, given more money to oil companies, and paid for a pipeline. None of this lowered gas prices for regular people. It only made profits go up for oil companies. I want the member to explain how his plan will actually fix this.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague’s speech, specifically the Conservative motion under debate today, is no different from the debates we have come to expect from them. I think almost all of the opposition days in the House have been Conservative opposition days seeking to benefit the oil companies. However, if we look at the reactions to international tensions in recent months, there has been pressure for a lower gas tax, which the Conservatives achieved because the Liberals gave it to them. There has been a really substantial increase in all possible federal subsidies for oil companies. Last week, the government even made a commitment to buy a new pipeline and build it at taxpayers’ expense. However, none of that has had any impact on prices at the pump. In fact, prices at the pump continue to rise. If we look closely, the only thing increasing is oil companies’ profits. Ordinary Canadians continue to pay more, despite the fact that the government is giving more money to oil companies. Does my colleague really think that his is the right solution?”
Mr. Speaker, my colleague’s speech, specifically the Conservative motion under debate today, is no different from the debates we have come to expect from them. I think almost all of the opposition days in the House have been Conservative opposition days seeking to benefit the oil companies. However, if we look at the reactions to international tensions in recent months, there has been pressure for a lower gas tax, which the Conservatives achieved because the Liberals gave it to them. There has been a really substantial increase in all possible federal subsidies for oil companies. Last week, the government even made a commitment to buy a new pipeline and build it at taxpayers’ expense. However, none of that has had any impact on prices at the pump. In fact, prices at the pump continue to rise. If we look closely, the only thing increasing is oil companies’ profits. Ordinary Canadians continue to pay more, despite the fact that the government is giving more money to oil companies. Does my colleague really think that his is the right solution?