Conservative motion declaring an affordability crisis defeated in Parliament

A Conservative motion declaring Canada to be in an affordability crisis was defeated in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre brought the motion forward, and it was put to a vote shortly after question period ended. The motion received 153 votes in favour and 165 against.

It called on the House to “officially recognize that: (a) the Liberals have been in power for 11 years; and (b) Canada is in an affordability crisis.”

After the vote, the Conservatives said they would keep pressing to extend the federal fuel tax holiday until Canada Day 2027 and remove the GST from gasoline and diesel, among other measures. Conservative MP Sandra Cobena said Canadians need relief and that her party would fight to save them money, save jobs, reduce immigration and put Canadians first.

Statistics Canada released its latest consumer price index report on Monday. It said annual headline inflation rose to 3.1 per cent in September as the war in the Middle East continued to push up gasoline prices. Economists said easing core inflation suggests higher energy costs have not yet spread widely through the economy. Gasoline prices jumped 27.8 per cent last month compared with a year earlier, despite the switch to a less expensive winter gas blend. Excluding gasoline, consumer prices rose 2.2 per cent year over year in September, following a 2.4 per cent increase in August.