Kevin Waugh

Mr. Speaker, Thanksgiving weekend is ahead, but unfortunately many Canadians will go without because the traditional Thanksgiving Day meal is 10% more expensive this year than it was last year. Liberal policies are driving up the cost of everything. In August alone, the Saskatoon Food Bank had 26,000 visits, an all-time high. Will the government admit that after 11 years of Liberals, Canada is officially in an affordability crisis?

Mr. Speaker, I like our opposition day motion today because our motion is pretty simple. We have to cut diesel taxes and produce more fuel in this country. I heard a farmer from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, on the radio last week who said there has been a 100% increase in diesel prices year to year, and a 25% increase in diesel prices from August to now. This will come to consumers sooner or later. Why would the government not support our motion today? It would trickle down to the consumers.

Madam Speaker, it is good to have you in the chair here this afternoon. To my hon. member from New Brunswick, it is interesting because the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre set a record in August:26,000 people went through its doors. Let us think about this. I come from Saskatchewan where we feed the world. Twenty-six thousand people in a city of 310,000 have gone to the food bank each and every month, starting in August. I believe it was the policies set by the Liberal government in 2015 that caused the increase of, let us say, 16,000. From when I started being an MP in 2015, we have had over 10,000 more people going to the food bank, thanks to this Liberal policy.

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member from Skeena—Bulkley Valley made a number of great points this morning. I was talking with a staffer. They had a five-year mortgage term ending at 1.92%, but unfortunately, five years later, now it is over 4%, so we are talking affordability. The Liberals continue to borrow at record rates. There has been a doubling of the interest rate, and a staffer was discussing, in her conversation, the affordability issue. The legislation would help. There is no question that Bill C-38 would help with the affordability of gas. I hear it in my province, because farmers are dealing with diesel and its record prices. However, I just want to talk about the hon. member's experience with young people and the affordability issue.

Mr. Speaker, I had two or three years as Saskatchewan caucus chair, and we moved our summer meetings around. I remember saying to this member that we were coming to Yorkton—Melville. What a delightful two days we had in Yorkton—Melville because of her. She brought the community together. We had a sensational meeting with the indigenous leaders. We had tours of Yorkton. I also remember one thing about her. As a caucus chair, when I said we were going to come, she was up to the task. It was fabulous. I also remember that community had the best Ukrainian food in this country. I just want to wish the hon. member a happy retirement for her and her husband, Marty. Our caucus is really indebted to her for the 10 and a half years she served.