What they said. What they meant.

Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.

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Oral Questions

Taxation

A bill to remove the GST from used car sales. During discussion, the Conservatives advocated for the bill as inflation relief while the Liberals pointed to other measures they've taken instead, like removing GST for some first-time homebuyers and pausing the federal excise tax on gasoline over the summer. The debate devolved into partisan finger-pointing over which party has the better record on affordability.

Official Hansard ↗

Andrew Lawton

Conservative
“Inflation makes everything cost too much. The government should stop taxing used cars over and over. Conservatives have a bill to fix that. Will the other guys help us pass it?”
Our translation 73% shorter

Fred Davies

Conservative
“You're making life too expensive. You tax used cars too much. Many people need a car to live. My party would tax used cars less. Stop making money off inflation and tax used cars less like we would.”
Our translation 62% shorter

Gérard Deltell

Conservative
“I want people to vote for me because I will help them buy used cars.”
Our translation 85% shorter

Andrew Lawton

Conservative
“That makes Canadians sad. GST on used cars is a big tax. They won't answer my question about GST. I want government to stop applying GST to used cars. That would save people thousands of dollars. Conservatives think GST should be removed from used cars. GST is applied too many times on used cars. Liberals don't answer my question. I think they avoid my question.”
Our translation 39% shorter