Mark Carney

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank the Leader of the Opposition for this opportunity. On behalf of the Government of Canada and, I believe, all members of the House, I want to begin by expressing our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of Ms. Ben Salem. Ms. Ben Salem was a valued member of the Canada Revenue Agency. She was dedicated to serving Canadians, which is what she was doing at the time of the attack. The Government of Canada and all members of the House will do everything we can to support our police forces to ensure that the perpetrator of this despicable crime is brought to justice.

Mr. Speaker, this is a difficult situation for Canadians. This difficult situation is caused by the war in Iran and the war in Ukraine. The government is doing two things. First, it is extending the suspension of the federal fuel excise tax, and second, it is providing $20,000 for a family of four as an affordability measure.

Mr. Speaker, it is a global issue that is causing higher fuel prices, including higher diesel prices. The government is acting, including by extending the reduction in the fuel excise tax on diesel and on regular gasoline. As well, the Minister of Natural Resources is working with refiners to maximize the availability of diesel in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I would draw the attention of the Leader of the Opposition and this whole House to the fact that there are things in Canada called provinces. The provinces put taxes on diesel. The provinces put taxes on gasoline. The biggest difference between Canada and the United States is the provincial taxes on those carbons. Also, I will draw attention to the building Canada strong act, which will allow this country to build new refineries and keep diesel prices lower.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on his 20th anniversary in the House of Commons. I have been here for a little more than a year. We passed the Building Canada Act for major projects, and we are putting in front of this House the building Canada strong act so that all projects in this country are “one project, one review, one year”. We will build Canada strong. They will have an opportunity to join us, and he will have an opportunity to do something for the first time in two decades.

Mr. Speaker, this House will have an opportunity to pass Bill C-38, which will lower the tax on diesel. This House will have an opportunity to vote on the building Canada strong act, which will move this country forward. Let me make sure Hansard is correct. The government passed the act last year, and Contrecoeur, the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, Darlington, the north coast transmission line and the Matawinie mine are all major projects now being built thanks to this government.

Mr. Speaker, the House will have the chance to extend the reduction in the excise tax on fuels, including diesel. However, it is not the federal government's job to remove provincial taxes. What we need to do is build major projects with the build Canada strong bill: one project, one review, one year.

Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑39 is about efficiency, not about how high the standards are. That is the first thing. It should only take one year to get a decision on environmental standards, co-operation with indigenous peoples and all other aspects of a project. That is the idea behind the bill: to take action.

Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑39 involves federal decisions. Yes, it is true that we have co-operation agreements with six provinces. In those cases, we are using the provinces' skills, expertise and so on. However, this bill only involves the federal government and decisions made by the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, what is the opposition member talking about? There is nothing like that in the bill. It is about efficiency. It is about taking action. It is about creating good jobs in Quebec and across Canada. It is about growth. It is about independence, resilience and prosperity for a strong Canada.

Mr. Speaker, the clean fuel standard implications at the end of this decade are lower than all the numbers the member opposite just quoted. One thing that the clean fuel standard does do, though, is it raises the price of canola. If I were a farmer in Battle River—Crowfoot or in Red Deer County, I would like my bushel of canola to get 10% more, which is what the clean fuel standard does. Come join us in support.

Mr. Speaker, I join with the Leader of the Opposition and all members of this House in offering our thoughts and prayers for officer Smith, for his family, for the Jewish community in Belleville and for the Jewish community across Canada. We stand against all forms of violence, all forms of hate, and may this House continue to come together to support the Jewish community in Canada and all Canadians to live their full lives.

Mr. Speaker, this government will continue to work tirelessly to make life more affordable for Canadians by cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, by reducing and eventually eliminating the GST on the purchase of a new home, by extending the fuel excise tax and by providing the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.

Mr. Speaker, there is a reason we have Hansard. This government will continue to work, without fail, to improve affordability for Canadians, cutting taxes on income and cutting taxes for first-time homebuyers. The groceries and essentials benefit's next cheque is coming in October, with 12 million Canadians getting the benefit. Above all, we will be providing the essential social services that the member voted against, every single one: child care, dental care and the national school food program, with $20,000 of savings for Canadian families.

Mr. Speaker, what this government knows is that there are three wars affecting Canadians: the tariff war from the Americans, the war against Iran and the war against Ukraine. They are pushing up fuel prices. They are pushing up grocery prices, so we are providing immediate support to Canadians. The next groceries and essentials benefit cheque is coming next month, up to $1,900 for a family of four. Across that, we support Canadians with the school benefit and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, let us walk through those in order. With the industrial carbon tax, the impact on groceries is zero. The impact of clean fuel regulations on a bushel of canola is over a dollar. For a bushel of canola in Battle River—Crowfoot, it is over a dollar. The impact on fuel prices is zero. This government is cutting taxes for business. The head of the CFIB praised the productivity mega deduction. I look forward to the member opposite voting in favour.

Mr. Speaker, this government is working for Justin. This government is working for Justine, and the Justins and Justines across this country. We are working to create jobs, 200,000 jobs net over the course of the last year, with the fastest growth in the G7 in the last quarter. We are making this country more independent from the United States, more resilient and more prosperous. While we are doing that, we are providing Canadians like Justin with a boost today and a bridge to tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, like the member for Beloeil—Chambly, this government is deeply committed to Canadian culture, to the French language and to Quebec culture. That is why investments in the cultural sector have never been higher in Canada's history. We are going to strengthen these investments, but specific taxes that impact affordability for Canadians will not be necessary.

Mr. Speaker, the Americans are the ones who failed. They failed in their attempts to place restrictions on the French language and on Canadian culture. We protected the French language and Canadian culture, and we will continue to promote them.