Pierre Poilievre

[Natural Resources, May 22nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, our plan actually reduced greenhouse gases while reducing taxes at the same time.

The carbon tax cover-up continues. The government refuses to tell Canadians what the government knows. The Liberals have calculated how much the average family will pay. They have documents laying out these numbers, but when I obtained those documents, unfortunately all of the numbers were blacked out.

If this is anything more than a tax grab, why will the government not end the carbon tax cover-up and tell us what this tax will cost the average Canadian household?

[Natural Resources, May 22nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, she keeps trying to blame the provinces for this carbon tax. In fact, it is right in the Minister of Finance's budget bill that is before the House of Commons right now. It proposes a new tax of $50 a tonne, which will increase the price of gas, groceries, home heating, electricity, and almost every consumer good that Canadians buy.

Prices are already rising. Inflation is above 2%. Canadians cannot afford to pay any more, so why do the Liberals not end the carbon tax cover-up and tell us how much this tax will cost the average Canadian family?

[Natural Resources, May 22nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the question was how much the carbon tax would cost the average Canadian fishing family. There was no answer. The carbon tax cover-up continues.

The government admits that gas prices will go up at least 11¢ a litre, that it will cost on average about $200 more for Canadians to heat their homes. Other costs like higher grocery bills will also cascade throughout the economy, according to a memo by Finance Canada.

Will the government end the carbon tax cover-up now and tell us how much this tax will cost the average Canadian family?

[Natural Resources, May 22nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that a 2016 memo by Fisheries and Oceans Canada revealed that the carbon tax will “degrade” our fishing sector. It will mean that the fishing families trying to earn a living doing work that is already difficult will have to pay more and more to fuel their vessels, which will put them at a competitive disadvantage with other countries around the world.

How much will this new national Liberal carbon tax cost the average Canadian fishing family?

[Taxation, May 11th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, actually, foreign investment in Canada has nosedived since the government took office. In 2017, it was much lower than it was way back in 2014, and that is even before we adjust for inflation.

Higher taxes, more regulation, and stifling government interference are driving down Canadian investment. We know that when the money leaves, the jobs are soon to follow.

Why does the government not finally defend Canadian interests and Canadian jobs, stand up to Donald Trump, and put our economy first?

[Taxation, May 11th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump wants to take Canadian money and Canadian jobs, and the government is helping him.

Since the Liberals took office, Canadian investment in the U.S. is up two-thirds and American investment in Canada is down by half. Now the head of the C.D. Howe think tank, which used to be headed by the finance minister, said, “For every dollar of new investment enjoyed by the average U.S. worker in 2017, a Canadian worker enjoyed a mere 59 cents.”

Magna International says that high taxes and regulations will make it even harder to keep jobs in Canada.

Why will the government not get taxes down and stand up for Canadian workers instead of trying so hard to make America great again?

[George Marsland, May 11th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, George Marsland was one of the most infectious, energetic, and enthusiastic people anyone could ever meet. Born in New Hamburg, Ontario, George would go on to study law at Western. Soon afterward, he caught the attention of Brian Mulroney's leadership campaign team and was eventually tapped as a staff member in the Prime Minister's Office.

“George was an individual of good counsel and goodwill, whose strong contribution to the growth and success of the PC Party should be underlined and remembered”, said Prime Minister Mulroney this week.

George also held senior roles at Magna International, where I met him. George loved people, and they loved him back. That is why so many were so saddened to learn of his passing just recently. I among those who were saddened to learn this news. He was my friend.

We will remember his boundless energy, his unforgettable sense of humour, and his love of life. Rest in peace, George.

[The Environment, May 8th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, it was the Liberal government that claimed that the tax would be “revenue neutral”.

Today, further testimony from Environment Canada disproved that claim. Officials said that the budget bill will not even allow the government to reduce other taxes with the proceeds of the carbon tax. In other words, this is going to make the government a winner and taxpayers the losers.

How much will this tax increase cost the average Canadian family?

[Taxation, May 8th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the government likes to claim that its carbon tax will be “revenue neutral”.

We already knew that they were going to collect GST on the carbon tax, but today Environment Canada officials testified at the finance committee that the government will not return the proceeds of GST collected on the carbon tax to the provinces from which it was originally collected.

Is that not yet more proof that this tax has nothing to do with the environment, and that it is just another tax grab on Canadians?

[Business of Supply, May 8th, 2018]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member accuses me of repeating myself and he is right, because the truth does not change. That is why I am repeating myself and will continue to do so in the House of Commons. I will not stop asking the government to put an end to the secrecy and tell us how much the carbon tax is going to cost Canadians.

The hon. member mentioned the carbon taxes in British Columbia, Quebec, and other provinces. What is interesting is that in each of the examples he gave, the governments come out ahead and taxpayers lose. As Canadians are paying more taxes because of these schemes, governments are increasing their revenues. The promise being made by governments like the one before me, namely that these programs are revenue neutral, never comes true in the real world. Even in British Columbia, where the premier at the time promised that the tax would be revenue neutral, the government increased its revenues through the carbon tax and people paid more taxes.

We are here to protect taxpayers, for that is what the Conservative Party does. We put people before governments.