The sitting was dominated by second reading debate on the Canadian Fuel Affordability Act, the government's bill to extend the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax. The central political argument was not whether to pass it — every party signalled support — but who deserved credit and whether the relief went far enough. Conservatives argued the idea was theirs, repeatedly noting that earlier opposition motions to remove fuel taxes had been voted down by the Liberals, and pressed for all federal fuel taxes to be scrapped until at least Canada Day 2027. The Bloc Québécois and New Democrats supported sending the bill to committee while questioning whether a broad, untargeted tax cut was the best way to help those most in need, with the NDP calling for an excess profit tax on oil and gas to pay for it.
Bill C-38, the Canadian Fuel Affordability Act, would extend the suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel at zero until January 31, 2027, then apply half the regular rate from February 1 to March 31, 2027, before regular rates return. The government estimated the extension at roughly $2.9 billion in additional relief, for total relief of about $5.3 billion in 2026-27. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne (Liberal) framed it as immediate, targeted support for families, truckers, farmers and small business, part of a broader affordability package including the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, a middle-class tax cut and GST relief for first-time homebuyers. John Brassard (Conservative) and others recounted that the Liberals had previously dismissed identical Conservative motions as disinformation, while Tamara Jansen (Conservative) argued a deduction is useless to those who cannot afford the purchase and that relief should run through Canada Day. Jean-Denis Garon (Bloc Québécois) supported sending the bill to committee but criticized it as untargeted, noting gas prices have been roughly flat in real terms over 25 years while the top 80% of earners gained purchasing power, and warned against cutting short parliamentary study. Gord Johns (NDP) supported the relief but objected that it adds to the debt rather than being funded by record oil and gas profits. Elizabeth May (Green) supported the bill with misgivings, noting the excise tax has historically funded municipal transit and warning about climate costs. No amendment was adopted; the bill was to proceed to committee.
Oral Questions were consumed by affordability. Conservatives read out constituent stories about rent, groceries, fuel and debt, demanded the government adopt a Conservative economic action plan they said identified $150 billion in savings, and asked when the industrial carbon tax and clean fuel standard would be scrapped. The government's answers pointed to the fuel tax suspension, the groceries and essentials benefit, the middle-class tax cut, the national school food program, dental care and housing measures, and repeatedly challenged Conservatives to explain why they had voted against those programs. A second cluster of exchanges covered crime and justice, with Conservatives citing auto theft and high-risk offender releases and the government pointing to bail and sentencing legislation and falling statistics, plus forestry mill closures in New Brunswick, housing starts, immigration enforcement, culture funding and labour rights.