QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Cost of Fuel
October 17, 2022
My question is for the government leader. Canadians who use natural gas or electricity to heat their homes can expect their bills to rise between 50% to 100%, on average, this winter. Some consumers could see their bills rise by as much as 300%. While the war in Europe and seasonal demand are two of the factors driving up costs, so, too, are inflation and increases in the federal carbon tax.
Leader, with respect to the latter, will the government ensure Canadians will be warm this winter and freeze their tax hike?
Thank you for your question. As I have said many times, as is well known to the chamber and to all Canadians, putting a price on pollution is a central component of any rational, efficient and effective plan to tackle climate change, and it is one of the elements in this government’s plan to do so.
As we know, and we’ve said many times in this chamber, the tax on pollution to those provinces that do not have a credible plan of their own results in money being returned, in large measure, to those families who have to pay it. Under the plan that’s in place, the majority of families in those jurisdictions where the federal price on pollution is present will actually receive more money than they pay.
The answer to your question is, no, the government does not have plans to cancel or freeze its price on pollution.
While Canadians will struggle to heat their homes, the impact of rising fuel costs and, by extension, food prices in Indigenous communities will be staggering. Food prices in remote Indigenous communities are already up to 2.5 times higher than the national average, and rising fuel prices will compound inflation’s toll on Indigenous families. While the minister monitors the situation, Indigenous families will have to get by with less food and heat this winter.
Senator Gold, what plans does the government have to address the increased pressure facing Indigenous communities this winter?
Thank you for your question and for underlining the real impact the increase in prices generally is having on all Canadians, especially those in more vulnerable situations, whether Indigenous or remote communities, those who rely upon the provision of basic necessities by boat or by long chains of supply.
The government has a suite of measures to help Canadians through this, including major investments with Indigenous communities and Indigenous partners. Included in these measures, of course, are measures that we’ll be debating later today and, indeed, which will also form part of a bill that we expect to receive later this month dealing with affordability issues.
The Canadian government is committed to, and engaged in, helping Canadians get through this difficult period.
