Discussion · Government Orders
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Québécois
“I do not want this bill to pass yet. The government says cutting this gas tax puts money back in people's pockets, but it has not shown the studies to prove it. With huge deficits, we cannot afford to spend $3 billion without knowing if this policy actually works. The Department of Finance must publish its analysis before we vote.”
“Mr. Speaker, I never said that people enjoy burning money. When people tell us they like these measures, it is partly because the Minister of Finance told them that the 10¢ would go into their pockets, even though that may not be true. People trust a finance minister who has not shown us the studies. The Parti Québécois will make its requests, and it is even possible that tax points could be transferred. I do not know what the Parti Québécois will propose. At one point, during a debate here, we were asked what we would do if the Parti Québécois had proposals regarding the excise tax. There is, however, one difference. During the election campaign in Quebec, every single party, without exception, had a plan to return to a balanced budget in the short or medium term, which leaves room for experimentation. However, when you have a deficit of $65 billion, $68 billion, $69 billion, $72 billion, or $73 billion dollars, the $3-billion margin for experimentation takes on a different meaning, especially since this is the second time the policy has been implemented and no assessment of its effectiveness has been conducted. I urge them to do the work at the Department of Finance. I believe it has already been done. Above all, I urge them to publish their work and tell us what we are voting on, rather than trying to put parliamentarians on the other side of the House in an uncomfortable position. Personally, I am very comfortable with the idea of seeking all the facts before voting on a bill.”
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Mr. Speaker, I never said that people enjoy burning money. When people tell us they like these measures, it is partly because the Minister of Finance told them that the 10¢ would go into their pockets, even though that may not be true. People trust a finance minister who has not shown us the studies. The Parti Québécois will make its requests, and it is even possible that tax points could be transferred. I do not know what the Parti Québécois will propose. At one point, during a debate here, we were asked what we would do if the Parti Québécois had proposals regarding the excise tax. There is, however, one difference. During the election campaign in Quebec, every single party, without exception, had a plan to return to a balanced budget in the short or medium term, which leaves room for experimentation. However, when you have a deficit of $65 billion, $68 billion, $69 billion, $72 billion, or $73 billion dollars, the $3-billion margin for experimentation takes on a different meaning, especially since this is the second time the policy has been implemented and no assessment of its effectiveness has been conducted. I urge them to do the work at the Department of Finance. I believe it has already been done. Above all, I urge them to publish their work and tell us what we are voting on, rather than trying to put parliamentarians on the other side of the House in an uncomfortable position. Personally, I am very comfortable with the idea of seeking all the facts before voting on a bill.