Debates of April 20th, 2026

Steel and Aluminum Industry

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I do not entirely agree with the premise of our colleague's question. He mentioned Jean Charest, a person of whom we are very fond. I spoke with him last week for about and hour and a half, and I intend to meet with him again later this week.

My colleague mentioned the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec. It so happens that the federation's president, Véronique Proulx, was in Ottawa today. I had very good conversation with her about the matters that the member just raised, so I thank him for the question.

Taxation

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the only things emptier than the Prime Minister's weekend of recycled speeches are Canadians' shelves, stomachs and gas tanks. Today's data confirmed that Canada has the highest food inflation in the G7 for the fourth straight month. The Liberals cannot blame global factors. Their industrial carbon tax and fuel standard have made our food and fuel more expensive.

Why will the Prime Minister not cut the recycled speeches and instead cut the Liberal fuel taxes for the rest of the year?

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the member must have forgotten that we just announced the groceries and essentials benefit, putting up to $1,400 in the pockets of Canadian families. In fact, just this past weekend, we announced that the first 50% payment will be on June 5. We have also announced a pause in the federal gas excise tax.

On this side of the House, we are going to continue to focus on affordability. The other side is continuing to focus on podcasts, rhetoric and bluster.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, if Canadians got a dollar every time the Liberals bragged about a $90 tax cut, they would have a whole lot more than $90 in their pockets.

The Liberal math was on full display last week. They took a third of the tax off for a third of the year. That tax trick does not give Canadians real relief. In fact, if they had implemented our plan, Canadians would have saved 25¢ per litre, $1,200 a year.

Instead of cutting a third of the tax for a third of the year, why do they not cut all of the tax for all of the year?

[Steven MacKinnon, Liberal, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, today is the day we implement the 10¢-per-litre reduction on gasoline in Canada, and also the four-cents-per-litre reduction on diesel and the four-cents-per-litre reduction on jet fuel. These are important reductions. They go with the groceries and essentials benefit, which we have already brought into the House.

The government is doing many things to help Canadians with affordability, and it must be pointed out that these many things are being done despite the obstruction and the opposition of the—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Haldimand—Norfolk.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadian families, including the ones I am hearing from in Haldimand—Norfolk, are feeling the strain every time they fill up their vehicles and buy groceries. Gas prices remain out of control, and food inflation is still the highest in the G7.

For rural residents, there is no public transit alternative. They must drive to work, drive to school and drive to the grocery store.

When will the Prime Minister finally deliver real relief and end the federal taxes on gas for the rest of the year?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, we are listening to Canadians and delivering relief at the pump: 10 cents a litre today, four cents on jet fuel and four cents on diesel.

Recently, I spoke with the CEO of Montreal's Welcome Hall Mission about lifting the federal gas tax. He told me that it is a welcome measure that translates into meaningful cost savings, allowing more resources to be directed to providing core services.

The government continues to listen to people, including community leaders like the Welcome Hall Mission, as we lower costs and help families make ends meet.

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, rising fuel costs are a daily reality for Canadians. Fresh vegetables are up nearly 8% and fuel costs continue to skyrocket. Canadians pay 20% more for gas than Americans.

At what point is the Liberal government going to stop blaming global factors and take responsibility for these rising costs? When will the Prime Minister finally remove all of the federal taxes on fuel and deliver real relief for Canadians?

[Rechie Valdez, Liberal, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, starting today, as mentioned, we are suspending the federal fuel tax on gasoline and diesel. If we combine this with the elimination of the consumer carbon tax, Canadians are saving 28¢ per litre at the pumps. What this means is $2.4 billion back into the pockets of Canadians.

With respect to the province of Ontario alone, over four million people received the GST rebate. That is $2.2 billion in direct support for families across the province.

We are going to continue doing everything we can to support Canadians during this time.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals continue to blame global factors for skyrocketing gas and grocery prices while offering Canadians only a partial, temporary tax cut. They have been playing with matches for years, printing money and hiking the carbon tax and the fuel standard tax. Now they act surprised that their house is on fire. Canadians see through their excuses in repeated speeches offering more illusions. When will they stop the blame game, take responsibility and give families real relief by removing all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year?

[Anna Gainey, Liberal, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we are bringing relief to Canadians at the gas pump today, which represents 10¢ a litre now through Labour Day.

We have been there for Canadians from the moment this new government took office, with a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. We are delivering a groceries and essentials rebate, which is a meaningful boost to over 12 million Canadians that will put more money in their pockets. This is on top of dental care, which is reaching five million Canadians, the national school food program, and child care. We are there for Canadians and helping them with affordability.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister warned Canadians about making hard sacrifices, but now he is refusing to show up at the bargaining table with our largest trading partner. Liberal taxes make Canadians pay 20% more for gas. His fearmongering is making relations worse and hurting our economy. He is deliberately pitting Canadians against the United States, all while the Liberals cozy up to the CCP.

We could be expanding our resource industry and building our nation as a global leader. Instead, we get state-sponsored propaganda to cover up all the Liberal failures. When will the Prime Minister stop making excuses and take responsibility?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Secretary of State (Sport)]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are saying that, on this side of the House, we are blaming global factors. We are not. We are acknowledging global factors and putting forth measures to address global factors. They want to completely ignore the fact that we live in a globally connected society and that price factors are influenced by global affairs like a war in the Middle East.

Gas prices are too high, so the Prime Minister announced that we are addressing that. We are also lowering income tax. We put forward other affordability measures like dental care and child care, things the Conservatives voted against.

[William Stevenson, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when gas and diesel prices rise, they drive up the cost of everything. Farmers, truckers and grocery stores all feel it, while families pay for it. No wonder Canada's food inflation is the highest in the G7 for the fourth month in a row.

Conservatives called upon the Liberals to remove all gas taxes, but the Prime Minister played politics, cutting a third of the tax for a third of the year. When will the Liberals remove the remaining gas taxes for the rest of the year and deliver real relief to struggling Canadians?

[Eleanor Olszewski, Liberal, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada]

Mr. Speaker, Albertans are happy to hear we are investing in them and addressing their affordability challenges in tangible ways. They know that making a reduction in fuel costs from now to Labour Day will save them money and make it easier for them to travel to and from work and throughout our beautiful province. Albertans are looking for the government to provide solutions, and we are delivering.

Justice

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice texted an apology to the Premier of Quebec for his comments about wanting to limit the use of the notwithstanding clause. However, that is exactly what he is doing with his Supreme Court challenge of Bill 21. His brief and his oral arguments make it clear that Ottawa wants to limit the use of the notwithstanding clause by restricting its pre-emptive use.

Now that the minister has apologized, will he formally commit to never allowing limits on the notwithstanding clause, including for pre-emptive use?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my friend, but I have to clarify something. Obviously the federal government does not have the authority to alter provincial powers under the Constitution. It is strange, honestly. We will uphold the Constitution and respect provincial jurisdictions at the same time. My comments were made in the context of the bill that is currently before the Senate and that concerns the federal government's powers only. That is all.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government may not have the power, but we know the federal government's position on the notwithstanding clause. There is no misunderstanding. In fact, the government has spent at least $2 million fighting something in the Supreme Court over which it supposedly has no power. The government wants to limit Quebec's ability to pre-emptively use the notwithstanding clause. What it is doing is exactly why it had to apologize to the Premier of Quebec.

Rather than saying one thing and doing the opposite, will the government commit to refusing to limit Quebec's power to use this clause in any way?

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague, the Minister of Justice, was very clear. The leader of the Bloc Québécois was trying to twist the facts, but they can only be twisted so far. My colleague, the Minister of Justice, was talking about a bill in the Senate that concerns the federal government's use of the notwithstanding clause. It was never about the authority of the provinces to use a power that is granted to them under the Constitution. We respect areas of provincial jurisdiction.

Taxation

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on the weekend, the Liberal Prime Minister once again repeated the same old worn-out promises. Meanwhile, in Lotbinière, L'Érable, Le Granit and the Appalachian region in my riding, families have to choose between filling their gas tanks and filling their fridges. Why? The reason is that the Liberals chose to do away with only one-third of the federal gas taxes. The Liberal Prime Minister may fancy himself a magician, but his magic wand is not working.

When will he eliminate all federal gas taxes for the rest of the year to make life more affordable for everyone?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it is true. As of today, we are suspending the federal excise tax on gasoline, which will give struggling Canadians a little more breathing room. We also just announced that, on June 5, Canadians will receive a one-time Canada groceries and essentials benefit payment. That is a cheque of up to $530 per family. We are there for Canadians. We know that Canadians need us, and our government is there for them.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how is it, then, that we are in such a mess? We have the worst food inflation in the G7 for the fourth month in a row. The price of produce went up 7.8% in March. I find it strange that the Prime Minister and the Liberals never talk about food prices.

I will repeat my question. Instead of repeating the same excuses over and over, when will the Liberal Prime Minister axe all federal Liberal taxes on gas for the rest of the year?

[Nathalie Provost, Liberal, Secretary of State (Nature)]

Mr. Speaker, I am quite surprised at the turn my kind colleague's question is taking when he says that we never talk about it. However, in my little booklet, I see Canada's national school food program. That is food for Canadians. We proposed that, and the Conservatives voted against it. Then there is the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. That is to help pay for groceries, which are more expensive. We have also committed to helping with gas. We are doing that, but the Conservatives are voting against half of the measures that are helping to restore Canadians' purchasing power.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, to hear them talk, everything is fine and Canadians have pockets full of cash.

While Canadians are facing a steady rise in the cost of living, particularly at the pump, the Liberal government is once again content with half measures when it comes to lowering gas taxes. Can the government explain why it is refusing to provide significant tax relief to struggling families, workers and businesses?

When will the government stop favouring symbolic measures over meaningful action to help Canadian families and workers?