Mr. Speaker, how are Canadians to understand the Liberal policy on Canadian gasoline content?
First during the debate in the House on manganese octane enhancement, the Minister of Industry advocated the necessity for the harmonization of gasoline in the North American market. Now we have the Minister of the Environment dramatically cutting sulphur levels with no regard for the American position. Fantastic Liberal logic.
What makes matters worse is that this Liberal logic will eliminate independent gasoline stations in Ontario, force the closure of Canadian refineries, reduce competition in the retail gasoline market and, according to the chairman of the Liberal committee on gas pricing, the member for Pickering—Ajax-Uxbridge, will mean a 15 cent per litre increase in gas prices.
Will this government ever get its act together and decide on a single reasonable position on gasoline quality in Canada?