Official Hansard
moved: That, given that, (i) gas prices are 13% higher in Canada than in the United States, equating to 22 cents more on average per litre, (ii) gas now costs 50 cents more per litre today than when global oil prices were at the same level in 2014, (iii) the Minister of Finance and National Revenue told Canadians on May 19, “We have already acted” (iv) Canadian families are still paying more to live due to a decade of Liberal credit card budgets, waste and mismanagement the House call on the government to offer Canadians immediate relief by ending all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year, including the GST, and permanently scrap the Clean Fuel Standard. He said: Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I want to note that I will be sharing my time with the member for Cloverdale—Langley City. I am very pleased to rise in the House today to begin debate on a Conservative proposal to help Canadians. Our proposal is simple and clear: Immediately cancel all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of 2026. We have been calling on the Liberals to do so since the beginning of the energy crisis in the Middle East. Given the global instability, a responsible government should have created a fiscal shield to protect its economy and its people. Unfortunately, the government chose to implement half measures. Our proposal will provide relief in the context of the current energy crisis and cost of living crisis. Every Canadian family, every farmer, every trucker and every small business is directly impacted by energy costs and the cost of living. Energy and affordability are the lifeblood of our country’s economy. Let us consider the facts. The numbers do not lie. Gas prices are now 13% higher in Canada than in the United States, equating to 22¢ more on average per litre for Canadians. Why such a big difference compared to our neighbours to the south? What is even more alarming is that gas costs 50¢ more per litre today than when global oil prices were at the same level in 2014. What is the government’s response to this dire situation? The Minister of Finance and National Revenue had the nerve to tell Canadians on May 19, “We have already acted”. Telling a family who can no longer fill their tank to get to work that the government has already acted is an insult to their daily realities. The truth is that the Liberals’ current plan is nothing more than a half measure. They offered to cut only a third of the taxes for a third of the year. The Prime Minister says he understands that affordability is an issue, but his plan provides only limited, short-term relief that will not significantly cut costs for people. It would be a mistake to believe that these promises will be kept when all the government does is suspend a tiny portion of the excise tax just from April 20 until Labour Day. Canadians do not need a tax holiday that ends right when the school year begins and they will have new costs to cover. They need permanent relief. That is why we Conservatives are renewing our call for a zero-tax policy on gas. Our strategy is clear and comprehensive. We are formally calling on the government to, first, cancel the excise tax on fuel for the rest of 2026; second, cancel the GST on gas and diesel for the rest of 2026; and third, scrap the clean fuel standard. We are particularly calling for the complete elimination of the clean fuel standard, which is essentially a permanent hidden tax on every litre used. If our plan were fully implemented today, it would result in real, massive and immediate relief—a reduction of up to 25¢ per litre at the pump. For a family of four, that means savings of $20 or more every time they fill up. That is $1,200 in annual savings. That is real money. That is money going directly back into our constituents’ pockets to pay for groceries and rent. Our plan saves 15¢ more per litre than the current Liberal plan. It is irrefutable proof that we are the only ones in the House proposing a solution that is up to the challenge posed by the crisis. We cannot ignore what is happening on the international stage. Canada is becoming an unfortunate and isolated fiscal exception. Leading industrialized nations facing the same global pressures, such as Australia, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria, have already taken concrete steps to slash fuel taxes or offer direct relief at the pump. They have grasped the urgency of the situation. Meanwhile, here, despite the brief partial suspension of excise duties, Canadians continue to pay about 14.7% more than Americans. This injustice drags on because of federal taxes that remain stubbornly high, too high. Should we really be surprised by the Liberals’ inaction in the face of this crisis? After a decade of Liberal waste and mismanagement, Canadians are the ones paying the price. We are talking about massive cost overruns, handsomely paid consultants, not to mention a bloated federal bureaucracy. When will this government stop lining its own pockets and finally give that money back to our communities? The Minister of Finance seems to find this amusing, but I can assure him that, on the ground right now, Canadians and Quebeckers find nothing amusing about the current cost of living. Let us not forget that every wasted dollar gets charged directly to Canada’s credit card. It also gets charged to our children’s and grandchildren’s credit cards, and I want the Minister of Finance to be aware of that. I will have the privilege of becoming a grandfather on November 15, and I hope the Liberal government will demonstrate some fiscal discipline to help future generations and stop charging things to our children’s and grandchildren’s credit cards. Clearly, Canadians can no longer afford this Liberal government. There is a direct connection between the price of diesel and the price of bread on store shelves. Statistics Canada recently reported that Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7. The Prime Minister took office a year ago on a solemn promise to make food more affordable. He failed. Now, a year later, families are paying the price. Thanks to high energy prices, the government is raking in a massive surplus that could be as much as $9 billion. We believe the government has a basic obligation to give that excess revenue back to Canadians in this time of crisis. Our plan would put $5 billion back into the pockets of Canadian families while retaining $4 billion to ensure fiscal flexibility. The Liberals’ decision to hoard the money speaks volumes. After 10 years of this government, who knows where that money will end up? The Conservatives want a different country. We want a compassionate country, where parents never have to feel the pain of choosing between a full grocery basket or a full gas tank to get to work. The House must send a clear signal. It must demand that this government stop settling for half measures, temporary reprieves and optics. The time for a few tweaks here and there is over. We are calling for the outright cancellation of all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the remainder of the year, including the GST, along with the permanent elimination of the clean fuel standard. Now is the time to move from words to action. Now is the time to offer immediate, substantial and measurable relief. Now is the time to put $1,200 back in the pockets of Canadian families, where it will do the most good. The people of this country are not asking for handouts or for more bureaucratic programs. They simply want the government to stop making their financial situation worse. They want less money for the Liberal bureaucracy and more money in their pockets, in their communities. The Conservatives are standing up for affordability. We are standing up to bring relief to every Canadian family and every farmer, and today we are demanding a zero tax on gas.
