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Taxation

During Question Period, the Conservative leader repeatedly asked the government to remove all federal taxes on gasoline for the rest of the year, arguing that gas costs about 50 cents a litre more than in 2014 when world oil was also $100 a barrel, and more than in the United States, which he attributed to the government’s taxes, spending, deficits, and a weak dollar. Liberal ministers replied that a global conflict involving the Strait of Hormuz has created an unprecedented energy crisis, noted the government has already temporarily suspended the federal excise tax on fuel, and cited the International Energy Agency and IMF in support of its approach. One Liberal minister also cited the IEA head’s view of Canada as a reliable energy partner with oil, gas, nuclear, minerals, and potash resources.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Gas costs more today than it did in 2014, even though oil costs the same. High taxes and government policies are why it costs more. I want the Prime Minister to stop collecting all gas taxes for the rest of the year.”

  • A repeated line

    “The price at the pump was $1.38 per litre.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since May 4.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. He likes to blame the $1.85-a-litre price of gas on the fact that the oil is $100 a barrel. Here are the facts: In 2014, the same barrel of oil cost $100, but the price at the pump was $1.38 per litre. That is nearly 50¢ less than today. This is due to taxes, inflationary deficits that drive up prices, and anti-development policies that reduce the value of our dollar. Will he get rid of all gas taxes for the rest of the year?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“A global conflict is causing a major energy crisis. We helped Canadians by pausing the federal gas tax, and people are already paying less at the pump.”

  • A repeated line

    “We introduced a temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline.”

    Said 8 times by 7 members since May 5.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, allow me to help out the opposition leader. There is something called a conflict going on in the Strait of Hormuz right now. The level of uncertainty is indeed unprecedented. Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said that this is the largest energy crisis we have ever faced. Here we have the Leader of the Opposition pointing the finger at the government, even though we did the right thing. We helped Canadians by making things more affordable. We suspended the federal gas tax. People are already seeing the results at the pump. That is what responsible government looks like.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Gas costs more today than it did in 2014 when oil was the same price. It also costs more than in the U.S. This is because of the Prime Minister's taxes, high spending, and a weak dollar. Will he cancel all gas taxes for the rest of the year?”

  • A repeated line

    “The price of a barrel of oil was $100, but the price at the pump was only $1.34 a litre.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since May 5.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, increases in the price of a barrel of oil are partly responsible for the higher prices at the pump. In 2014, the price of a barrel of oil was exactly the same, at $100. However, gas prices were 50¢ cheaper. Also, U.S. gas prices are 15% lower than ours. There is something that this Prime Minister is doing that explains the difference: taxes, inflationary deficits and a very weak dollar. Will he have the courage to stand up in the House of Commons and announce today that he will get rid of all gas taxes for the rest of the year, yes or no?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We did the right thing by temporarily pausing the federal fuel tax to help Canadians. We will keep supporting people and businesses.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 94 of 100

    Of this answer, 91% addressed the question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, exactly, we did the right thing. As the International Monetary Fund has noted, we introduced a targeted, temporary measure to help Canadians. On our side of the House, we are prepared to do what is necessary. The federal government did the right thing by suspending the federal excise tax on fuel. We were there for Canadians. We will continue to be there, and we will continue to support industries, businesses and Canadians, because we believe in building Canada strong.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Gas costs more today than it did in 2014, even though world oil prices are the same. I blame the Prime Minister's debt and carbon taxes. I want him to remove all taxes on gas for the rest of the year.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is just another illusion. The Prime Minister brings more costs, more debt and more taxes. Let us look at gas, for example. The Prime Minister likes to blame the $1.85-a-litre cost at the pumps on the fact that we have $100 global oil prices, but in 2014, we also had $100 global oil prices and the price at the pump was $1.38, almost 50¢ cheaper, even though the world price was exactly the same. The difference is explained by the Liberal Prime Minister’s inflationary debt and newly renamed carbon taxes on top of a weak dollar. Will the Prime Minister at least take all Liberal taxes off gas for the rest of the year?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“World conflicts are causing a major energy crisis. That is why our government paused the federal gas tax to help Canadians with costs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 88 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “He may have heard of the Strait of Hormuz”.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 91 of 100

    Of this answer, 94% addressed the question that was asked.

    See full analysis

  • A repeated line

    “We are going to build Canada strong.”

    Said 33 times by 14 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know it is Tuesday, but let me help the Leader of the Opposition. He may have heard of the Strait of Hormuz. He may have heard about Iran. He may have heard about a conflict. What we are seeing is unprecedented. Members do not need to take it from us. They can take it from the head of the International Energy Agency, who says that this is the biggest shock we have seen in energy. On this side of the House, we are happy to do our part. We are very pleased to have suspended the federal excise tax on gas. We heard from Canadians, who said, “Give us a break. Help us at this time.” We are happy to do our part. We are going to build Canada strong.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Gas is more expensive in Canada because of the Prime Minister's taxes and bad economic choices. I want him to get rid of all gas taxes this year.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Strait of Hormuz might explain why global oil prices are $100 a barrel, but they were $100 a barrel back in 2014, and at that time, when Conservatives were in power, gas prices were 50¢ a litre cheaper. South of the border, they have the same global oil price of $100 a barrel, yet their gas prices are 15% cheaper. The difference is explained by high Liberal taxes, including the newly renamed carbon tax; the inflationary spending; and the weak dollar the Prime Minister has caused through his incompetent economic policies. Will he at least have the courage to stand up and announce that he will get rid of all the taxes for all the year?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The head of the International Energy Agency says Canada is a reliable partner. He says we help the world because we have oil, gas, nuclear power, minerals, and potash.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 25 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here is what the head of the International Energy Agency says: Oil and gas may be in short supply, but so are two other commodities, “trust and predictability.” He believes this government has all four of those, plus nuclear ambition, plus uranium, plus critical minerals, plus potash. That is how we help the world.

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