Honourable senators, my question is also for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

I recently asked you, leader, a question concerning high gas prices across our country and particularly in my home province of British Columbia. Angus Reid recently found that 44 per cent of Canadians say rising gas prices have made it harder for them to afford necessities. For those who are already struggling to afford gas, that number rises to 86 per cent.

Carbon taxes and a lack of pipeline capacity combined have sent gas prices to record levels, making life less affordable for middle-class Canadians and, in fact, many other Canadians.

Gas prices in B.C. are so high that many Canadians are driving to the U.S. to fill up their tanks where gas is about $0.50 cheaper per litre. When will this government recognize that its policies are failing Canadians?

That’s a whole separate debate, senator, but the fact is that it seems this government is always looking for new ways to tax Canadian families. The Prime Minister’s carbon tax is but one example. This government previously floated taxing health and dental benefits. It attempted to tax the employee discounts of retail and restaurant workers. It took away tax credits for Type 1 diabetics and brought in an escalator tax on alcohol. We’re left to question: What next?

We know that taxing is a pattern that this government has shown us. Honourable senator, instead of lowering the tax burden, why is this government making life so much more expensive for the middle class?