Mr. Speaker, I have just one question for my Liberal colleague who just spoke.
My colleague is proposing the creation of a task force comprising members of all political parties. There is already an all-party committee on industry. Five years ago, this committee wanted to amend the Competition Act to strengthen it and authorize disciplining industries such as the oil and gas sector. The government refused.
I really want to talk about this. In 2003, the Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology proposed implementing a petroleum monitoring agency, but it is still not in place. We can strike another committee, but how much longer will this government wait before reining in this industry?
In the meantime, over the past 30 days, the oil companies have pocketed $800 million in profits at the refinery stage. Their standard margins have generated this surplus. They took advantage of all kinds of international events, hurricanes and other things, to fill their pockets.
My colleague is quite right. In addition to this, over the Labour Day weekend, we saw profits at the refinery stage of 46.4¢ per litre on September 2, and of 39.3¢ per litre for three days, September 3, 4 and 5. That is why I am saying that, over the past 30 days, they have pocketed over $800 million more in profits compared to last year.
I am asking my colleague how much more time the Liberal Party will need before reining in this industry, strengthening the Competition Act through amendments and creating a petroleum monitoring agency.