Madam Speaker, we know that the cost of living in Canada has never been higher. Life has become unaffordable for far too many Canadians, and this historic cost of living crisis is not by chance. It is a direct result of the NDP-Liberal government's inflationary taxes and reckless spending.

The Liberals' costly and punishing carbon tax is significantly adding to the cost of gas, groceries, home heating and all basic necessities. Their failed carbon tax is pushing Canadians to the brink. The NDP-Liberals are still hell-bent on making things worse for Canadians. The NDP-Liberals' plan to quadruple the carbon tax by 2030 is only going to further drive the cost of everything up.

While the Liberals dive deeper and deeper into the pockets of hard-working Canadians, they have the audacity to stand in this place and tell Canadians over and over again that they are making them richer with the carbon tax. This is simply not true and Canadians know that this is not true. Parents who are skipping meals or who are lined up at food banks know that it is not true. Canadians who are living at unsafe or uncomfortable temperatures to save on energy costs know that it is not true. Seniors who are reportedly going without medicine to keep their heat on certainly know that it is not true.

No matter how many times the NDP-Liberals tell Canadians they are putting more money in their pockets, Canadians know the realities of the bills that they are facing. The NDP-Liberals may want to turn a blind eye to the suffering they are causing Canadians, but the numbers will not let them. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has once again confirmed that the NDP-Liberal carbon tax is impoverishing Canadians. The PBO's latest report on the carbon tax proves this and it proves it using the NDP-Liberals' own numbers.

Of course, we all recall that these were the numbers that they desperately tried to hide. The NDP-Liberals literally tried to silence the Parliamentary Budget Officer from exposing the truth about the impact of their carbon tax with a gag order. That is the length the Prime Minister is willing to go to in his effort to hide the fact that his carbon tax is nothing more than an expensive scam.

Despite what the NDP-Liberal government members say, the indisputable truth is that the carbon tax is making most Canadians poorer. The PBO has confirmed that Canadians will suffer a net cost, and that Canadians are paying more in the carbon tax than they will ever get back in rebates. In Saskatchewan, that is about $894 more for the average person.

It is absolutely shameful that Canadian families who are already struggling to make ends meet are facing additional financial pressures because of the costly coalition. In the midst of an ongoing affordability crisis, the NDP-Liberals hiked their carbon tax by 23% last spring, and they remain hell-bent on quadrupling it. Canadians are desperate for some relief.

The reality is Canadians need help now. The Liberals and their NDP partners just do not get it. Conservatives would restore the Canadian promise that hard work is rewarded so that families do not have to decide between keeping a roof over their heads or putting food on the table. It is time for a carbon tax election so that common-sense Conservatives can offer Canadians some much-needed relief.

Rosemarie Falk

$489,664.00