Jacques Gourde

Madam Speaker, yesterday, at the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, we learned that Alto, a project commissioned by the Liberal government, has been signing non-disclosure agreements with property appraisers, surveyors, well-known law firms, local authorities and even the former Quebec government, with the objective of accelerating the expropriation of agricultural land along the route. In the interests of full transparency, the secret agreement with the former Quebec government contains a 30-day termination clause. Does this period begin from the date of signature or from the date the notice of termination is served?

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to talk about the election, thank those who have left and congratulate the winners, but I want to start by talking about something I noticed in my colleague's speech. He said something that struck me. We saw the former Quebec government doing the Liberal Party's bidding when it came to Alto. Everyone who was part of that government is now gone. On the other hand, those who were against Alto, namely the Parti Québécois and the Conservative Party of Quebec, have made huge gains. One has formed the government, and the other has risen from the ashes and elected 19 members to the National Assembly. If the government still intends to push ahead with the Alto project, I think it will need support in Quebec. I do not know where it will find it, but pushing ahead and expropriating Quebec land through the Crown—what message does that send to a party hoping for sovereignty?

Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. He seems to be assuming that if we lower taxes, the oil companies will pocket that money. We could discuss and debate that, but what I find unfortunate about his remarks is that he overlooked the fact that diesel prices are currently rising. Let me give an example from the agricultural sector. This fall, farmers have pay up to 25¢, 30¢, 40¢ or 60¢ more per litre to bring in the fall harvest, a harvest that will not necessarily sell for a higher price, because farmers sell their products at the prevailing world market prices. They are the ones who will have to absorb this staggering increase in energy costs. I think it would be a good idea to give them a little breathing room, but my colleague does not seem to agree that consumers should get that breathing room.

Mr. Speaker, with the Liberals, it is all talk and no results. A farmer in Lanaudière told us that the skyrocketing cost of diesel is costing him $2,000 more a day. According to the Union des producteurs agricoles du Québec, the rising cost of diesel could cost Quebec farmers more than $200 million a year. When will the Liberal government finally confront the skyrocketing cost of energy and give our farmers a break?

Mr. Speaker, after farmers, consumers will be the next to bear the brunt of rising food prices. We have the fourth-largest oil reserves in the world, so there is no reason Canadians should be paying so much more for diesel. The Liberals have placed us in a vulnerable position. Will they commit to adopting our Conservative plan to eliminate taxes on diesel until July 2027 and establish a strategic reserve to ensure a stable supply? Will the Liberals vote in favour of our motion?