Mr. Speaker, I find it quite astounding that we hear all of this bafflegab. The Conservatives know full well that they could lower gas prices right now by simply dropping the GST.
In terms of where the New Democrats stand, we stand with Canadians. We stand with Canadian families, hard-working consumers, and we want to narrow the affordability gap.
Just last week we heard that Canadians are being squeezed, that 600,000 families in Ontario cannot manage and are struggling. We have a government that is not listening to Canadian families. It is certainly listening to the oil companies and their friends in the oil patch, but not listening to Canadians who are trying to manage and raise families in light of these incredible and ridiculous gas prices.
I would like to remind the member what his leader said on May 12, 2004. It is so long ago and yet it is strange how it only feels like a couple of years. He said:
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will know that across the country Canadians are struggling with record gas prices. Canadian businesses are being hurt. Canadian consumers are burdened with the difficulties this is causing, but the government itself is rolling in record gas tax revenue.
The member has talked about hurting the Canadian economy. Other than the absolute irreconcilable cost of energy, what could hurt Canadians and the economy more?