Ottawa, ON – Prime Minister Mark Carney said that “a country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options.” Yet today, Mr. Carney and his Liberal MPs voted against the Conservatives’ Emergency Fuel Relief Plan that would have cut diesel taxes and boosted fuel production to save Canadians money.

Diesel is not a luxury. It powers the tractors that grow our food, the trucks and trains that deliver it, the fishing boats that harvest it and the equipment that keeps our economy moving. These costs are passed to the grocery store and kitchen table. As winter approaches, families are wondering how much more it will cost to heat their homes.

The Liberals’ vote comes as Canadians prepare for a more expensive Thanksgiving weekend. New reporting shows that a Thanksgiving turkey dinner for four people will cost 10 per cent more than last year. 

Global conflicts affect fuel prices, but do not explain why Canadians pay roughly 26 cents more per litre for diesel than Americans and 23 cents more than the world average, all measured in Canadian dollars. Canadian diesel prices are now roughly 70 per cent higher than they were one year ago. 

Canada has the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves, incredible skilled workers and abundant natural resources. We should be able to fuel ourselves and the world.

That is why Conservatives introduced an Emergency Fuel Relief Plan to cut taxes now while getting the refineries, pipelines and storage built to get our diesel to market at home and abroad. The Conservative motion called on the Liberals to lower diesel costs, expand fuel production and reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States. 

The choice was simple: save Canadians money today and fuel ourselves tomorrow. Prime Minister Carney and the Liberals voted no. 

Instead of working with Conservatives to cut costs and fuel ourselves with Canadian energy, Mr. Carney voted for the same taxes, barriers and delays that leave Canadians paying more.

Canadians should be able to earn a good living, raise a family and build a future with confidence. Conservatives will never stop fighting to restore that promise: lower fuel bills, bigger paycheques and an affordable, self-reliant Canada.