Taxation

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12 statements

Melissa Lantsman, Thornhill

Conservative
“The Prime Minister says life is affordable, but that is not true. Food bank visits hit a record high, and prices are still rising too fast. Federal taxes add about 20 cents to every litre of gas. The government spends billions on other things. I want the Prime Minister to cut the gas tax by 20 cents a litre this Thursday.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister stood in the House and said affordability is the best it has been in decades, and we know that is not true. The government said that the debt-to-GDP would go down, and we know that is not true. After a decade of runaway Liberal spending, Canadians cannot keep up. Food banks saw a record 2.35 million visits in a single month, and inflation is above the bank’s target range. Instead of easing the pressure, Ottawa keeps adding to it. Federal taxes still add up to about 20¢ for every litre of gas. Nobody is telling the Prime Minister to change things that are out of his control. He found billions for everything else. Will he find 20¢ a litre for every Canadian on Thursday?

Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)

Liberal
“Canada has the strongest economy in the G7. We have the lowest debt compared to the size of our economy, we saved 60 billion dollars, and our business investment is up. Our plan is working. The new budget on Thursday will make our economy even stronger.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we can all recognize that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio by far, given it is at 40.7%, with the G7 average, excluding Canada, at over 100%. We found $60 billion in savings, and we are on track to balance the operating budget one year ahead of schedule. Also, we topped the G7 in second quarter growth and have seen a large spike in new business investment. Our plan is working, and budget 2026 will build on that plan to build the strongest economy in the G7. Just wait until Thursday.

Melissa Lantsman, Thornhill

Conservative
“The government did not answer my question. Pausing one tax until January does not help families who need relief all year. I am asking again: will the government cut gas taxes by 20 cents a litre in Thursday's budget?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think he read the wrong piece of paper. That was not at all my question. Pausing one tax until January is not relief for Canadians. Canadians need to work and eat all year round. Relief for a portion of the tax for a portion of the year, as the Liberals pad their coffers with windfall profits from the high price of oil, is not actually relief for families. The only thing standing between Canadians and saving them money is political will, so I will ask again slowly: Will he find 20¢ a litre for every Canadian on Thursday?

Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)

Liberal
“Our economy faces high energy costs and tariffs, and families feel that pressure. We are helping them. We cut income taxes for 22 million Canadians, paused the fuel tax, helped with grocery costs, and cut taxes on new homes. The Conservatives just complain and vote against every solution.”
  • A repeated line

    “We cut taxes for 22 million Canadians.”

    Said 21 times by 14 members since April 27.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let me say it slowly. We know the economy is going through shocks, tariffs and energy price shocks, and we know that that has put pressure on Canadian households. Unlike the opposition, who are only full of manufactured outrage, we are actually doing things to help Canadian families. We cut income tax for 22 million Canadians, suspended the excise tax on fuel, introduced the groceries and essentials benefit and cut taxes on new home purchases, saving families up to $50,000 right across the country. That is how we help Canadians with affordability. It is not by claiming we care and then opposing every possible solution in the House.

Jasraj Hallan, Calgary East

Conservative
“Families are struggling to afford gas and groceries, but the Prime Minister keeps raising fuel taxes. He does not control world prices, but he controls federal taxes. Will the government remove all federal taxes from gas in this week's budget, yes or no?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the out-of-touch Liberal Prime Minister said affordability is the best it has been in a decade. I would say that too if I owned shares in Brookfield. While he is hiking gas taxes, families are struggling with whether they can afford groceries or gas this week. We know the Prime Minister does not control world prices, but he does control Liberal taxes on gas, like the clean fuel standard and the excise tax, and the GST on top of that. Will the Liberals listen to Conservatives and remove all federal fuel taxes off gas in their upcoming budget this week, yes or no?

Leslie Church, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth, and to the Minister of Jobs and Families (Persons with Disabilities)

Liberal
“Our government has cut taxes for more than 22 million Canadians and lowered the fuel tax. Our economy is growing, and business investment is at its highest point in 20 years. Our economic plan is working and creating jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is the government that, from day one, has cut taxes for more than 22 million Canadians and reduced the fuel excise tax on Canadians as well. Despite the uncertainty that our economy is facing, GDP growth picked up earlier this year and is going to continue next year. The Bank of Canada expects growth to increase as a result of the government’s measures, measures such as our productivity mega deduction, investment in major projects and business investment that is at its highest in 20 years. This is part of an economic plan for Canadians that is building prosperity, building growth and creating jobs. It is going to help that member and his constituents every step of the way.

Jasraj Hallan, Calgary East

Conservative
“Canadians need relief from high gas prices so they have more money for food. I want the government to remove all its taxes on fuel, including the clean fuel standard, the excise tax, and the GST. Will the government do this, yes or no?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, stalling the economy for two quarters is success to these guys. I would hate to see what failure looks like. Canadians want relief at the pump right now. Conservatives know every dollar that Canadians save at the pump on gas means more money that they can spend on groceries. That is why Conservatives are calling on this incompetent Liberal government to remove all Liberal fuel taxes off gas, including the clean fuel standard, the excise tax and the GST. Will the Liberals grow some compassion and do it, yes or no?

Leslie Church, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretaries of State for Labour, for Seniors, and for Children and Youth, and to the Minister of Jobs and Families (Persons with Disabilities)

Liberal
“Our government cares about people. Our school food program helps almost 60,000 kids in the member's province avoid hunger at school, and we will keep running it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I cannot help but pick up on that member’s comment about compassion. I will talk about compassion. Compassion is a national school food program that is available in 63 public school jurisdictions in that member’s province, a program that helps nearly 60,000 kids not go hungry at school. That is compassion. That is what this government stands for, and what we are going to continue to deliver every single day.

Andrew Lawton, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South

Conservative
“A tax on gas makes everything cost more, from driving to buying groceries. Canadians are struggling with basic costs. The government controls taxes and can remove all federal taxes on fuel this Thursday. I want to know if it will.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, a tax on gas is a tax on everything. It is a tax on driving to work. It is a tax on getting groceries to the store. Despite the Prime Minister’s claims that affordability is the best it has been in over a decade, ordinary Canadians are feeling the pinch. Necessities of life are starting to feel like luxuries. The government can control taxes. It can take all federal taxes off fuel, and it can do it on Thursday. Will it?

Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport)

Liberal
“The Conservative leader is using old slogans that do not work. We cut taxes on fuel, housing, and income to help families and farmers, but the Conservatives voted against those cuts. The Conservative leader needs to explain how he will pay for his promises.”
  • A repeated line

    “The Conservatives voted against all those measures.”

    Said 4 times by 3 members since May 25.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians watching back home must think this is question period rerun hour, because the Conservative leader is back on his “axe the tax, no facts” rhetoric. It did not work three years ago. We removed the taxes on fuel, removed taxes on housing and reduced income taxes. As a result, families and farmers are experiencing a little bit of relief. The Conservatives voted against all of those measures. Why does the Conservative leader not come clean with Canadians and tell them how he plans to pay for his empty promises? Canadians have already made up their mind on how their plan is going to affect their pocketbooks. They voted against it.

Andrew Lawton, Elgin—St. Thomas—London South

Conservative
“Canada is spending $58.7 billion on debt interest alone. That money could build hospitals, build homes, or lower taxes. Instead, the government spends it on nothing, and only the Prime Minister's banker friends benefit.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians back home are well aware that this is not called “answer period”, and that secretary of state has demonstrated exactly why. The only people better off in this Canada, with these Liberal budgets, are the Prime Minister’s banker buddies. The interest on the debt is $58.7 billion. Now that is money spent on nothing. That could build 60 hospitals. That could build 120,000 housing units. That could give tax relief to Canadians of $6,000. Why are the only ones who are getting ahead the Prime Minister’s buddies?

Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport)

Liberal
“I want the Conservatives to explain how they will pay for their promises. They have already talked about cutting child benefits, grocery help, and affordable housing. When they were in power before, they cut support for veterans.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, once again, I implore the Conservatives to tell Canadians how they plan to pay for all of these empty promises. I have a couple of ideas, though. They have already said that they are going to cut the Canadian child benefit. They already said they are not a fan of the groceries and essentials benefit. They already said that affordable housing is too Soviet for them. Perhaps they will do what they did when they were in government, which was to cut funding for veterans affairs offices and reduce the support that they give to veterans. Canadians are well aware of what the Conservatives have in store for them.

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