Taxation

During Question Period on taxation, Conservatives asked the government to remove all federal taxes on diesel until July 2027, citing examples of farmers whose diesel bills had risen by tens of thousands of dollars and arguing the higher costs would raise grocery prices; one Conservative also proposed creating a fuel reserve. Liberal ministers responded by pointing to their investments in farmers and biofuels, the food and essentials benefit sent to families that day, and regional spending, and repeatedly urged Conservative MPs to vote for Bill C-38, which would extend the temporary suspension of the federal diesel excise tax.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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16 statements

John Barlow, Foothills

Conservative
“High diesel prices hurt farmers and make groceries more expensive for everyone. I want the government to support our plan to cut taxes on diesel.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, potato farmers in P.E.I. have told me that they are bracing themselves for the impact that high diesel prices are going to have on their farms. Nathan told me that fuel prices have already doubled to $14,000 for harvest this year. Skyview Farms told me that their fuel price was $19,000 in one month. Ike said that when diesel prices in P.E.I. go up, the price of everything goes up. High diesel prices are driving up costs on farmers and grocery prices for every single Canadian. Will the out-of-touch Liberals support our Conservative plan to reduce taxes on diesel, or will they turn their backs on farmers at harvest?

Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Liberal
“We are not ignoring farmers. We are working with them and investing in them. We announced over 370 million dollars to help make biofuels, which creates clean fuel from Canadian crops.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party of Canada is not turning its back on farmers. We are making all kinds of investments alongside farmers. We are working alongside them, and we will continue to work alongside them. We announced more than $370 million in new biofuels production incentive programs to support Canadian producers and biodiesel. With the Imperial Strathcona project, which we heard of yesterday, 2.5 million tonnes of canola are being used to produce about a billion litres of biodiesel fuel. We are going to continue to invest alongside farmers.

John Barlow, Foothills

Conservative
“High fuel prices are hurting farmers, truckers, and makers, and that will make groceries cost more. I want the Prime Minister to support our plan to cut diesel taxes.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here are the consequences of bad Liberal policy. Stephen, a grain farmer, told me that high diesel prices are costing him $5,000 a day. During harvest, they are going 24-7. The bill is going to be more than $100,000 just in additional fuel prices for one farm. Farmers, truckers and manufacturers are all paying soaring diesel prices, and now Canadian families have to brace themselves for even higher grocery prices. Will the Prime Minister support our plan for diesel price relief to give farmers a break today?

Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Liberal
“The Conservatives can help by voting for this bill to extend the tax break on diesel.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this is how the member opposite can help his concerned member: vote for Bill C-38 and extend the exemption on the diesel tax. Why do they not do something that will actually make a difference?

Carol Anstey, Long Range Mountains

Conservative
“High diesel prices are making groceries cost more. I want the minister to support our plan to remove all federal taxes on diesel until at least July 2027.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, how out of touch was that? Diesel in Deer Lake has reached $2.77 a litre. Michelle, a farmer in Cormack, expects her diesel bill to reach a staggering $135,000 this year, up nearly 56% since 2024. Diesel costs for farmers, fishermen and truckers mean higher grocery bills for Newfoundland and Labrador families. Will the energy minister support our Conservative emergency fuel relief plan, which would eliminate federal taxes on diesel until at least Canada Day 2027 and provide real relief for Canadians and farmers like Michelle?

Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries

Liberal
“The member should tell people in her riding about the money our government just sent them for food and essentials.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if the member opposite would like to do something tangible for the residents of her riding, she needs to speak to them about the benefits they received through the food and essentials benefit yesterday, and also— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries

Liberal
“I want to start my point over. If the member opposite wants to help the people in her riding, she should tell them about the benefits our government gives them.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will go from the top. If the member opposite would like to support her constituents— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries

Liberal
“If the member wants to help her community, she should talk about the help people just received for food and basics. She should also vote for the bill that extends tax relief on diesel fuel. These things give real help to Canadians.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if the member opposite wants to do something tangible for the residents of her riding, the first thing she can do is speak to them about how important it was to receive the food and essentials benefit yesterday. Second to that, she could support Bill C-38, which will see the extension of the excise tax relief on diesel. These are tangible benefits for Canadians, not rhetoric.

Carol Anstey, Long Range Mountains

Conservative
“Canadians pay more for diesel than Americans and the rest of the world because of federal taxes and rules. I want the government to support our plan to cut diesel taxes and make it easier for Canada to produce and move its own fuel.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if those programs were working, residents from her constituency would not be reaching out to me asking me— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Carol Anstey: Mr. Speaker, Canadians are paying roughly 24¢ per litre more for diesel than Americans and 31¢ more than the global average. The government cannot control conflicts overseas, but it can certainly control taxes and barriers that it imposes here at home. Will the members opposite support our Conservative plan to cut diesel taxes and remove the barriers preventing Canada from producing, refining and transporting more of its own fuel?

Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries

Liberal
“I want the member to support our bill. People in her riding and across Newfoundland and Labrador want our investments in harbours, wild salmon, Churchill Falls, and the Goose Bay military base. These give our province real results.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, off the top I will say to the member to support Bill C-38. I will remind her that I speak with residents in her riding and across Newfoundland and Labrador on a regular basis, and they support the $1 million for small craft harbours. They support the $81 million for wild Atlantic salmon, which is going to see real benefits in our province. They support Churchill Falls and what it is going to mean for our economy. They support 5 Wing Goose Bay and the millions of dollars that are going to move into that community and the province. These are tangible results. She needs to speak to more of her residents.

Jeremy Patzer, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley

Conservative
“High diesel costs are hurting farmers, who cannot pass these costs on to customers. The Liberals should vote for our motion to remove all federal taxes on diesel.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, last week I met with Kelly, a grain farmer from back home. His diesel bill jumped over $26,000 this year from last year. That is $26,000 that he cannot use to buy groceries for his family or put toward next year’s crops. He has no choice but to absorb this cost because grain farmers cannot pass it on, and he has to plant and harvest his crops no matter the price. The Liberals could offer real relief on his fuel bill for next growing season by voting for a motion to remove all federal taxes on diesel. Will the Liberals do the right thing and support our emergency fuel relief plan to save Canadians like Kelly some money?

Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)

Liberal
“We will not take advice from the Conservatives. They have no real plan, and they did nothing about this when they were in power. Today, our government gave money to families to help them buy food and essentials.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, one of the things we are not going to do is take advice from the Conservatives. We will never take advice from them because, while they talk about this plan, they do not have a plan. They simply do not. I will point out to my colleague from Saskatchewan that not only have they not done anything for 11 years, but today we delivered the groceries and essentials benefit, which helps families right across Saskatchewan and Canada.

Jacques Gourde, Lévis—Lotbinière

Conservative
“High diesel prices could cost Quebec farmers over $200 million a year. The government needs to act and give our farmers a break on energy costs.”
  • A repeated line

    “The Liberals are all talk and no results.”

    Said 13 times by 12 members since September 21.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, with the Liberals, it is all talk and no results. A farmer in Lanaudière told us that the skyrocketing cost of diesel is costing him $2,000 more a day. According to the Union des producteurs agricoles du Québec, the rising cost of diesel could cost Quebec farmers more than $200 million a year. When will the Liberal government finally confront the skyrocketing cost of energy and give our farmers a break?

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

Liberal

Linked statement

“I want the Conservatives to vote for this bill. It lowers fuel taxes right now to help people with costs.”
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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his question. I have been watching him for years. Why does he not do something for once? Instead of asking a question, he could convince his colleagues to vote in favour of Bill C‑38. The best way to provide immediate relief is to extend the suspension. The Conservatives have a chance to do something to help people for once. They can vote in favour of Bill C‑38. Will they do that?

Jacques Gourde, Lévis—Lotbinière

Conservative
“High diesel prices will make food more expensive for Canadians. Canada has plenty of oil, so diesel should not cost this much. I want the government to vote for our plan to remove taxes on diesel until July 2027 and create a fuel reserve.”
  • A repeated line

    “Canada has the fourth-largest oil reserves in the world.”

    Said 8 times by 7 members since October 5.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, after farmers, consumers will be the next to bear the brunt of rising food prices. We have the fourth-largest oil reserves in the world, so there is no reason Canadians should be paying so much more for diesel. The Liberals have placed us in a vulnerable position. Will they commit to adopting our Conservative plan to eliminate taxes on diesel until July 2027 and establish a strategic reserve to ensure a stable supply? Will the Liberals vote in favour of our motion?

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

Liberal
“I want the Conservatives to vote for this fuel tax bill. It will give immediate financial relief to farmers. I ask farmers to call their Conservative MPs and tell them to support it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals will vote for action. All we see from the opposition are motions. They have an opportunity to do something for regular folks for once. They can vote for Bill C‑38. I invite all farmers watching us today to call their Conservative MPs and ask them to vote in favour of Bill C‑38. It will provide immediate, instant relief to farmers across the country. I hope the Conservatives will do the right thing for once.

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