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Taxation

Question period on affordability and taxation, connected to the government’s Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act, which among other things sets the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel to zero for part of 2026. The Conservative leader said gas prices are higher than a decade ago even when crude oil cost the same, attributing this to federal taxes and the weak dollar rather than world events, and asked the government to cancel fuel taxes for the year; he also raised taxes on work, gas, beer and a reported coming change on streaming services. The Liberal minister cited a global energy crisis, said the government suspended the federal fuel tax to cut gas prices by about 10 cents, and pointed to housing, food and fuel measures in the bill, calling on the Conservatives to vote for it; he also said the Conservatives have voted against past affordability measures. The exchange consisted of these repeated points from each side.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

3 statements

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We know high prices for housing, food, and gas are hard on Canadians. We cut the federal gas tax to lower the price of gas by 10 cents.”

  • A repeated line

    “We have suspended the excise tax on fuel.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since May 6.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Leader of the Opposition understands that we are currently facing a global energy crisis. We know that Canadians’ top priority is affordability, meaning the cost of housing, food and gas. The good news is that this is exactly what we have taken action on. We have suspended the federal excise tax on fuel, lowering the cost of gas for Canadians by 10¢. We on this side are very aware that affordability is the number one issue for Canadians. That is why, together with all my colleagues, we will always be there to help Canadians.

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We paused the federal fuel tax to help Canadians with high energy costs this summer. I want the Conservatives to vote for this bill to make that happen.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the executive director of the International Energy Agency has said that we are currently facing the largest energy crisis in history. That is why we took action. We did not wait. In other words, we suspended the federal fuel tax. That is because we are acutely aware that we need to give Canadians a helping hand as the summer season approaches. We will always be there to stand up for the interests of Canadians, and I invite my Conservative colleagues to vote in favour of Bill C-30, which will give Canadians a helping hand this summer.

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I want the Conservatives to vote for this bill. We are helping people with the cost of living by building cheaper homes, working to lower food prices, and pausing the fuel tax on gas. The Conservatives keep voting against this help.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 33 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “We will take no lessons from the Conservatives.”

    Said 9 times by 4 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. Members can take my word on that. At every step of the way, when we put measures around affordability, they voted against them. They should be ashamed. At a time when Canadians are asking us to act on the cost of living, that is exactly what we have done. We are building more affordable houses, we have taken measures on affordability for food prices, and we have suspended the excise fuel tax on gas. On this side of the House, we know when to act for Canadians. We will continue to support Canadians, and I invite my colleagues on the other side to vote for Bill C-30.

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