Finance Committee on Oct. 19th, 2023

[Pierre-Olivier Pineau]

No, I don't think that's the case at all.

We know that the price of oil has risen sharply. Various factors contribute to the rising cost of living. Our dependence on hydrocarbons means that we are attached to petroleum products, and this is a major contributor. In fact, by fighting climate change, we are reducing our dependence on petroleum products and freeing up funds. In fact, Canadian consumers spend an enormous amount of money on petroleum products. As I was saying, they are willing to pay more for vehicles that use more gas.

Of course, there are Canadians who are suffering from rising prices, but there are also many Canadians who can afford to buy big houses and big cars; they're not suffering. Policies that don't limit this overconsumption affect all Canadians and hurt the economy at the same time.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, MP Bendayan.

MP Blaikie, go ahead on a point of order.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I anticipate this will be a quick point of order.

I think members know it's a well-established parliamentary practice that they are not to intentionally mislead the House or any of its bodies, like this committee. I've heard casual reference, a few times today, to eight years of NDP-Liberal government.

It's also a well-established principle of parliamentary life that we can't accuse our colleagues of lying. I'm forced to assume it's a deficiency in their understanding of the parliamentary system that allows them to say something of that nature.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

MP Blaikie, we're not going to get into that right now, as far as what was said—

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

I think it's important that we have a little understanding of how this works.

Even on the face of it, if you want to argue there's been closer collaboration in this Parliament, during four years of the Liberal majority government from 2015 to 2019, there was certainly no hand of the NDP involved in that, in any way, shape or form.

I would beseech my colleagues to take a look at the Procedure and Practice manual of Parliament, which explains the principles of the Westminster parliamentary democracy I've heard them say they love, cherish and want to defend, because I think they could stand a lesson.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

On a point of order—

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

I have a point of order, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I think it's a good read. We should all read it.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

On that point of order, Chair....

[An hon. member]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Members, it's about respect and decorum. It is about making sure we respect the witnesses who are with us and the testimony they've been able to provide.

We want to thank our witnesses for the great job they've done—

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We're just past that time.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Chair—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We're going to end on a great note here.

Thank you very much.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We are adjourned.