It is time to Protect Canadians from Gouging and Ensure Fair Pricing

 

Mr. Brian Masse (Windsor West, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Canada’s inflation rate rose 2% in January, the highest rate increase in more than two years. Gas prices were the biggest contributor to this raise. Even the Bank of Canada has noted that falling oil prices have not been matched by lower prices at the pump.

The government has a role in preventing price fixing and collusion, so will the Liberals agree with our proposal for an oil and gas price ombudsman and a petroleum monitoring agency like they had before so we can finally end this gouging at the pumps?

 

Hon. Navdeep Bains (Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, this is a concern that during the campaign we were knocking on doors and we heard from different constituents. I look forward to working with the member opposite in finding a solution to make sure that consumers are not being gouged, that we make sure that we have a fair process, a competitive process, that consumers have good choices to make and I look forward to finding a solution with the member opposite.