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Eric Lefebvre

Conservative 10:10 a.m.

“Government is hoarding money. Canadians can't afford this government. Taxpayers must spend less. Government should stop charging the credit card. I want lower taxes and cheaper gas too.”

Official Hansard

moved: That, given that, (i) gas prices are 13% higher in Canada than in the United States, equating to 22 cents more on average per litre, (ii) gas now costs 50 cents more per litre today than when global oil prices were at the same level in 2014, (iii) the Minister of Finance and National Revenue told Canadians on May 19, “We have already acted” (iv) Canadian families are still paying more to live due to a decade of Liberal credit card budgets, waste and mismanagement the House call on the government to offer Canadians immediate relief by ending all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year, including the GST, and permanently scrap the Clean Fuel Standard. He said: Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I want to note that I will be sharing my time with the member for Cloverdale—Langley City. I am very pleased to rise in the House today to begin debate on a Conservative proposal to help Canadians. Our proposal is simple and clear: Immediately cancel all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of 2026. We have been calling on the Liberals to do so since the beginning of the energy crisis in the Middle East. Given the global instability, a responsible government should have created a fiscal shield to protect its economy and its people. Unfortunately, the government chose to implement half measures. Our proposal will provide relief in the context of the current energy crisis and cost of living crisis. Every Canadian family, every farmer, every trucker and every small business is directly impacted by energy costs and the cost of living. Energy and affordability are the lifeblood of our country's economy. Let us consider the facts. The numbers do not lie. Gas prices are now 13% higher in Canada than in the United States, equating to 22¢ more on average per litre for Canadians. Why such a big difference compared to our neighbours to the south? What is even more alarming is that gas costs 50¢ more per litre today than when global oil prices were at the same level in 2014. What is the government's response to this dire situation? The Minister of Finance and National Revenue had the nerve to tell Canadians on May 19, “We have already acted”. Telling a family who can no longer fill their tank to get to work that the government has already acted is an insult to their daily realities. The truth is that the Liberals' current plan is nothing more than a half measure. They offered to cut only a third of the taxes for a third of the year. The Prime Minister says he understands that affordability is an issue, but his plan provides only limited, short-term relief that will not significantly cut costs for people. It would be a mistake to believe that these promises will be kept when all the government does is suspend a tiny portion of the excise tax just from April 20 until Labour Day. Canadians do not need a tax holiday that ends right when the school year begins and they will have new costs to cover. They need permanent relief. That is why we Conservatives are renewing our call for a zero-tax policy on gas. Our strategy is clear and comprehensive. We are formally calling on the government to, first, cancel the excise tax on fuel for the rest of 2026; second, cancel the GST on gas and diesel for the rest of 2026; and third, scrap the clean fuel standard. We are particularly calling for the complete elimination of the clean fuel standard, which is essentially a permanent hidden tax on every litre used. If our plan were fully implemented today, it would result in real, massive and immediate relief—a reduction of up to 25¢ per litre at the pump. For a family of four, that means savings of $20 or more every time they fill up. That is $1,200 in annual savings. That is real money. That is money going directly back into our constituents' pockets to pay for groceries and rent. Our plan saves 15¢ more per litre than the current Liberal plan. It is irrefutable proof that we are the only ones in the House proposing a solution that is up to the challenge posed by the crisis. We cannot ignore what is happening on the international stage. Canada is becoming an unfortunate and isolated fiscal exception. Leading industrialized nations facing the same global pressures, such as Australia, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria, have already taken concrete steps to slash fuel taxes or offer direct relief at the pump. They have grasped the urgency of the situation. Meanwhile, here, despite the brief partial suspension of excise duties, Canadians continue to pay about 14.7% more than Americans. This injustice drags on because of federal taxes that remain stubbornly high, too high. Should we really be surprised by the Liberals' inaction in the face of this crisis? After a decade of Liberal waste and mismanagement, Canadians are the ones paying the price. We are talking about massive cost overruns, handsomely paid consultants, not to mention a bloated federal bureaucracy. When will this government stop lining its own pockets and finally give that money back to our communities? The Minister of Finance seems to find this amusing, but I can assure him that, on the ground right now, Canadians and Quebeckers find nothing amusing about the current cost of living. Let us not forget that every wasted dollar gets charged directly to Canada's credit card. It also gets charged to our children's and grandchildren's credit cards, and I want the Minister of Finance to be aware of that. I will have the privilege of becoming a grandfather on November 15, and I hope the Liberal government will demonstrate some fiscal discipline to help future generations and stop charging things to our children's and grandchildren's credit cards. Clearly, Canadians can no longer afford this Liberal government. There is a direct connection between the price of diesel and the price of bread on store shelves. Statistics Canada recently reported that Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7. The Prime Minister took office a year ago on a solemn promise to make food more affordable. He failed. Now, a year later, families are paying the price. Thanks to high energy prices, the government is raking in a massive surplus that could be as much as $9 billion. We believe the government has a basic obligation to give that excess revenue back to Canadians in this time of crisis. Our plan would put $5 billion back into the pockets of Canadian families while retaining $4 billion to ensure fiscal flexibility. The Liberals' decision to hoard the money speaks volumes. After 10 years of this government, who knows where that money will end up? The Conservatives want a different country. We want a compassionate country, where parents never have to feel the pain of choosing between a full grocery basket or a full gas tank to get to work. The House must send a clear signal. It must demand that this government stop settling for half measures, temporary reprieves and optics. The time for a few tweaks here and there is over. We are calling for the outright cancellation of all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the remainder of the year, including the GST, along with the permanent elimination of the clean fuel standard. Now is the time to move from words to action. Now is the time to offer immediate, substantial and measurable relief. Now is the time to put $1,200 back in the pockets of Canadian families, where it will do the most good. The people of this country are not asking for handouts or for more bureaucratic programs. They simply want the government to stop making their financial situation worse. They want less money for the Liberal bureaucracy and more money in their pockets, in their communities. The Conservatives are standing up for affordability. We are standing up to bring relief to every Canadian family and every farmer, and today we are demanding a zero tax on gas.

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Eric Lefebvre

Conservative 10:20 a.m.

“The other guy is wrong. He denies seniors are missing money. His own party had to correct him. Their plan only helps for part of the year. We want a full year of help.”

Eric Lefebvre

Conservative 10:20 a.m.

“The Conservative plan is good. We will cut waste. Cut consultants. Reduce the size of government. It will all fit in your pocket.”

Dan Mazier

Conservative 10:20 a.m.

“You say you want to help with grocery bills. But your clean fuel rules make everything cost more. How much more will they pay for food because of it?”

Eric Lefebvre

Conservative 10:20 a.m.

“You should cut those costs I mentioned. It's not complicated. Canadians need more money for groceries.”

Eric Lefebvre

Conservative 10:25 a.m.

“People in my riding are tired of the other guy's spending. The other guy should stop spending so much money. I don't like the other guy's debt.”

Tamara Jansen

Conservative 10:25 a.m.

“I don't like that gas prices are high. High gas prices mean the government makes more money from taxes. The other guy doesn't have an incentive to lower prices, because he likes the tax money. The other guy only gave a tiny, temporary tax break. He wants a headline but not real relief. I say the other guy should remove all federal taxes on gas and diesel right away to give real relief. The other guy won't do it because he wants to keep spending other people's money. When the cost of energy goes up, the cost of everything goes up. Canadians are at the breaking point. The other guy acts like lowering fuel taxes would break the economy. I say the government should just stop taking so much money from people. Who should keep the money? The people who work hard and keep the country moving, or the government with an endless appetite for spending? I believe Canadians have already paid enough. The other guy says the economy is doing great, but people can't afford their bills. We have a choice: expensive energy and growing government, or let people keep their money.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in the 1970s, during Britain's energy crisis, there was a saying that the government treats taxpayers like lemons; that every time it needs more money, it just squeezes harder. That is exactly how Canadians feel today every time they pull up to the gas pump. Whether someone is a mom driving their kids to hockey in Cloverdale, a tradesman in Langley filling up his truck before work or a senior cutting back on groceries because of gas prices, they all watch the numbers spin higher and higher while government quietly takes a bigger cut every second that dial moves. If government revenue rises every time gas prices rise, what incentives do the Liberals actually have to bring that cost down? That is the uncomfortable truth at the centre of this debate. Every time families pull up to the pump and watch those numbers climb higher, Ottawa is standing right there with its hand out. There is the GST, the industrial carbon tax and the clean fuel standard, all stacked one on top of the other on every litre we buy. As Canadians watch those numbers click frighteningly higher, government revenues rise automatically. After months of soaring prices and dogged pressure by the Conservatives, the Liberals finally arrived with a tiny, temporary tax break. They presented it as though they performed some great act of economic heroism. In reality, their plan delivers barely one-third of the relief for barely one-third of the year, compared to what Conservatives had proposed. The Liberals want Canadians to believe that the cupboard is bare, that this is the absolute limit of what government can do, when in fact they can remove all federal taxes on gas and diesel tomorrow morning and give some real and actual relief to Canadians. However, that would require government to give up revenue and modern Liberals have become far too comfortable spending other people's money. Instead of real relief, Canadians are handed a carefully staged announcement designed to generate headlines, applause in Ottawa and just enough temporary relief to dull public anger while families continue struggling under the weight of higher energy costs. Meanwhile, the single mother driving to work, the tradesman filling up his truck, and the senior choosing between groceries and fuel are expected to celebrate crumbs while government continues feasting on the loaf. That is why Conservatives brought forward this motion to remove all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year and permanently scrap the costly clean fuel standard so Canadians can finally get some relief. Milton Friedman once joked that if government were put in charge of the Sahara Desert, there would be a shortage of sand within five years. We laugh because we understand the deeper truth behind it, which is that governments interfere too heavily in markets, pile on taxes, add layers of bureaucracy and try to centrally plan the economy from Ottawa boardrooms. The people who can least afford it will eventually pay the price. That is exactly what has happened in Canada. Let us think about it. Back in 2014, oil prices were sitting at roughly the same level they are today, around $100 a barrel, yet Canadians were paying about $1.37 a litre. Today, that same litre costs closer to $1.87. That is roughly 50¢ more per litre, even though the global oil price is essentially the same. What has changed? Liberal taxes have changed, of course. Over the last decade, Canadians have been buried under a growing pile of federal costs layered onto energy. This includes the industrial carbon tax, the clean fuel standard and the GST charge on top of the entire inflated amount. We have tax upon tax upon tax, all justified by politicians who never seem to notice that working people still have to drive to work, farmers still have to harvest their crops and families still have to get their kids to school. Here is the part Canadians are beginning to understand very clearly: Every time gas prices rise, government revenues rise as well. Ottawa profits from expensive energy, while ordinary Canadians are punished by it. That is why the finance minister's comments were astonishingly tone-deaf when he claimed that the Liberals had acted faster and more comprehensively than peer countries. Canadians are not looking for a trophy in international political theatre. They are looking at their bank accounts, they are looking at their grocery bills, they are looking at the cost of filling up the family vehicle and wondering how much further they can stretch a paycheque that already feels exhausted before it even arrives. Meanwhile, countries around the world cut fuel taxes to help their citizens weather rising costs. Conservatives proposed removing all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year to save families roughly 25¢ a litre, or about $1,200 for a family of four. The Liberals' response was to offer barely one-third of the relief for barely one-third of the year, and then they presented it as though they had moved mountains on behalf of struggling Canadians. Margaret Thatcher understood something modern Liberals never seem to grasp: When governments make energy expensive, they make everything expensive. Energy is not a luxury item. Energy moves food across the country. Energy powers tractors, delivery trucks, ambulances, factories, school buses and construction equipment. When energy costs rise, the cost of absolutely everything rises with it. Canadians are already at the breaking point. Nearly three-quarters of Canadians say that rising food and gas prices are straining their finances. More than four in 10 Canadians are less than $200 away from not being able to pay their bills. Members can think about that. The cost of one unexpected repair bill, one extra grocery trip or one tank of gas is how close to the edge millions of Canadians are living after a decade of Liberal credit card budgets, inflationary deficits and economic mismanagement. While ordinary Canadians cut back, governments keep spending like there is no tomorrow. The truckers delivering groceries pay more for fuel. The farmers harvesting crops pay more for fuel. The manufacturers shipping goods pay more for fuel. Every added cost lands on the kitchen tables of ordinary Canadian families. That is the real-world consequence of expensive energy. This is not a theoretical economics discussion over a catered lunch in Ottawa. These are real families making painful decisions every single day. The government acts as though lowering fuel taxes would somehow break the economy. When Conservatives are calling for these tax breaks, we were not proposing another complicated subsidy program with more paperwork, more bureaucracy and more consultants billing taxpayers by the hour. We are simply saying that the government should stop taking so much money from Canadians in the first place and let them keep more of what they earn. That is the simplest form of relief possible. The government's job is not to stand at the gas pump with its hand out every time Canadians try to get to work. The Parliamentary Budget Officer said that the Liberals' temporary plan would only save the average household about $124 total. Canadians cannot run a family budget on symbolic gestures. Conservatives are proposing relief that would actually have impact. The Liberals simply do not want to give up the revenue. At the heart of this debate lies a very simple question: Who should keep that money? Should it remain in the pockets of the men and women who rise early, work long hours, drive trucks, build the homes, harvest the crops and keep this country moving, or should more of it flow to Ottawa, where the government has developed an endless appetite for spending but remarkably little interest in restraint? Conservatives believe Canadians have already paid enough. After a decade of Liberal deficits and taxes, families are not asking for luxuries. They are asking for breathing room. They want to drive to work without feeling punished every time they fill their tanks. They want to walk through the grocery store without calculating what necessities must be left at the checkout counter. Whenever Canadians raise these concerns, they are told by the Liberals that they have already acted, that the economy is doing great and that it is one of the best economies in the G7. Somehow the answer to rising costs is always more bureaucracy, more intervention and more taxes collected from the people who are already struggling to stay afloat. The House has a choice to make. We can continue down the Liberal path, where expensive energy is treated as a political virtue, where taxes quietly rise every time families fill their tanks and where government grows larger while ordinary Canadians grow poorer, or we can return to the simple principle that built strong economies in the first place, which is that working people are better stewards of their own money than government will ever be.

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Tamara Jansen

Conservative 10:35 a.m.

“I don't like that the government is taking more tax money from gas prices but not trying to lower them. Canadians need to pay for many things. The government should stop taxing gas and diesel, and stop the expensive clean fuel rule.”

Costas Menegakis

Conservative 10:35 a.m.

“I'm filling time by talking about our break and how I talked to voters. I think my riding might have it worse than yours because I'm from Ontario. Do people in British Columbia have the same problems?”

Tamara Jansen

Conservative 10:35 a.m.

“I heard the same things as you. Canadians want common sense, not political theatre. High gas prices mean more tax money for the government. Canadians pay more for everything while the government gets more money. The government could help people, but it won't give up the money. Canadians deserve more than temporary help.”

Tamara Jansen

Conservative 10:35 a.m.

“The government didn't do enough and it was late. Their plan barely helps and doesn't last long. People will only save a little money. That's not enough when everything costs so much. We need real savings, not a band-aid to make the government look good.”

Costas Menegakis

Conservative 10:55 a.m.

“You've been at the cabinet table for nine years and housing, food, and gas are all less affordable than ever. Canada is the worst in the G7 for food prices. The least you can do is support our motion to cut fuel taxes for the rest of the year.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the minister highlighted three areas that are very important to Canadian families, which are housing costs, food prices and gas prices. He has been sitting around the cabinet table since 2017. This is his ninth year. Here is where we are nine years later. Nine years later, we have the highest cost of housing in the country. We have high food prices. In all of the G7 countries, Canada has the worst food affordability. That is our record there. Of course, gas prices have become astronomical. Now, apart from presenting the spring economic update, the minister has an opportunity to support our very sensible common-sense motion to reduce all fuel taxes for the rest of this year. Will he stand up and show some true leadership that will bring real, meaningful—

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Eric Lefebvre

Conservative 11:00 a.m.

“I want to look reasonable, so I'll start by praising the minister. But really, I want to challenge him on the gas tax. The current measure is only temporary and ends when families have extra expenses. I want the government to eliminate all gas taxes for the whole year.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will start with some praise for the minister. There is no doubt that, in the House, the minister uses Canada's two official languages in his various speeches in a very equitable manner. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for that. However, now I would like to challenge the minister. The motion I moved today has to do with the gas tax. Right now, we have a half measure, or technically a third of a measure, that ends on Labour Day. Labour Day coincides with back-to-school season, when families usually incur additional expenses. I want to know why the minister is unwilling to adopt the Conservative proposal to eliminate all gas taxes for all of 2026. I challenge the minister to directly respond to my question.

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Randy Hoback

Conservative 11:30 a.m.

“I want to remove the fuel tax on gas and diesel. That would provide immediate relief at the pump. The Clean Fuel Standard is a tax. It makes Canadian manufacturers uncompetitive. It hurts our ability to market around the world. Canadians are struggling. They have trouble affording activities for their kids. This government has had bad policy for 10 years. We need relief now.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Essex, who has been a breath of fresh air since he came to this House. He has done a great job. He represents the people of his riding. I have been to his riding and met first-hand all the wonderful people in that area. I want them to know they have a great member. I look forward to working with him for years to come. In Saskatchewan right now, it is spring seeding time. It is a tough time right now, because seeding is about three weeks later than it should be. People are stressed. They are burning the midnight oil, or burning the candle at both ends, one might say, to get the crop in because of the timely nature of the crops they are planting. I want to mention this in the little time I have. To farmer friends in my riding, across Saskatchewan and across Canada, slow down, take a breath, relax and be safe out there. To those who are working in agricultural districts or driving down those roads, remember that those farmers are working really hard and they are have time constraints. Give them space on the road. If people see a tractor coming down the road, they should slow down and let them go by. If they see a sprayer, slow down and let them go by. Let them do their business, because it is so crucial right now, in this next week or two, that they get the crop in as quickly as they can. Trust me when I say these are stressful conditions. Farmers are wet and they are frustrated. I have been there and done that. I have been up to my knees and up to my waist, and I know what it is like to pull a tractor out. I never got the tractor stuck. That was always my dad. I will say that, or at least that is what I will admit to. Talking about stress leads to what we are talking about today. Canadians are stressed. They are financially stressed. They are feeling the impact of costs going up. They are feeling the impact of their wages just not keeping up with what they have to pay per week or per month for the standard cost of living. We are not talking about surplus things or things that are just a benefit. I am talking about the day-to-day requirements to actually feed a family or put clothes on kids and get them off to school. Those are the types of costs that Canadians are struggling with. In a lot of cases, people are maxing out their credit cards. They are looking at ways to save money, but there is just nothing left to cut. That is where we, as a government, can play a role. That is one of the proposals we have made today. It is a simple solution that could immediately be implemented, and its impact could be felt immediately, without a huge bureaucracy being created and without a whole pile of spending on administrating and trying to create new programs. It is a very simple choice, which is to remove the fuel tax on diesel and gas. Instantaneously, that would provide relief at the pumps. It would not only provide relief for the family, but provide relief for the guys who are hauling the food to the warehouse or from the warehouse to the grocery store. It would provide a domino effect of relief through all sectors here in Canada that would make life just that much easier. Hopefully, those costs would trickle down to the consumer and make life just a little easier for that consumer, that Canadian citizen, to make ends meet. We proposed very simple measures. Get rid of the federal tax on gas and diesel, including the GST, and then permanently scrap the clean fuel standard. I am going to talk about the clean fuel standard right now. What is frustrating with this tax is that it is a tax. No matter how the Liberals want to bury it, it is a tax and it is a cost that will get through the supply chain to the end consumer. It always does. Those costs are always passed up the chain, and they will probably be passed up with a multiplier effect as margins are added to them all the way through. They end up in the consumer's back pocket, and those costs are hurting it. This tax also makes our manufacturers, suppliers and international traders uncompetitive in the global marketplace. What do I mean by that? The reality is that these are costs Canadian manufacturers and Canadian producers face, but their competitors around the world do not. These are costs that they have to embed into their pricing as they try to recover the costs and sell abroad that their competition does not have to. Automatically, they have one hand tied behind their back, yet we are telling them to diversify trade, take on new markets and find new ways of doing things. What do we do? We battle. We are basically putting more costs into the situation they are facing. It just does not make sense. We want to improve Canada's ability to market and sell around the world, which I agree with. I think those are good, honourable things to do. I have been pro-free trade all my life. Coming from the agriculture sector in Saskatchewan, we trade and we sell stuff around the world. We sell to clients in China, South America, North Africa and Europe. We are doing business around the world all the time. We are competing with Brazilians, Australians and Americans. We are competing with people around the world who do not have those restraints and those embedded costs. It actually makes it tougher for us to compete. However, we are very creative in Canada. Our farmers are the best in the world. They are quick adopters of new technology. They are very astute and they are competing. They can compete, even though they have had one hand tied behind their back so many times over the last few years. All we are saying is to take the hand from behind their backs and put them on a level playing field. That is what we are saying here by removing the clean fuel standard. It is not just farmers, but manufacturers and the whole Canadian economy that could find more relief and a greater ability to compete internationally by having this removed from their cost platform. I want to circle back to families and the stresses they are facing. I go to events. We held passport clinics in the riding a few weeks back, I sat down at the table and talked to people who were coming in to get passports for their kids. They may travel over the next five or six years. When I held these clinics over the last two or three years, people were talking about a trip they were going to take the next year or the year after. When I talk to them now, they say, “We want to get our passport because it is convenient and it is easy, and thanks for offering the service, but I do not know if we will ever use it because I just cannot afford to travel. I just cannot afford to take on any luxuries like travel, but I want to have my passport.” When we drive down and ask how they are doing, what is going on in their family and how their babies are, I hear a little softening in their tone and see them biting on their lip or a tear in their eye. They say, “It is tough. We had to make the choice this year between letting our kids play baseball or play golf. We had to make the choice this year of whether we are going to put our kids in swimming lessons. We looked at the cost and we just cannot afford it.” They want to make sure that their kids have all of the opportunities to play different sports and experience what they all grew up with, but they say, “I do not know if we can afford it. I do not know if we can do it.” I was talking to one guy. He said, “I have three jobs because I want my kids to play hockey. I want them to experience hockey, but that means I have three jobs.” His wife is also working in that family of four. Two parents are working just so their kids can play hockey. Something is wrong with this equation. Looking back, what has happened? What is wrong? It is 10 years of bad policy. It has been 10 years of ignoring what really needs to be done through policy to make sure that Canadians can thrive, grow, experience the benefits of being a Canadian citizen and have the “top of the world” lifestyle that we became accustomed to in the years before the last 10 years of the Liberal government. These are the things that people are looking at, and they are saying, “It never used to be this way. Why is it now?” Let us look at it. We drove away industry. We brought in policies that no other country in the world has. We have done it all under the guise of being for the environment. I think a lot of people would agree that it is important to take care of our environment, and I agree with that. Canadians would agree with that, but they did not need to be the Boy Scouts of it. They did not need to be the ones doing it all by themselves. Keep in mind that we produce 2% of global emissions, yet we thought we were taking on the world and we are trying to find a way to solve 100% of global emissions. We cannot do it by ourselves, but the government is asking our businesses and our families to pay for all of this with really no benefit at the end of the day to actually make a change in the environment. Going back to these families, they are struggling. They are looking for a way to make ends meet. They want to give their kids a good quality of life. They want to see some hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. They want to see that they are through this rough patch and this structural change that is going on in the U.S. and things like that, and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. However, from the current government, there has been no policy, really, that has impacted people's day-to-day functions. The Liberals talk about different subsidy programs that they put in place, and they all sound good, but at the end of the day, they are not hitting the mark. They are not actually helping Canadian families. With respect to this policy and these changes, if we were to implement them tomorrow, the impact would be felt immediately. At least families would know right out to the end of the year that for the summer season and going into the fall, they would have some relief. They would know that as the economy picks up and as their job and everything else stabilize, they would be good. That is why this common-sense Conservative approach is something the Liberals should steal. They are good at stealing good Conservative policies. Why not steal this one? Canadians would benefit from it.

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Randy Hoback

Conservative 11:45 a.m.

“You think your program to feed children is the only answer. You want more bureaucracy and more government programs. But I want people to have their own money. I want them to not need handouts. I want them to have good jobs. That's the Conservative way. It makes more sense. We should do it our way.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know the sincerity of the hon. member's heart. His approach to it is one way of approaching it. Is it the right way? Is it the most efficient way? That is where we would differ. The need is there. There is no question about it. However, I would like to make sure that families have good jobs, high-paying jobs, so they do not have to go to the federal government for a food program. I would like to make sure that they keep that money in their back pocket, so that they can spend it as they choose. That is the difference between the Conservative approach and the Liberal approach. Liberals would like to create a new bureaucracy, and they would like to dole out the money as they see fit. No, people should keep their money, so they can spend it as they see fit. They worked hard to earn it. While we understand that the issues are there, there are different ways of approaching it. Our way makes more sense. That is why we should do it the Conservative way.

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Randy Hoback

Conservative 11:45 a.m.

“I want to make fuel cheaper for rural Canadians. They drive a lot. They have different needs than city people. Maybe Quebec is different. But lowering the cost of fuel would help all rural families immediately.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I understand where the member is coming from. Actually, it depends on the demographics. If someone is in rural Saskatchewan, they are not wealthy, by any means. They are a hard-working family with a middle-class income. Reducing fuel costs for them makes a difference. They do drive. If they are going for groceries, they are driving 50 kilometres one way. That is the reality in Saskatchewan. It may be different in Quebec. I do understand that maybe there are different requirements in Quebec, as there are for a lot of other things for which Quebec has different requirements than the rest of Canada. I acknowledge that. Here is something very simple for rural people in rural Canada that would benefit them immediately. It would. For somebody in downtown Toronto or downtown Montreal who takes the bus to work, maybe the benefit is not there. Maybe they need something different. If we could let people keep more of their money, or, in this situation, if we get rid of the clean fuel standard so that the cost of what they are buying is cheaper, then they will feel that benefit.

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Chris Lewis

Conservative 11:45 a.m.

“I want the government to stop taxing gas and diesel. Fuel is very expensive. My constituents need help. They drive a lot. They are afraid. The government got $8 billion from high oil prices. They should use it to cut gas taxes. My plan will save a family $1,218 per year. Canada's fuel is more expensive than America's. The government should do what other countries have done and cut fuel taxes. Stop talking and do something real to make life more affordable.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as always, it is just such an honour to serve the amazing, hard-working residents of Essex who have put their trust in me to be their voice in this very uncertain time. As I always say, I will continue to give all praise to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Without Him, nothing is possible. I want to say thanks so much to the amazing member for Prince Albert for his passion and his compassion for the residents of his area. I have not been able to visit his riding yet, although I hope to one day, but I have seen his work in action when he has come down to my riding. I want to thank him so much for his vision, his leadership and, quite frankly, his mentorship for myself. It is not often that many of us have a whole bunch of friends, but a very dear friend of mine is going through an awful tough time right now. Her name is Fran Rankin. I just want to ensure that Fran Rankin's name is put on record in the Hansard. She is the most lovely wife to one of my other best friends, Mark Rankin. I just want her to know that we love her, Essex loves her, and we are bringing all our passion and support for her. I will get into the business of the day. Really, what I am speaking about today is what I think about when I look at my children, who are 26, 25 and 23. I also have a grandchild, Levi, who just turned five. I think about the future we are leaving them. What legacy are we leaving for future generations? I always go back to this. I believe they just, quite frankly, do not have the same opportunity that we had growing up. I bought my first house for $149,900 and had zero clue how I was going to pay for it. It was a brand new house with a finished concrete driveway. I thought, how in the world is this even possible? That was some 25 years ago. Unfortunately, what I am hearing now is more of, “Why even bother anymore? I just can't get ahead.” That is wildly sad. I rise today to address a glaring disconnect between the government's rhetoric and the lived reality of Canadians. While the Liberal government has prioritized the word “affordable”, over four dozen times in budget 2025, for the people I represent, that word is losing its meaning. “Affordable” and “affordability” are good words, but they have begun to ring hollow for families because they lack concrete action. As a man of my word, I am urging the government to make good on its word and ensure that affordability actually translates into relief that Canadians can feel. I know the government has claimed that it has acted faster and more comprehensively than our global peer countries in response to the increased price in gas, but in Essex, “faster” is not how we describe the rise in the cost of living, and “comprehensive” is not how we describe a tax relief plan that ignores the reality at the pump. I know the government has offered to cut taxes on fuel, which, by the way, affects only a third of the taxes on gas for a third of the year. While the Prime Minister has said that affordability is better now than it has been in recent years, the families in my riding are telling a different story. Today, I am here to provide a reality check for the government and paint a picture of what affordability would actually look like for Essex residents by telling this House a few stories from real, everyday people who have written to me this year asking for help. Consider a female auto worker in our region who writes, “As a person living in Kingsville, who commutes to Windsor five, sometimes even six times a week for work, I am asking you to help make life more affordable for your fellow Canadians. The price of gas is at an all-time high, and [the Prime Minister] is blind to what Canadians are currently going through: the lack of affordability and the cost of living crisis.” She is not asking for more rhetoric. She said, “I am reaching out to you today to ask that you help remove the tax on gas.” Further, in Belle River, the frustration is tied to our energy independence: “We need help with gas prices, especially when our gas doesn't come from the Middle East.” These are not isolated complaints. They are cries for help from a region under immense pressure. When gas prices soar, they act as a tax on every single sector in our economy. As one father in Essex noted, “To the untrained eye there seems to be very little action to control the gas prices we are currently seeing and the resulting increase in the price of everything else a family needs to live. In my family, we have three jobs just to make ends meet. Why is the government not being more proactive in helping the current situation be more manageable for the hard-working middle- and lower-class families?” In Amherstburg, that anxiety is turning into fear: “gas prices [are] currently getting to a level that is placing a significant financial burden on families.... For many of us in Essex County, driving is a necessity for work, school, and daily life. My fear is that...these prices will continue to rise, and start affecting other commodities such as food and other necessities.” My constituents are right to be afraid. In Windsor-Essex, where our manufacturing and tool and die sectors are already facing an existential threat from foreign tariffs, high fuel costs are a weight they cannot carry. At the end of the day, the price at the pumps directly correlates with the cost of shipping food, homebuilding and the food that families can afford on the table. Affordability is not just a word for Essex residents. It is something they desperately need. This is why we are calling on the House to end all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year, including the GST, and permanently scrap the clean fuel standard. We must answer this Essex father's question: “Why is the government not being more proactive in helping the current situation be more manageable for the hard-working middle- and lower-class families?” The government cannot claim that it lacks resources. It pocketed $8 billion in revenue windfall from high global oil prices, roughly $2 billion for every $10 increase on the price of a barrel, yet the response has been nothing shy of chump change. While the Liberals claim that affordability is better than it has been in years, their recent tax cut saved only 10¢ per litre on gas and four cents per litre on diesel. In contrast, the Conservative motion to cut costs at the pump by 25¢ per litre and save a family of four $1,218 per year is a common-sense solution. I know that because Australia, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria, to name a few countries, have already moved to cut fuel taxes or provide direct relief at the pump. Even our neighbours to the south have a competitive advantage because of these taxes. Canadians pay nearly 20% more for fuel than Americans: 20¢ more. The burden on diesel, the fuel that powers our farmers and our supply chains, is even more nonsensical. As a resident in Amherstburg asked, “How is it possible that we are allowing the oil industry to charge more for diesel than for gasoline fuel?” The answer is clear. Diesel is more expensive because the Liberals have added more tax on diesel: a 10¢ federal excise tax, eight cents of GST and a seven-cent clean fuel standard. One Essex resident wrote me, “If diesel fuel comes down in cost, the transportation of goods will be less, which in effect should lower the cost of goods available for sale.” I could not agree more. The government needs to exit its utopian world, where we just jet-set around the world and have conversations and photo ops, and instead look at what is happening on Canadian soil. In closing, I am asking the government to let the middle class succeed by cutting all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year, including the GST, and permanently scrap the clean fuel standard. Is it too much to ask? The Liberals have already profited $8 billion from windfall tax revenues. What we are proposing will save a family of four $1,218. As the member of Parliament for Essex, I am asking the House to listen to the voices of Essex residents and hear their struggles. They are hopeful, but they cannot hold the line forever.

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Chris Lewis

Conservative 11:55 a.m.

“I'm just telling personal stories here. My sons' friends can't afford as much as they want. I think the government should do something about it.”

Jeremy Patzer

Conservative 11:55 a.m.

“I want to reverse that last point. Rich people aren't the only ones who benefit if we repeal this fuel standard. Poor people need to drive too! If they only have $20 to put in their gas tank, that relief would help them a lot. This isn't just a luxury.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on that question. It is a little absurd for the Liberals to come in here today and say that repealing the clean fuel standard would just benefit the rich and that the people at the bottom of the income scale would benefit the least from it. I remember not very long ago putting $20 into my gas tank and it used to get me through a week. This is when I was working prior to getting married, when I was dating my wife. Being able to put $20 in my vehicle meant a lot, because it was able to get me a long ways. Now $20 gets us nowhere. Being able to put $20 in their gas tank feels like a luxury for a lot of people right now. For a lot of people, that is a necessity, not a luxury. Would the member agree that people at the bottom end of the income scale actually stand to benefit the most, because when they only have $20 to put in their gas tank, it will actually get them somewhere?

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Chris Lewis

Conservative 12:00 p.m.

“I want to add to your point. You're right, making fuel cheaper would help poor people, and not just when they drive. If we keep taxing fuel less, their food would cost less too! All these taxes make everything cost more. They're hurting people who don't have much money.”

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