Mr. Speaker, in September I wrote the Liberal government asking for an investigation into gas prices. After two months of investigation, the Competition Bureau has yet to report its findings.
Now, in addition to high gas prices, we are seeing skyrocketing propane prices across western and northern Canada. Propane has increased by more than 130 per cent in Manitoba alone. This means an added major expense for farmers trying to dry their wet crops, homeowners paying higher costs to heat their homes and business people who use propane.
Meanwhile the Liberals in Ottawa continue to ignore the effects of energy price hikes. They continue to spin myths about consumers having a choice in buying their fuel from a handful of multinational oil companies that all raise prices at the same time, gouging Canadians equally.
Propane is the fuel of choice for many who are trying to be environmentally friendly but it is now being priced out of reach unjustifiably.
I am now calling on the Liberal government to take action to defend consumers, farmers and business people from propane price gouging by the big oil companies.