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Taxation

During oral questions on taxation, Conservatives pressed the government to support their bill, the Used Car Tax Cut Act, which would remove the GST from used vehicle sales by making them zero-rated under the Excise Tax Act. They argued used car prices have roughly doubled in recent years, that the same car can be taxed multiple times as it is resold, and that families depend on vehicles to get around. Liberal ministers replied by listing the government’s affordability measures, including the suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline, the removal of the GST for first-time homebuyers, and programs such as dental care, child care and grocery supports, and said Conservatives should vote for those plans rather than only complain. Several exchanges also turned to broader arguments about which party’s record on affordability was stronger.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Wayne Long

Liberal
“Our government has always worked to make life more affordable for Canadians. We cut taxes on new homes and fuel, and we sent people money for food and basic needs. We will keep focusing on helping with costs, while the Conservatives only make empty noise.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 41 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, from day one, we have been focused on delivering affordability measures for Canadians. Let us talk about the removal of the GST for first-time homebuyers. Let us talk about the pause on the federal excise tax. That is 10¢ a litre. Combine that with the removal of the carbon tax, and it is a 28¢-per-litre savings. We just launched the groceries and essentials benefit. We just announced the 50% payment a week and a half ago. On this side of the House, we will continue to focus on affordability. The Conservatives will focus on rhetoric and bluster.

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Wayne Long

Liberal
“I have run a business, but the Conservative leader has not. During hard times, you can either blame others or take action to fix things and find new trade partners. Our government is taking action to make Canada strong, while the Conservatives just complain.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 0 of 100

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  • 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 have actually had the privilege of running a private business in the economy, unlike the Conservative leader. When an economy or a business is faced with adversity, we have two choices. We can wave our hands around, blame everybody else and offer nothing constructive, or we can actually lead. We can rebuild. We can restructure. We can build new trade relationships. On this side of the House, that is what our Prime Minister and our international trade minister are doing. We are going to build Canada strong. They are going to continue with the rhetoric.

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“We paused the gas tax for the summer to help people save money. If the Conservatives care about high costs, they should vote for our other plans, like dental care, grocery help, and middle-class tax cuts.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 27 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this gives me an opportunity to remind everyone that we have suspended the excise tax on gasoline for the summer, providing relief for consumers and boosting Canadians’ purchasing power. However, we are not stopping there. The Conservatives claim that affordability is an issue they care about. I urge them to support us on the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Canadian dental care plan, the tax cut for 22 million Canadians, and our other measures.

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Kody Blois

Liberal
“I am glad the Conservatives are finally talking about lowering costs for people. But for years, they have voted against our programs that help families, like child care, school food, and tax cuts. I want them to start voting for our plans to help Canadians.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 37 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will give the Conservatives credit. They are now talking about actual measures that could support affordability, but I would ask them where they have been for the last number of months and years. I have been a member of Parliament for seven years in the House, and it does not matter if it is the Canada child benefit, national child care, the national school food program or the tax measures we have put in place, consistently, the Conservatives vote against these measures. We appreciate that they are finally talking about affordability, but we would ask them to actually support the measures the government consistently puts at the front to help support Canadians across the board. It is good that they are now talking, but why do they not get on board with some of the initiatives that we have had for years now?

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