Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Almost half the questions here could have easily been answered if the government would stop covering up the true cost of the carbon tax to low-income Canadians. Affordability is the number one thing I always hear about, and affordability or any form of taxation is a great question, but especially the carbon tax because it punishes those at the lowest income scale. It's a tax on everything. I know Mr. Kenney and others on the Conservative side all across the country have used this terminology: It's a tax on the essentials of living, and that's what it is.
The government keeps talking about people needing to make better choices. I have an arena in Erin Woods in my riding and when the carbon tax was introduced provincially it punished the families who used the arena through higher fees, higher costs, when it came to just going out and having a day of hockey for the kids. That's the issue, and if they would stop covering it up we'd be able to have a fulsome debate on it and be able to understand the true impact it will have on every Canadian: the affordability of everyday activities, heating your home, but also just going out for a game of hockey.
The euphemism that's often used is there's a tax on everything, making better choices, but they're trying to change the behaviour of people. They don't like what people want to do, go play hockey, heat your home to a temperature that you like. That's what I hear in my riding.
Mr. Kenney, again my questions are going to go to you. Forcing the actions of people, forcing people to do what the government wants them to do, obviously you disagree with it, and obviously you've heard lots of stories from Albertans all across the province. Can you share those with the committee?