A motion calling on the federal government to reduce gas prices by about eight cents per litre across the country has been shot down by the new Liberal and NDP partnership.
Abbotsford MP Ed Fast introduced the motion to parliament on March 23, which called on Ottawa to introduce a temporary 5 per cent reduction on gasoline and diesel prices, helping to reduce Canada’s average fuel price by about eight cents per litre.
Fast notes the federal government continues to collect 5 per cent on fuel prices through GST, HST and QST in Quebec, which as fuel prices rise, only compounds the severe hardships and pain on Canadian consumers.
But during the March 23 vote, even with support from every single federal Conservative MP, the motion was shot down 115 to 209, as it didn’t receive support from any other party.
“It was disappointing to see this was put down,” said Kenora MP Eric Melillo, in an interview with the Q Morning Show on March 25.
“We know that with the ever-rising inflation, those in northwestern Ontario are feeling it even more than other regions in the country. It’s quite important to me. Addressing the cost of living crisis has to be one of our top priorities right now.”
Statistic Canada’s Consumer Price Index report from February 2022 says Canadians paid 32 per cent more at the pump last month compared to February of 2021, with a nearly 7 per cent month-to-month price increase from January 2022 to now.
RBC Economics estimates that higher oil prices could cost Canadian households about $600 more per year, or $10 billion overall, to buy the same amount of gasoline as last year.
GasBuddy says Canadian gas prices are up an average of 55 cents per litre compared to 2021. The Kenora region’s prices remain at 181.9, exactly 10 cents above the provincial average.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal Liberals struck a ‘Supply and Confidence’ deal with the federal NDP to govern until 2025. Those type of deals are when one party agrees to support another party in confidence votes, in exchange for progress on key issues. Key priorities for the NDP could include national pharmacare and dental plans.