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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-05-04 Sitting 116 Showing 1–4 of 4

A debate where the Conservative MP brought up high gas prices and his own mailed updates to constituents, while the Liberal MP talked about the complex global economy and accused Conservatives of not supporting government measures. They mostly talked around each other without engaging the other's points.

Official Hansard ↗

William Stevenson

Conservative 6:55 p.m.

“I want my constituents to get the tax guide mailer I sent. I don't like how complex the tax system is. Someone at CRA committed fraud. I want the government to remove all gas and diesel taxes this year to help with inflation.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, I have sent various reports and updates to households and businesses across the 35 communities of my beautiful riding. Yellowhead, this last election, has significantly changed boundaries, incorporating areas from five previous ridings. One of the mailers was a tax guide to help individuals, families and businesses to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Many have found this mailer very helpful. However, hundreds, if not thousands, of my constituents did not receive it due to a lack of coordination between Canada Post, Elections Canada and the House of Commons printing services. I encourage those watching to visit my website and review my monthly updates, but please know that my team and I are actively working with all parties involved to resolve these delivery issues so that they receive the information they expect from their member of Parliament. People have the right to hear from their elected officials. Taxpayers are paying for the service, and it is unacceptable that my constituents are not receiving it. As the only CPA with public practice experience in the House, every day I hear from law-abiding Canadians and professional accountants. People are struggling to navigate an increasingly complex tax system. Individuals with limited Internet and those lacking computer skills are being discriminated against when dealing with CRA and their access. A recent report out of British Columbia is deeply concerning. A Canada Revenue Agency employee has been charged after allegedly compromising sensitive tax information and is now facing charges including breach of trust, identity theft and fraud following a multi-year investigation. While honest taxpayers are being burdened, cases like this raise questions. Canadians expect the CRA to protect their sensitive financial information. Instead, we see situations where bad actors within the system are able to access, misuse and abuse the data for years before being caught. Tax fairness is not just about how much people pay. It is about ensuring that the system treats everyone equally. That means going after the wrongdoers while respecting and supporting the millions of Canadians who follow the rules. In April, in response to my question regarding removal of all gas taxes, the Liberal minister said that “Albertans are looking for the government to provide solutions” and claimed that her government is “delivering”. What is true is that Albertans are looking for change. What is lacking is any proof that the government is actually delivering. Real action would mean scrapping all federal gas and diesel taxes for the rest of the year, not pausing a third of the taxes for a third of the year. That is not delivery; that is a headline. Statistics Canada has confirmed that Canada continues to have the worst food inflation in the G7. Even with the temporary pause of the excise tax, Canadians are still paying nearly 15% more at the pump than Americans, due to the higher taxes and our weaker dollar. Families feel this every day. Higher fuel costs drive up prices across the board, forcing Canadians to choose between filling their tank and filling their grocery cart. Therefore, I will ask again: If the government knows that energy costs drive everything else, why will it not remove all federal fuel taxes and deliver real relief?

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal 7:00 p.m.

“I want you to think Conservatives don't help Canadians. I want you to think we are helping Canadians. I listed many programs and agreements. I want you to think we use your money well. Conservatives didn't cheer my list so I want you to think they don't want to help Canadians. I want you to think our spending helps everyone.”

Official Hansard

Clearly, Mr. Speaker, Canadians are navigating a rapidly changing, increasingly fragmented and volatile global economy, one that is more complex, more unpredictable and, for many, more costly as well. In response, our government continues to focus on what we can control, which is building a strong Canadian economy and diversifying our trade partners abroad. We see signs of progress, with 20 new trade and security agreements signed and a 36% increase in non-U.S. trade, which is significant. We are also focused on delivering responsible fiscal management and supporting Canadians who are under pressure from everyday expenses. Just last week, on Friday, I had the opportunity to list 19 different tax cuts that our government has made. There was no response from the Conservatives, of course, because they did not support 99% of them. I think there might have been one they allowed to pass, but I am sure if they could have blocked them, they would have done so, because that is exactly what we see in this House: the Conservatives obstructing and voting against the very things that help Canadians, whether it is child care or a national school food program, a groceries and essentials benefit, an income tax cut, suspending the fuel excise tax, and on and on. Every single measure we put forward that actually helps to tangibly reduce the cost of living pressures on Canadians, they vote against and oppose. I do not know how they can stand up in the House and say they actually care about households and the cost of living. The other thing the member opposite suggested is that the tax system has become more complex. It is true, as we offer investment tax credits for businesses and waive, or increase deductions for, certain kinds of expenses, or as we help tradespeople who are moving across the country, relocating for work, by allowing them to deduct more of those expenses, that it is more complex for Canadians. However, we have also moved forward with an automatic tax filing system and initiative that will help millions of Canadians who, for the many accessing federal benefits and supports, rely on filing their taxes. We know full well that it will help with simple tax filings. It also means that other Canadians will be able to get access to benefits because it better utilizes government resources to help those with the simplest tax filings to access the tax benefits and federal payments they are eligible for. We are stepping up to help out. We have fiscal strength. The IMF said recently that we have the strongest fiscal position in the G7 and that we should use our fiscal capacity, which is exactly what the federal government is doing. I know Conservatives would never invest in Canadians. They do not believe in Canadians. They do not believe in boosting the economy. That is not the Liberal Party's position. Our position is to use our fiscal capacity to boost our economy. We see those investments coming to fruition and manifesting good-paying jobs for generations to come. That is the prosperity we are building. That is how we build Canada strong, and we are not going to back down just because Conservatives talk a good game in this House.

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William Stevenson

Conservative 7:05 p.m.

“I want you to think the government won't help people. I want you to think our plan from before was better. The government is only doing part of what we want now. I want you to think the government doesn't help Canadians. Gas costs a lot. I want the government to stop all gas taxes this year. I want you to think the government is slow and bad.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, three years ago, before the crisis got worse, Conservatives called upon the Liberals to suspend gas taxes for the summer so that Canadians could afford a simple road trip. The Liberals voted no. Now, after years of inflation, with higher grocery costs and during an international energy crisis, we are calling for a stronger measure: to remove all federal fuel taxes for the rest of the year. Once again, the Liberals refuse to act. Instead, the Prime Minister offered a half measure, cutting a third of the taxes for a third of the year. This might have helped back in 2023, but not now. Canadians are struggling. The cheapest gas around is reaching two dollars a litre. People cannot afford a government that is constantly behind. When will the government stop pretending to help and actually deliver real relief?

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal 7:05 p.m.

“I talk about our spending. I want you to think the other guy does not care about workers. I want you to think the other guy will vote no on our spending. I say the other guy does not help families or industries. I want you to think the other guy is bad.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, actions speak louder than words, and what we see is that the words of Conservatives in this House do not match how they vote. They do not support any of the measures our government has put forward. How are they going to vote on the spring economic update? That is what I would like to know. There are 80,000 to 100,000 new skilled trades workers hanging in the balance in terms of support: a $10,000 incentive for a small or medium-sized company to hire an apprentice, $400 a week up to about $16,000 for a new apprentice, plus a completion bonus of $5,000 for 80,000 to 100,000 workers. How are the Conservatives going to vote? The Conservatives have said in the House that they do not support these investments in the workforce in Canada. How can they not support workers across this country while standing up and saying that they care about families, affordability and industries that are affected by tariffs that the United States has put on us? How can they not support workers? How are they going to vote?

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What they said. What they meant.

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