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The Economy

During question period on the economy, members focused on affordability, especially fuel and food costs. The Conservatives cited constituents, including a small business owner working long hours and a farmer facing high diesel prices, and asked the government to remove taxes on gas and diesel. The Liberals said affordability is a priority, pointing to building more affordable homes, a new bill to keep the fuel tax paused, cuts to the excise tax, grocery support, and farming investments, and said global conflicts and supply disruptions are driving fuel prices.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

John Barlow

Conservative
“The Prime Minister says life is affordable, but it is not. A small business owner in my riding has to work 90 hours a week just to pay for basic needs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I had a call from a dad in Claresholm. He is a small business owner. He was hoping to spend time with his kids this summer, but instead he was working 90 hours a week just to keep food on the table. He is mentally and physically exhausted. He is exhausted because instead of camping with his family in the Foothills, he was at his shop working just to pay the bills. How can the Prime Minister try to tell Canadians that affordability has never been better when a hard-working father is working 90 hours a week and still cannot afford the basics in Canada?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“We know high prices are hard on Canadians. We are building cheaper homes and helping families pay for food. Today I introduced a bill to keep pausing the fuel tax. I want the Conservatives to vote for it.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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

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  • A repeated line

    “We introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.”

    Said 29 times by 19 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, everyone in this House understands that affordability is top of mind for Canadians. That is why we have acted on three levers. The first thing is that we are there to make sure that we build more affordable homes, because we understand that the first pillar of affordability is for people to find a safe and affordable place to live. The second thing is that we understand the price of food. That is why, with the Prime Minister, we introduced the Canada groceries and essentials benefit to help families across the country. Today, I introduced legislation to prolong the fuel tax suspension. I hope the Conservatives will do the right thing and support it.

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John Barlow

Conservative
“Farmers are struggling to pay for fuel to harvest their crops. I want the Prime Minister to adopt our plan and remove all taxes on gas and diesel.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if they understand the problems, why are they not doing anything to solve them? It is all talk and no results for real Canadians, including farmers. Ian, a farmer in Newfoundland, told me that he is paying more than $2.40 a litre in diesel. He said that if it gets higher, we all starve. Kate said that her family farm in Saskatchewan will not be profitable if she has to spend another $91,000 just in fuel this harvest. Melanie, a farmer in Alberta, said that fuel prices this harvest are hurting. Why is the Prime Minister not taking up our Conservative plan and eliminating all taxes on gas and diesel so that farmers can afford to feed Canadians?

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Heath MacDonald

Liberal
“Wars in Europe and the Middle East are causing high fuel prices around the world, not our policies. We are helping people by cutting taxes on fuel, giving people money for groceries, and investing in farming.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of geopolitical issues causing most of the fuel increases around the world, particularly in Canada. There is a war in the Middle East and one in Europe, and broader supply chain disruptions. We are doing everything we can. We are reducing the excise tax. We are doing more with the groceries and essentials benefit. We will continue to advance Canadian agriculture and agri-food and make investments. I met with the Canadian Cattle Association this morning, and things are moving in the right direction for agriculture.

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