Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to use my time to move a motion that members of the committee would have received on Friday.
The motion states:
Given that:
(a) There is very limited transit infrastructure in rural Canada.
(b) Electric vehicles are often not a feasible option in rural Canada.
(c) Rural Canadians often have no other option than to drive gas and diesel-powered vehicles in order to commute and operate their businesses.
(d) The Liberal government plans to increase the carbon tax by 23% on April 1st.
The committee report to the House that it recognizes the disproportionate impact that the carbon tax has on rural Canadians and calls on the Liberal government to spike the hike and axe the tax.
Mr. Chair, this is one of two meetings that we have in the entire month. It's one of the last meetings before that 23% carbon tax hike comes into effect on April 1. We know that we do have Minister Guilbeault coming before the committee to explain his “no more new roads” policy, which will also have a disproportionate impact on rural Canada. We think that we can have a vote on this motion to send a strong message from this committee that we believe that the government's 23% carbon tax hike will have a disproportionate impact on rural Canadians. We don't want to see that happen, so I think this is a good opportunity for members, especially those of us who represent rural Canadians, to let our views be known and send that message back to the government.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.