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Question period focused on high diesel and fuel prices. The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, called the situation a diesel price crisis, said Canadian prices are higher than in the U.S. and the global average, and proposed cutting all federal diesel taxes until July 1, 2027, along with faster approvals and tax relief to build diesel refineries and transport capacity. Prime Minister Mark Carney said prices were driven by the wars in Iran and Ukraine, pointed to the extension of the federal fuel excise tax suspension and support for families, said provincial taxes explain much of the gap with the United States, and invited the House to pass Bill C-38, the Canadian Fuel Affordability Act, which would extend the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax and later reduce the rates, as well as the government’s major projects legislation. A portion of the exchange also went to remarks on the Leader of the Opposition’s 20th anniversary in the House and to each side criticizing the other’s record on past promises and projects.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

12 statements

Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“High diesel prices are making everything cost more. I want the Prime Minister to cut federal taxes and costs to lower fuel prices right now.”

  • A repeated line

    “The Liberals are costing Canadians more.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since September 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we Conservatives also offer our condolences to the family of Ms. Ben Salem. We are fighting to save Canadians money. The Liberals are costing Canadians more. Canada is facing a serious diesel price crisis. The national average price is now $2.74 a litre, which is going to drive up the cost of everything. One farmer in Bruce County had to spend $3,000 on one day’s fuel. We are now paying 30¢ a litre more here in Canada than in the United States. Will the Prime Minister remove his taxes and other government costs to lower the cost of diesel now?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“High fuel prices are caused by wars in Iran and Ukraine, not government costs. We are pausing the federal fuel tax and giving $20,000 to families of four to help with costs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is a difficult situation for Canadians. This difficult situation is caused by the war in Iran and the war in Ukraine. The government is doing two things. First, it is extending the suspension of the federal fuel excise tax, and second, it is providing $20,000 for a family of four as an affordability measure.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Diesel prices are too high. Canadians pay 32 cents a litre more than Americans do. The Prime Minister is wrong to blame other countries for this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are here to save Canadians money while Liberals are costing Canadians more. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are now facing a full-scale diesel price crisis. Right now, diesel prices are around $2.76 a litre, an all-time high. One farmer in Bruce County had to spend $3,000 on one day’s fuel. The Prime Minister loves to blame foreign factors, but Canadians are paying 32¢ a litre more than are Americans. If it is really a global issue, why are we paying so much north of the border?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“High fuel and diesel prices are a worldwide problem. The government is taking action by cutting fuel taxes longer and working with fuel companies to make sure Canada has enough diesel.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is a global issue that is causing higher fuel prices, including higher diesel prices. The government is acting, including by extending the reduction in the fuel excise tax on diesel and on regular gasoline. As well, the Minister of Natural Resources is working with refiners to maximize the availability of diesel in Canada.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“Canadians pay more for diesel than the world average and more than people in the United States. Canada has the fourth biggest supply of oil in the world. I want to know why our fuel prices are not the lowest.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is all talk, no results, and more excuses after broken promises. Let us convert diesel prices around the world, in the U.S. and here in Canada into Canadian dollars. Diesel prices in the U.S. are $2.44 a litre. The global average diesel price is $2.33 a litre. Here in Canada, it is $2.76 a litre. Canadians are paying 41¢ more than the world and 32¢ more than the U.S. With the fourth biggest supply of oil on earth, why do we not have the lowest prices anywhere in the world?

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Mark Carney

Liberal

Linked statement

“Fuel costs more in Canada than in the United States mostly because of provincial taxes. Our plan to build new refineries will also help lower diesel prices.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would draw the attention of the Leader of the Opposition and this whole House to the fact that there are things in Canada called provinces. The provinces put taxes on diesel. The provinces put taxes on gasoline. The biggest difference between Canada and the United States is the provincial taxes on those carbons. Also, I will draw attention to the building Canada strong act, which will allow this country to build new refineries and keep diesel prices lower.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister blames the provinces, but his own policies make fuel expensive. Diesel costs more because our dollar is weak, his rules stop us from building refineries, and he still charges high federal taxes. I want him to take action and lower fuel prices.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, how totally out of touch. He blames the provinces for inflation under his leadership. He highlights a bill that has been in place for a year and a half and has not built a single project. He did not answer the question. There are three reasons why Canadians are paying more for diesel in the world. One, the Prime Minister has given us a weak dollar despite high oil prices. Two, by his very admission in this House, we do not have the refining capacity because his government will not get out of the way and let Canadians build. Three, he continues to tax fuel with the GST and the fuel standard tax. Will the Prime Minister stop pretending to be so powerless and get prices down for Canadians?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“I congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on 20 years in Parliament. In my one year here, our government has passed laws to get major projects built faster. We want the opposition to work with us to build things instead of doing nothing.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on his 20th anniversary in the House of Commons. I have been here for a little more than a year. We passed the Building Canada Act for major projects, and we are putting in front of this House the building Canada strong act so that all projects in this country are “one project, one review, one year”. We will build Canada strong. They will have an opportunity to join us, and he will have an opportunity to do something for the first time in two decades.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“We should not have to rely on the United States for our own diesel. I want the government to adopt our plan to lower prices. We want to cut all diesel taxes until at least Canada Day. We also want to speed up permits and give tax relief to build diesel refineries and transport.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, he is literally bragging about promises that he has made and broken. Now the U.S. President is blustering ridiculously about a diesel export plan. Even if that bluster is meaningless, we should not have to rely on the Americans to give us diesel that comes out of our own ground. That is why Conservatives are acting today. We are calling for an emergency diesel price relief plan to, one, eliminate all diesel taxes until at least Canada Day and, two, have emergency pre-permitting and tax relief for the construction of diesel transportation and refining. Will he take up our plan to lower prices for Canadians?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“I want the House to pass this bill to lower the tax on diesel. Our laws are already helping build major energy and building projects across the country.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this House will have an opportunity to pass Bill C-38, which will lower the tax on diesel. This House will have an opportunity to vote on the building Canada strong act, which will move this country forward. Let me make sure Hansard is correct. The government passed the act last year, and Contrecoeur, the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, Darlington, the north coast transmission line and the Matawinie mine are all major projects now being built thanks to this government.

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Pierre Poilievre

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is taking credit for old projects. I want him to adopt our diesel plan instead. It would cut all diesel taxes until July 1, 2027, and make it faster and cheaper to build diesel refineries and transport. This will lower prices and protect Canada from Donald Trump's threats.”
Official Hansard

Again, he is talking about projects that were approved long before he got here, Mr. Speaker. To protect us from President Trump’s threats, make Canada affordable and independent and save money, the Conservatives are calling for a diesel price relief plan that involves eliminating all diesel taxes until July 1, 2027, and having emergency pre-permitting and tax relief to accelerate investment in diesel refining and transportation. Will the Prime Minister take our plan to lower prices and make Canada more independent?

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Mark Carney

Liberal
“The House will vote on extending the fuel tax cut, including for diesel. The federal government cannot cut provincial taxes. We should focus instead on our bill to build major projects faster.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the House will have the chance to extend the reduction in the excise tax on fuels, including diesel. However, it is not the federal government’s job to remove provincial taxes. What we need to do is build major projects with the build Canada strong bill: one project, one review, one year.

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