Agriculture committee  I would like to suggest that since it's not the current administration that has...[Technical difficulty--Editor]...a carbon tax, this is an election issue that probably should be decided. When all the facts are before people and the platforms are known, I think it might be an election issue. I don't think at this point in time it's critical to vote on this; I think it's more of a political statement from this government.

Agriculture committee  That's exactly what it is. I have a couple of questions for Mr. Lauzon. Is this a proposal for a carbon tax that is coming from the government, or could you be more specific about where it is coming from? I mean, you are the government.

Agriculture committee  As I understand it, there's a possibility of a carbon tax being introduced tomorrow. By the way, if you could clarify which committees.... To the best of my knowledge, no other committee has introduced anything. This is coming from agricultural people; it's not coming from other committees.

Environment committee  With a softening Ontario economy and the economic benefit from the oil sands, can you talk about the potential impacts of a proposed carbon tax on the industry in the oil sands and what that could mean? Those are the questions.

Canada-U.S. Relations  We know those members do not want to talk about a strong Canadian economy and they do not want to talk about their carbon tax. However, they should at least take the time to look at the report of the Clerk of the Privy Council on this, in which he has found there is no evidence that any classified information was disclosed by the Prime Minister's Office and that none of the concerns he raises repeatedly in the House on this matter have any basis.

Health  My question, though, is this. Why does the Liberal leader want to increase the cost of cosmetics due to his carbon tax?

Health  Speaker, Health Canada is continuously monitoring the safety of products, but what Health Canada will not do is put a carbon tax on cosmetics or any other health products. It is important that Canadians get the health products they deserve at a reasonable price. That is why we, as a government, will ensure that Canadians have the maximum amount of money in their pockets so they can take care of themselves.

Seniors  We have invested a billion dollars in housing trusts, unlike the Liberals who would add a carbon tax which would drive housing and electricity costs to unaffordable limits for seniors.

Taxation  Speaker, while the Liberal leader schemes at ways to raise the tax bills of Canadians, from a regressive GST tax to a punitive carbon tax, our Conservative government is implementing unprecedented measures to reduce the federal tax burden. We have cut taxes in every way. We kept our promise and cut the GST by a full two points.

Competition Bureau  We will not tolerate price fixing for gas companies, but what we would like to see go away is the Liberal leader's plan to put a carbon tax on everything. It would raise the price of gas and energy for all Canadians. That is something we definitely will not support.

Tax Freedom Day  Tax Freedom Day is fantastic news for almost everyone in Canada except the Liberal leader and his party, whose carbon tax trick and planned GST hike push Tax Freedom Day closer to December. This government will not let that happen.

Gasoline Prices  This government will not tolerate price fixing by companies that jack up the price of gasoline. We will also not go the way of the Liberal leader, who wants to put a carbon tax on everything, which would raise the prices at the pump, the cost of heating oil and everything else we buy. This tax trick would severely impact seniors, rural Canadians, and those living on fixed incomes.

House debate  I find that shameful. We should be talking about substantive issues, policy issues, like the Liberals' carbon tax. Do they do that? No, they revert to drive-by smear campaigns, innuendoes, unprecedented attacks on character. We have seen that both inside and outside of this place. I want to speak just for a moment on why this Prime Minister is standing tall among not only colleagues in this House but among the memories of former prime ministers.

The Economy  We have the best job market in a generation, but we certainly do not want to allow the Liberals to get back in place where they would put a punitive carbon tax on us and perhaps run us into a deficit position.

Price of Consumer Goods  However, let us also warn this House about what the Liberals want to do by putting a punitive carbon tax on consumers, on everything that consumers buy.