Agriculture and Agri-Food

During question period on agriculture, Conservatives raised the rising cost of diesel for farmers, saying it makes farming and transporting food more expensive and raises grocery prices, and they called on the government to support a Conservative plan to lower fuel costs. The Liberals responded that high fuel prices are a global problem caused by geopolitical events, noted the government cut the excise tax to help farmers, and pointed to an Alberta project making renewable diesel from local canola, asking whether the Conservatives would support the clean fuel rules that make such production possible.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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4 statements

Rachael Thomas, Lethbridge

Conservative
“High fuel costs hurt farmers and drive up grocery prices for everyone. The government made this worse. I want the government to vote for our plan tomorrow to lower fuel costs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, farmers in my community are worried about the increasing cost of diesel. Now, many are spending thousands of dollars every single day just to keep their operations running. One farmer put it very plainly. He said that when fuel prices rise, so do grocery prices for every single Canadian. For 11 years, Liberal policies have driven up the cost of fuel and made life more expensive for Canadian families. Tomorrow, Conservatives will put forward a common-sense motion calling on the House to adopt our emergency fuel relief plan. The question is very simple. Will the government vote in favour of Canadians and vote in favour of saving them money?

Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Liberal

Linked statement

“High diesel prices are a world problem, not just a Canadian one. Farmers are hurt by these costs. We lowered fuel taxes to help them, and we will keep supporting them.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • A repeated line

    “We will continue to work with our border, immigration and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”

    Said 7 times by 3 members since April 30.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, members of the chamber are well aware today that this is a global issue. It is caused by a geopolitical situation. Farmers are on the front line, and we sympathize with them. That is why we brought in the reduction of the excise tax. That is why we are seeing all the countries around the world working together to reduce the cost of diesel. We will continue to work with our farmers. We will continue to support them through programs, and we appreciate everything they do.

Rachael Thomas, Lethbridge

Conservative
“Diesel costs more in Canada than in the United States. High fuel costs make it expensive for farmers to grow and transport food, which raises grocery bills for families. We have a plan to fix this tomorrow, and I want the government to vote for it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Liberals are completely out of touch, because the cost of diesel in Canada is far more than the cost of diesel in the United States of America, which has been equally impacted by global markets. That argument just does not work. At the end of the day, farmers have a job to do, and it is to produce food, but that means being able to take the crop off the field, and it means being able to get commodity to market and ultimately to get food on store shelves. That all takes money because of diesel costs. At the end of the day, it is the consumer who pays those costs. It is Canadian families. We as Conservatives have a plan. We are putting it on the table. We are bringing it forward tomorrow. We would love to work with the government on it. Will it vote yes—

Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

Liberal
“A project in Alberta uses local canola to make renewable diesel. I want the member to say if she will keep supporting our clean fuel rules so we can make this fuel in Canada.”
  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, seeing as the member opposite is from Alberta, she would be very excited and would want to support projects like Imperial Strathcona, creating renewable diesel right here at home using Canadian canola from Alberta. Fifty per cent of canola from Alberta would go toward the feedstock for the renewable diesel at Imperial Strathcona. I will ask her this question: Will she continue to support the CFRs and continue to take action so that we can make renewable diesel here at home?

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