“The Prime Minister has successfully brought global business to Canada. At the recent summit in Toronto, world leaders promised nearly half a trillion dollars in investments. The Conservatives are wrong to deny that our government is bringing in jobs and trade. I want the member to rethink her comments about the summit.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am going to pick up on the member’s comments in regard to the summit. It is truly amazing the degree to which the government has been so successful through the leadership of our Prime Minister at opening the world to Canada. All one needed to do is go to Toronto, where they would have seen economic powerhouses from around the world looking and having control over literally hundreds of billions of dollars. For the first time in Canadian history, we hit close to half a trillion dollars in terms of commitments. The Conservatives can say what they want, but to try to deny the reality that we have a Prime Minister or a government that is working hard to deliver on jobs, investments, trade opportunities is completely off base. I am wondering if she would reflect on her comments with respect to the summit.”

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“Our government has already lowered taxes and gas prices, ended the carbon tax, and created programs for groceries, school food, child care, and dental care. I want the Conservative leader to support our full plan to make life cheaper.”

“Madam Speaker, I think it is important that the leader of the Conservative Party get a bit of a reality check. Under 18 months ago, when the Prime Minister was elected, one of the very first actions he did was to reduce middle-class taxes. Twenty-two million Canadians benefited from it. We can talk about the excise gas tax relief today, of 10¢ a litre. We can talk about how the Prime Minister got rid of the carbon tax. We can also talk about the Canadian grocery benefit. These are some of the direct benefits, not to mention benefits such as the national school food program or the child care enhancements, the dental program and the pharmacare enhancement. Why will the leader not support the entire package we brought forward to deal with the issue of affordability?”

“I want the House to pass this bill. It keeps the federal tax off fuel until 2027 and then cuts it in half for four months. This lowers gas prices and saves people money.”

“Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Surrey Newton. I want to start by giving my thanks for the opportunity to contribute to today’s debate on Bill C-38, the Canadian fuel affordability act. The world is changing rapidly, but Canada is starting from a position of strength. Events like new tariffs, trade tensions and conflicts abroad continue to affect costs for households and businesses and create uncertainty for Canadians, but we all know that Canada is well positioned to manage these pressures thanks to our robust economy and our clear growth strategy, which is focused on driving investment, boosting productivity, strengthening domestic industries and expanding access to global markets. In Canada, we have the good fortune of being a net energy exporter. Our resource wealth insulates us from the worst impacts of these disruptions. Canada is an energy superpower, and our government is capitalizing on this advantage by building new infrastructure projects that will increase our energy supply, with new nuclear, new hydro and new LNG facilities. However, we are not immune to systemic global shocks. That is why our government is taking action to help Canadians through these challenges. In April, our government temporarily suspended the federal fuel excise tax following disruptions to crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz that drove up fuel prices. The measures have been saving Canadians and Canadian businesses up to 10¢ per litre on gasoline and unleaded aviation gasoline, up to 11¢ per litre on leaded aviation gasoline and up to four cents per litre on diesel and aviation fuel. When the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax was first introduced, gasoline prices declined by 11¢ per litre on the first day of implementation, delivering immediate relief to consumers. With today’s legislation, we are continuing to provide relief at the pump by proposing to extend the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax until January 31, 2027, and then applying 50% of the regular excise tax rate from February 1 through to May 31, 2027, inclusively. This will bring down costs for Canadians, including truckers and businesses in the food, agriculture, housing, construction and delivery sectors. This means we are delivering timely, meaningful and tangible relief for Canadians at a time when they need it the most. By reducing pressure on fuel costs at the pump for gasoline and diesel, we are taking concrete steps to lower costs for Canadians today while we continue to build a stronger, more resilient and more independent economy. This action builds on one of the very first measures we took as a government, which also lowered costs at the pump in most provinces and territories. The House will recall that one of the first things the Prime Minister did upon assuming office was to cancel the consumer fuel charge, helping Canadians to save money at the pump in most provinces and territories. Our government also removed the requirement for provinces and territories to have a consumer-facing carbon price, as of April 1, 2025. At the same time, our government also understands that Canadians do not just spend money on gasoline. That is why we have been taking action to reduce pressure on costs and make life more affordable for Canadians across the board. For example, our government introduced the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit. By building upon the former goods and services tax credit, we are increasing its amount by 25% for five years as of July. In addition to that, we provided a one-time payment in June, equivalent to a 50% increase in the 2025-26 annual value of the GST credit. Combined, this means a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years, while a single person will receive up to $950 this year and about $700 a year for the next four years. That is literally making life more affordable for millions and millions of Canadians. In fact, the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit will provide additional significant support for up to 12 million Canadians. Not only are we putting more money in the pockets of those who need it the most, but we are also leaving more money in their pockets with our middle-class tax cut, because we have lowered the first marginal personal income tax rate from 15% to 14% since July 1, 2025. Nearly 22 million Canadians are benefiting from this tax relief of up to $420 per person, saving a two-income family $840 this year. This rate reduction applies to a taxable income of up to $58,523 in 2026, providing meaningful relief to Canadians during the current period of economic uncertainty. What is more, the bulk of tax relief will go to those with incomes in the two lowest tax brackets, including nearly half to those in the first bracket. This means the relief is effectively targeted to Canadians who need help the most. In this regard, no one is more important to consider than our children. That is why we made the national school food program permanent. It provides meals to up to 400,000 kids annually. This program helps ensure that kids are fed healthy meals at school, and it saves families with two children up to $800 a year on groceries. By making it permanent, we will work with provinces, territories and indigenous partners to expand the program into more schools across Canada. We are also aware that affordability pressures go beyond fuel and food and are affecting other essential expenses, including housing. That is why we introduced the first-time homebuyers’ GST rebate. With this rebate, we will have effectively eliminated the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes up to $1 million and reduced the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. This tax cut for first-time homebuyers will save Canadians up to $50,000, allowing more young people and families to enter the housing market and making the goal of home ownership a reality for more Canadians. These are just a few of the examples of how we are bringing costs down for Canadians. By lowering costs, the government is creating an economy where every Canadian has more control over building their own future. Above all, our government will empower Canadians by helping them get ahead and reduce their cost of living. When Canadians keep more of the money they earn, they are better supporting their families, investing in their communities and building the future they want. That is why I strongly encourage all members of this House to support Bill C-38, so that we can build a strong Canada for all.”

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“Our government is helping people afford their lives in many ways. We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians and removed the sales tax for first-time homebuyers. We are also funding clean energy and community projects across the country.”

“Madam Speaker, we have many measures that we have implemented to help Canadians with affordability, and the member opposite mentioned just one of them. In addition to the groceries and essentials benefit, we have cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. We have eliminated the GST for first-time homebuyers. We are continuing to make investments in climate action by investing in communities from coast to coast to coast through the build communities strong fund and through the expansion of electricity in projects that we have been funding across the country.”

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“Our government is still taking action on climate change. We make big polluters pay, and we have rules for cleaner fuels. These rules do not raise gas prices at the pump. They bring in billions of dollars in investments, create good jobs, and cut down on pollution.”

“Madam Speaker, we continue to invest in climate action. We continue to have industrial carbon pricing, which is essential for having responsible energy management in our country and for demonstrating to our partners overseas that we are serious about being clean, being green and being an energy superpower. In addition, we continue to have the clean fuel regulations. These regulations do not set a price at the pump, but they do provide a flexible tool that supports good-paying jobs, drives billions of dollars of investment, strengthens certainty and reduces pollution, all while we continue to invest in clean energy and renewable energy across our country. That is what we are doing for future generations. That is how we are showing climate action. That is how we are showing that we care about the environment.”

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“This bill helps people by cutting the tax on gas. It is part of our plan to make life cheaper, along with tax cuts, child care, dental care, and medicine. I want the member to talk about how we are helping Canadians with these costs.”

“Madam Speaker, I am wondering if my colleague could provide her thoughts on the degree to which the government, and in particular the government caucus, is focused on the issue of affordability. Today is one example. Through legislation, we would give a very serious extension of a tax break on the excise tax on gas, 10¢ a litre to the end of January and then five cents a litre to the end of March. It is real, tangible and money in Canadians’ pockets, but it is part of a bigger affordability agenda. There are tax breaks for 22 million people, and there is support for child care, the dental program and the pharmacare program. There are different ways that we as a government, led by our Prime Minister, are pushing the issue of affordability for Canadians. I would ask the member to provide further comment on that.”

“Foreign wars and unfair tariffs are making life more expensive in Canada. We are helping people by cutting the consumer fuel tax, paying for school food, sending benefits automatically, and expanding child care.”

“Madam Speaker, we are definitely in difficult times, with pressures internationally that we have never seen before that are having an impact on affordability in our country. To grow our economy and get through the unjustified tariff war and the pressures we have from wars overseas, we are continuing to invest in ourselves and are taking different measures on affordability, including the ones my colleague mentioned. To make it easier, we have cancelled the consumer fuel carbon tax, we have made the national school food program permanent and we are creating automatic federal benefits to make it easier for Canadians to access the affordability measures that help their bottom line. We are also continuing to expand and entrench the child care benefit so that women in particular can be their full selves in the workforce and have the care they need to reach their full potential in their careers. These are just some of the measures we are working on, and we will continue to do that.”

“I want the House to pass this bill. It keeps the federal tax off fuel until January 2027, and cuts it in half for two months after that. This saves people up to 10 cents a litre on gas and helps families and businesses deal with high costs.”

“Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-38, the Canadian fuel affordability act. Across Canada, families, workers, farmers and businesses continue to face pressures from rising costs. Whether it is filling up a vehicle, transporting goods or managing the operating costs of a small business, affordability remains an important concern for Canadians. During the summer, I attended hundreds of events and met thousands of my constituents. One thing I learned from them is that the Prime Minister and the government are doing their best, and they are very happy with the leadership of the Prime Minister. Most importantly, our government understands the challenges these Canadians are facing. That is why we are taking steps to help Canadians manage their expenses while continuing to build a stronger and more independent Canadian economy. Bill C-38 is about providing immediate relief at the gas pump. Earlier this year, in April, we temporarily suspended the federal fuel excise tax on gas, diesel and aviation fuels. This measure provided savings of 10¢ per litre on gas and four cents per litre on diesel and aviation fuel. Bill C-38 would extend this relief. This legislation would maintain the federal fuel excise tax at zero until January 31, 2027. From February 1 to March 31, 2027, the tax would be set to 50% of the regular rate, which would help Canadians manage the transition back to the regular excise tax rates. For gasoline, the extension is expected to provide savings of up to 10¢ per litre until February 2027, followed by a savings of five cents per litre through March 2027. For diesel, the savings are expected to be up to four cents per litre until February and up to two cents per litre through March. These savings matter. When families are already managing the cost of groceries, housing, utilities and transportation, every dollar can make a difference. For a family that depends on a vehicle to get to work, take children to school or attend a doctor’s appointment, fuel is not an optional expense. It is a necessary part of everyday life. In Surrey, Newton, I hear from families and small business owners who are working hard to manage their expenses. Our community includes commuters, delivery workers, tradespeople and entrepreneurs who depend on transportation to earn a living. Reducing fuel costs can help these Canadians manage their daily expenses. The benefits would also extend beyond the gas station. Truckers and businesses in the food, agriculture, housing, construction and delivery sectors depend on fuel to operate. Lower fuel costs can help reduce operating expenses and support the movement of goods across Canada. When a truck transports food to the grocery store, a construction company moves equipment to a workplace or a small business delivers products to its customers, fuel costs play an important part. This measure would provide temporary support to businesses facing economic uncertainty. Canada is operating in a changing global environment. International conflicts and disruptions in global energy markets have placed pressures on fuel prices. At the same time, Canadian businesses and families are dealing with uncertainty related to international trade and tariffs. We cannot control every global event that affects the price of oil or gasoline. However, we can make decisions within our control to support Canadians. Our government is also taking broader action to make life more affordable. We are lowering the personal income tax from 15% to 14%, providing tax relief of up to $420 per year per person or up to $840 for a two-income family. We have also cancelled the federal consumer carbon tax, provided GST relief for eligible first-time homebuyers and taken steps to strengthen competition in essential services. These measures address different areas of household expenses. Affordability is not only about the price Canadians pay today. It is also about building an economy that creates good-paying jobs, attracts investment and supports long-term economic security. As we provide temporary relief from fuel costs, we must also continue working toward a competitive and sustainable Canadian economy. Our industrial carbon pricing system is distinct from the consumer carbon pricing. It is designed to support Canada’s position as a responsible energy supplier, encourage investment in emission-reducing technologies and strengthen access to international markets. Canada has the opportunity to grow its energy exports, create jobs and attract investment while continuing to address environmental challenges. We must approach these objectives together. I recognize that members of the House may have different views about the duration and design of fuel tax relief. There can be legitimate discussions about the fiscal costs, the duration of temporary measures and how best to support Canadians facing financial challenges and pressures. However, Bill C-38 provides a specific and time-limited measure to reduce the federal fuel excise tax. It offers continued relief until the end of January, followed by a temporary reduction in the regular rate through March 2027. Families and businesses need support today, and they also need an economy that is prepared for the future. As the MP for Surrey Newton, I will continue to support measures that address affordability concerns in our community and across Canada. Our government is focused on helping Canadians keep more of their hard-earned money while strengthening our economy. I encourage all members to support Bill C-38 so that Canadians get the relief they deserve.”

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“The Conservatives voted against our measures to help people. They voted against cutting the gas tax, giving tax relief to millions of Canadians, and funding school food. People tell me these programs are helping them.”

“Madam Speaker, in fact, here is the question that I should be asking the hon. member: Why did he and his leader vote time and time again against all those measures we brought to the House, whether it was cutting the gas tax, cutting the cost for 22 million Canadians with tax relief or providing food support to schools. I can go through the list, but I know I have only five minutes. The member and his leader voted against all those measures, but Canadians were helped and they feel helped. I can tell the member about the positive response that I get on the ground on those issues.”

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“The Prime Minister knows how to invest money. The government's new investment fund will make money for Canadians, and we will use that money to fund social programs.”

“Madam Speaker, one thing that I personally know and in fact all my constituents know is that the Prime Minister knows investments. When it comes to creating this sovereign fund, he knows exactly where he is going and he is going to invest for Canadians. Canadians are the ones who will make money, and that money will be invested into the programs that the NDP cares for and always asks for. We will continue to invest in those benefits.”

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“This bill cuts gas taxes by 10 cents a litre until the end of January, and five cents a litre until the end of March. It helps about 20 million Canadians. I want the member to explain why this tax break is so important right now.”

“Madam Speaker, I have known the member for Surrey Newton for many years, and I have always found him to be a very strong and powerful advocate for issues such as tax breaks. This is one of those issues for which we are going to see a 10¢–a–litre drop ongoing until the end of January, and then five cents a litre until the end of March of next year. I know the member has also been a strong advocate for the tax break for all Canadians, some 20 million people. I wonder if he can provide his thoughts in regard to why it is so important at a time of unaffordability that we be there for Canadians.”

“I want the House to pass this bill to lower gas taxes. People in my riding drive to work, drop their kids off at day care, and run small businesses. They need cheaper gas.”

“Madam Speaker, the hon. member for Winnipeg North has been a great friend and a great ally, and is always passionate when it comes to helping Canadians, including with 10¢ a litre on gasoline. I am a small business person. My business has vehicles because it is a land surveying company, and they use gasoline. I know hundreds and hundreds of paid people in my riding who use vehicles. Because my community is a bedroom community, they commute to work. They drop off their kids at day care. They need this help. This help is badly needed. It is going to help people, whether a small business person, a plumber, an electrician, a roofer or generally a Canadian who is looking for an affordable price for gas. On the other hand, there is the cutting of taxes for 22 million people. If we cut the tax by 1%, that is going to help them. They do appreciate and believe in the Prime Minister, and they believe in—”

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“I am glad the Conservatives worked with us so we can pass this bill today. It helps Canadians afford the fuel they need. I want the Senate to pass it quickly too, and I ask the member to explain why it must pass both houses.”

“Madam Speaker, it has been a fairly good and healthy debate today on an important piece of legislation. The government recognizes the importance of collaboration. We have had collaboration to the degree that we are going to pass this bill today. I want to recognize that in the hope that the Senate of Canada recognizes that the House of Commons has a desire to get this bill passed. Ultimately, it is all about Canadians and providing the type of support they need in dealing with the issue of affordability. I know it would make a huge difference for Canadians, and that is why I am glad to see the Conservative Party join with us in getting the legislation through today. Can the member comment on why it is important that we see the bill ultimately pass, both here and in the Senate?”

“I support cutting fuel taxes to make life more affordable. All parties have had good ideas about this, including the NDP in Manitoba, the Conservatives, and our Prime Minister. This bill extends the cut on fuel taxes, and we should all share credit for it.”

“Madam Speaker, on the idea of having the excise tax taken off gasoline, I find it interesting that a couple of years ago, when the NDP formed government with Wab Kinew, the first initiative was to take the excise tax off gas in the province of Manitoba. Yes, the Conservatives have also talked about it, but so has Canada’s new Prime Minister, to the degree that his very first action in dealing with the issue of affordability was to get rid of the carbon tax. In Manitoba, that meant 17¢ a litre, permanently. In the economic spring budget, it was 10¢ a litre, and this legislation would extend that. These are all positive initiatives. I like to think I also had something to do with that tax break by advocating within our caucus, but I think a lot of it had to do with the Prime Minister’s determination to deal with the affordability issue. Would the member not agree that maybe we should be sharing the good idea?”

“I want the House to pass this bill. It pauses the federal fuel tax until January 2027, then cuts it in half until March. This helps care workers who drive to work and small businesses facing high shipping costs.”

“Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time today with the member for Edmonton West. I am very pleased to take part in today’s debate on this bill, which affects all Canadians, including the people of my riding, University—Rosedale, in downtown Toronto, where the issue of affordability is of great concern to us. Like all members of the House, I spent my summer listening to my constituents. At the doorsteps, on the streets, and at festivals and fairs, I heard two things. First, Canadians understand very well that we are in an economic situation that is not entirely in our control. They know full well that the rapidly changing global landscape around us is creating uncertainty for our businesses, our workers and Canadian families, and that these are factors beyond our control. However, they also understand that there are factors we can control, and they expect our government to do everything in its power where it can. In this situation, our government is focusing on what it can control. That is why we are focusing on building a stronger economy over the medium term while reducing costs and increasing our support measures for the public during this very difficult period. More specifically, our government is well aware of the pressures associated with rising gas prices. Across the country, we have recently seen gas prices skyrocket, and this is causing financial hardship for many Canadians, including those in my riding. As this House knows well, in order to help Canadians and businesses manage these pressures, our government introduced a temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels. We will all recall that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and National Revenue initially announced this important measure this spring. We suspended the full amount of tax with an initial sunset date of September 7 of this year, but our approach to this excise tax has always been flexible. Over the course of the summer, it became increasingly apparent that gas prices would remain volatile due to ongoing geopolitical pressures and supply chain disruptions, so we have acted accordingly. Earlier this month, the government further extended the temporary suspension until January 31, 2027, with a 50% reduction in the regular excise tax from February 1 through March 31, 2027, which of course is what brings us to today’s debate. Much as the initial suspension provided real, tangible and immediate relief to Canadians at the pump, that measure was part of a broader suite of measures to address rising everyday costs for Canadians and businesses in the transport, food, agriculture, housing, construction and delivery sectors. There is a reason this measure has support across the political spectrum. It is precisely because we all know that in the current climate, we must do all we responsibly can to reduce operating costs across the economy and reduce pressures on the food, agriculture, housing, construction and delivery sectors in particular. When I think about the people in my riding who need this measure the most, I think about two groups in particular. The first are the individuals who work in the care economy in downtown Toronto, in hospitals, home care and long-term care homes, often commuting long distances to get to their jobs in the downtown core or traversing the city multiple times a day to serve different clients, clients who are our family members, to give them a shower, to bring them food and to attend to their health needs. For those people, a small break at the pump is significant in their weekly budgets, and we owe it to them to do what we can. The second group are the small businesses in my riding that fear seeing the cost of their inputs rise as the price of transporting them increases. Small and medium businesses, major targets of the current round of unjustified and illegal tariffs, need this protection in order to be able to plan and invest in their own success. This relief is as important to the people of University—Rosedale as it is for everyone across the country, but we all know that alone it is not enough. That is why it is just one of several measures that we have put forth and have been debating actively in this House as part of our vibrant democracy. We put these measures forth to alleviate the pressure from the high cost of fuels on Canadian household budgets. For far too many people in Canada, groceries and essentials have been too expensive for too long. We all know that the pandemic caused a global spike in inflation, which drove up the cost of groceries and essentials for all of us. Food prices have risen faster than overall inflation, because of shocks to global supply chains due to tariffs, weather events related to climate change and, of course, geopolitical disruptions. To support those most affected by rising food prices, in January 2026, our government announced the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit to help more than 12 million Canadians afford the essentials they need. Together, those measures will enable a family of four to get nearly $2,000 this year and around $1,400 per year for the next four years. Our government is also delivering significant reforms to our tax system and other areas of public policy during this affordability crisis. In my riding, where the dream of home ownership in the core of Canada’s largest city has been a dream for too many for too long, the movement we have made on housing has been very significant. Our government has eliminated the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes up to $1 million and reduced the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. It is these kinds of actions that bring home ownership back into the realm of possibility for so many young people who live in my riding. We have also made the national school food program permanent, providing school meals for up to 400,000 children each year and saving participating families up to $800 on groceries annually, which is significant for a lot of people. We have also introduced automatic federal benefits starting with the 2026 tax year. I would like to spend just a moment to say a bit about why this step is so important to me personally. During my 20 years as a practising family physician, I regularly saw patients who I knew should be accessing income supports of various kinds but were not accessing them. Application processes for federal and provincial programs are complex. At times, we know they can feel invasive and even humiliating. At other times, they are just simply confusing. For some people, the requirement to file taxes on a very low income does not make it to the top of the priority list. Those patients are now my constituents, and our commitment to automatic tax filing is a major improvement for them. The Canada Revenue Agency will be able to help eligible Canadians who do not file their taxes by preparing and filing a return on their behalf. Before this happens, of course, they will have the opportunity to review the information and make necessary changes, but this means that people who may not have the time, resources or ability to navigate the tax system on their own will have another way to access the supports that are available to them and for which they are eligible, supports they deserve. Automatic filing and benefits will ensure that up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians automatically receive the benefits they qualify for. This builds on other efforts to make it easier for Canadians to receive the benefits for which they are eligible. I am so proud to be part of a government that is beginning to break down those barriers. Our plan is moving Canada’s economy from reliance to resilience. Some of the biggest long-term payoffs of the transformation that we are undertaking will take time to be felt. To ensure that Canadians have the support they need right now, the Government of Canada is acting quickly with measures that will serve as a springboard to the future. To support Canadians through this global energy market disruption, we are delivering timely, meaningful and tangible relief for Canadians. It is my pleasure to support this bill.”

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  “We have also made the national school food program permanent.”

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“We are testing automatic tax filing and benefits with a small pilot program for low-income Canadians. Over time, we can learn from it and add more benefits if it makes sense. I want to work with the member to make as many programs automatic as we realistically can.”

“Madam Speaker, I think the member opposite’s question is an important one. There are, of course, all kinds of federal benefits that over time might be appropriate to consider as part of the automatic tax filing and automatic benefits suite of services. We are beginning this responsibly as a pilot to understand what it takes to undertake this work on behalf of low-income people in Canada. We are going to be learning and progressively improving the program as we go along. I look forward to joining the member in his advocacy for making as many programs automatic as we possibly can where it is realistic and possible.”

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“The Prime Minister supports public services. Ontario covers medicine for seniors, but people across Canada still struggle to afford their prescriptions. Our work on a national drug plan is not finished. No one should have to cut pills in half to save money.”

“Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister has spoken passionately about his commitment to ensuring that Canadians have access to the critical public services they need. In my home province of Ontario, luckily there are not seniors cutting pills in half, because all seniors are covered by the provincial public drug plan. However, it is true that there are people across the country who continue to struggle with the cost of their prescription medications. The work toward pharmacare is not complete, and I certainly continue to believe that no one in the country should be cutting pills in half because they cannot afford them.”

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“Our government created programs to help with child care, groceries, dental care, and school food. As a former doctor, does the member agree that these programs are making life better for people?”

“Madam Speaker, I was wondering what to ask my colleague, and she actually answered my question in her speech. I recalled that before she became such an exceptional member of Parliament, she was an equally exceptional family doctor. She talked about all the programs we have put in place, including the Canada child benefit, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the Canadian dental care plan and a program that is particularly important to me, the national school food program. I am sure that when she looked after people in her previous life, they were grateful to receive assistance from various levels of government and from various organizations. Can she tell us whether the people receiving these supports are actually seeing any improvement in their quality of life?”

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“Health is about more than doctors and hospitals. It also depends on good housing, food, money, and a clean environment. I came to Parliament because spending money on these things keeps our communities healthy.”

“What we know, Madam Speaker, is that what we call the determinants of health involve more than just the care that Canadians receive at the doctor’s office or at a hospital. Above all, the foundations of the determinants of health have to do with the underlying factors that shape health—whether it be economic well-being, nutrition, housing, or the environment. That is why I wanted to come here and contribute to the work of the House of Commons. In my opinion, investing in these programs is precisely what it means to invest in the health of my community.”

“We all agree we should keep pausing this fuel tax. But to lower fuel costs long term, we must either make more fuel or use less of it. I want to know if the member has ideas to increase fuel supply or lower demand.”

“Madam Speaker, it seems we are in violent agreement in this House about the need to extend this excise tax, so I would like to use the member’s speech as a launching-off point for a related conversation about affordability. He brought up the crack spread. Refining capacity globally is, of course, under severe stress. The Strait of Hormuz could open tomorrow, and I suspect because of refining challenges, that crack spread would grow, even, and so we must either increase refined supply or reduce demand to meaningfully address this in the long term. Obviously, more refined capacity will take time. I was wondering if the member opposite had views or proposals on policies that could either increase supply or reduce demand for refined products.”