NDP urging the government to defend Canadians getting gouged at the pumps instead of helping big oil companies profit

OTTAWA – As the price of gas reached over two dollars per litre in most parts of the country today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is urging the Liberal government to help Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living. While Canadians are getting gouged at the pumps, big oil and gas companies are making record profits. In a Parliamentary motion, Singh is calling on the Liberals to stop giving billions of dollars of public money to oil and gas companies and reinvest those funds in renewable energy and solutions that make life more affordable for Canadians.

“Canadians have been through a lot in the last two years of the pandemic. They’ve been isolated from their loved ones and now, the price of gas is so high people are cancelling the trips they had planned to see their family and friends because they simply can’t afford the trip,” said Singh. “While people are making these sacrifices, oil and gas companies like Suncor and Cenovus are making record profits. Instead of helping Canadian families with the cost of living, the government continues to give billions of dollars in subsidies to oil and gas companies who are already making a fortune. It makes no sense. New Democrats are calling on the government to stop helping to maximize corporate profits and start defending Canadian families.”

The NDP is calling on the government to cancel all fossil fuel subsidies by the end of this year – including the new Carbon Capture Tax Credit – and reinvest this money to help Canadians struggling with the extremely high cost of living and in renewable energy.

In order to help people make ends meet, New Democrats have proposed that the government double the GST tax credit and increase the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for all recipients by $500. This would mean middle-class and low-income Canadians would get between $500 and $1000 to help them pay their bills. With these NDP proposals, at least 40 per cent of Canadians would get money back in their pockets to help with their growing expenses.

“When times are tough, Canadian families pay the price. We think that’s wrong. The government can stop handing over Canadians’ money to companies who are gouging people to maximize their profits and reinvest that money in helping families,” said Singh. “Tomorrow, the Liberals and Conservatives have a choice – they can shovel more of your money to big oil and gas companies making massive profits, or they can support the NDP’s plan to get you and your family the help you need.”