Poilievre calls for federal taxes on diesel to be removed

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for the removal of all federal taxes on diesel and for measures to ensure a reliable domestic supply of the fuel.

Speaking at a news conference Sunday at a gas station in suburban Ottawa, Poilievre said Canada produces enough diesel to meet domestic demand but that transportation barriers have left some provinces dependent on imports from the United States.

Poilievre proposed extending the exemption from the federal fuel excise tax on diesel until July 1 next year. He also called for the elimination of other federal taxes on diesel, including the GST.

He said higher fuel costs for farmers and truck drivers ultimately put additional pressure on consumers. Poilievre questioned why Canada was not making greater use of its own oil and argued that the country should be more energy self-sufficient.

Poilievre also called for the permanent repeal of the federal industrial carbon tax and the Clean Fuel Standard. He argued that the measures discourage new refinery investment in diesel production.