I’m going to bring some more good news for the residents of Richmond Hill this morning: Our government is actually trying to make life more affordable for people by reducing the cost of gasoline by 10.7 cents a litre.

Unfortunately, I do have to deliver some bad news, but it’s not because of anything our government is doing. If you heard the organization this morning, Canadians for Affordable Energy, on news, on TV and radio this morning, they’re talking about a 14-cent jump at the pumps tonight.

Part of this is because of the federal carbon tax that increased a couple of weeks ago—a carbon tax that Justin Trudeau, when he had the opportunity to hit the pause button or take it off of the cost of living in Ontario, decided, “No, I’m going to increase it by a whopping 23%.” So, tonight, we’re going to see the price of gas go to a buck 80—a buck 80, on average, across the province. And the teeny, tiny Liberal caucus here is more than happy to support Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax—

Yesterday, the federal Liberals up on Parliament Hill had an opportunity in their budget to provide some relief for the people of Ontario, and they didn’t provide any relief. And now, as a result, tonight, we’re seeing the price of gas increase by 14 cents a litre to a buck 80. It would be a buck 90 if we weren’t taking 10.7 cents a litre, approaching $2 a litre, but that’s what Justin Trudeau and that’s what the queen of the carbon tax, Bonnie Crombie, want to do. They want to make the price of gas more expensive. That’s why they’re putting this federal carbon tax on there, and the queen of the carbon tax is happy to have that federal tax in place.

It’s unacceptable for people who are living in an affordability crisis in Ontario and across the country to have this punitive carbon tax in place. Do what we’re doing: Try and make life more affordable for the people of Ontario.

My question is for the Minister of Energy, who is always bringing good news to my residents in Richmond Hill.

I wish the federal government could also bring good news to us by scrapping the carbon tax. The carbon tax is making life more expensive for everyone. Residents in my riding of Richmond Hill have raised concerns over the high cost of groceries and gas. They want the federal government to scrap the carbon tax. Unfortunately, their plea fell on deaf ears.

What’s worse is that, under the leadership of carbon tax queen Bonnie Crombie, the independent Liberals continue to endorse this terrible tax. While they choose to ignore the hardships Ontarians continue to face as a result of the carbon tax, our government is fighting for the people.

Speaker, can the minister please tell the House how our government is supporting Ontarians and making life more affordable?

We know it’s really bad news as we go to the pumps. Experts, provincial governments and Ontarians have been clear: The carbon tax is making life more and more unaffordable. Families and businesses feel the burden on their energy bills every month.

Unfortunately, the Liberals are not listening, and they do not care. Earlier this month, they went ahead with a 23% hike on the carbon tax. Speaker, that is ludicrous. The last thing Ontarians need is another tax hike. The carbon tax must be scrapped.

Can the minister please explain why people and businesses in Ontario cannot afford the Liberal carbon tax?