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Members of Parliament debated the high cost of living, citing record usage of food banks and projections of rising grocery prices due to inflation and energy costs. Conservative members argued that federal taxation and high energy costs are placing undue strain on households, requesting the removal of federal taxes on diesel to reduce food prices. Liberal members countered that the government has taken action on these issues, including cutting gas and diesel taxes and investing in housing, but pointed out that the Conservative opposition often votes against measures designed to assist families.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Ziad Aboultaif

Conservative
“Millions of Canadians rely on food banks, and prices are still going up. The government's taxes make life more expensive. We want the government to drop federal taxes on diesel to lower grocery costs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in March, 2.4 million Canadians had to rely on the food bank. The Bank of Canada expects prices to rise through next year. This is an out-of-touch government. Excessive taxation and rising energy costs are making it worse for Canadians. Conservatives would lower costs at the grocery store by scrapping all federal taxes on diesel sales until at least next Canada Day. Why would the government not adopt our plan?

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Ryan Turnbull

Liberal

Linked statement

“Conservatives pretend to care about food banks, but they vote against measures that help people leave them. We created a school food program that feeds 400,000 children and keeps them out of food bank lines. Conservatives voted against it and called it garbage.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 40 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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  • A repeated line

    “We brought in a national school food program.”

    Said 4 times by 3 members since May 26.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it always shocks me in the House when Conservatives pretend to care about people at food banks, when they vote against every single measure that would take people out of those food banks. When we wanted to feed hungry kids in school, which was the top ask of Food Banks Canada for many years, we implemented a national school food program, which feeds 400,000 kids at school. That literally takes kids out of food bank lineups. What did the Conservatives do? They said no, then they called the program garbage in the House. They should be ashamed of themselves for mentioning—

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Randy Hoback

Conservative
“Food is already too expensive, and energy and shipping costs will push grocery prices even higher. I want the government to drop federal taxes on diesel to help lower food costs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Governor of the Bank of Canada projects that rising energy and shipping costs will drive up grocery prices this coming year. With food bank usage at record levels and household budgets already stretched, families cannot afford another increase at the checkout line. Will the Liberal government reverse its course and adopt our Conservative plan to scrap the federal taxes on diesel, which would help bring down the cost of food?

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John Zerucelli

Liberal
“We cut taxes on gas and diesel, but the Conservatives voted against it. They talk about food banks, but they do not listen to Food Banks Canada. That group supported our benefit for low-income families, and the Conservatives voted against that too.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 37 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we cut taxes on gas and diesel, and the Conservatives voted against it. This week, the Conservatives have been talking about food banks. They come in the House of Commons and talk about food banks, yet they actually do not listen to Food Banks Canada, the organization responsible for food banks. Here is what it said: “For people relying on food banks, this program [the groceries and essentials benefit, which the Conservatives voted against] will provide direct assistance to low-income households to help cover...costs such as food, rent, or childcare, as we have called for.”

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Mel Arnold

Conservative
“More people are using food banks because of government inflation. I want the government to lower grocery prices by removing all federal taxes on diesel until Canada Day 2027.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, months ago, Food Banks Canada reported that food bank demand reached 2.3 million visits in March. Liberal inflation has only made things worse. In Salmon Arm, my hometown, the food bank now serves 500 clients per month. Many are families, meaning the number could be 7% to 10% of a small city relying on the food bank. Will the government adopt our Conservative plan to lower the cost in grocery stores by scrapping all federal taxes on diesel sales until at least Canada Day 2027?

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Sean Fraser

Liberal
“The Conservatives say they care about families buying food, but their votes show the opposite. They voted against grocery money for families, a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, and a school food program that feeds hungry children.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 44 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I sincerely appreciate the hon. member’s concern for the ability of families to put food on the table, but it betrays the perspective that the Conservative Party has demonstrated in this House with its voting record over the last number of years. Let us think about the groceries and essentials benefit that we put forward that is going to put almost $1,900 on the table for a family of four, which the Conservatives voted against. Let us think about the middle-class tax cut that we put forward to save money for 22 million Canadians, which they voted against. Let us think about the national school food program, which is actually feeding hungry children in our communities today, which they did not just vote against but called garbage on the floor of the House of Commons.

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Scott Anderson

Conservative
“Food bank visits are way up in British Columbia, including for children. Fuel taxes make food cost more to grow and ship. The government should remove all federal taxes on diesel until Canada Day 2027 to lower grocery bills.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in British Columbia alone, food banks recorded more than 250,000 visits in March, up 14% in one year. The hon. member across the aisle mentioned children. Over 75,000 of those were children. Diesel drives up the cost of growing, transporting and delivering food, putting even more pressure on grocery bills across Canada. Why will the Liberal government not adopt our Conservative plan to scrap all federal taxes on diesel until at least Canada Day 2027 and give Canadians some relief?

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Jennifer McKelvie

Liberal
“We are working hard to make housing more affordable. In British Columbia, we are helping build thousands of homes and spending over $5 billion on things that support new housing. We care about making life cheaper for people.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have been working hard on housing affordability to bring down rents and the cost to buy a home. I would like to point out that in British Columbia, we have made meaningful progress. We have committed 1,100 homes in B.C. through Build Canada Homes. We are investing more than $5 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure. We are working with the province to bring down development charges. In addition, I would like to point out that we have 116 purpose-built rental homes under way in Burnaby, 349 at UBC and the Burke Mountain Community Centre in Coquitlam is under construction. There is lots under way. We care about affordability.

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