OTTAWA — The Carney government moved Thursday to formalize its promised suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline, tabling legislation in the House of Commons that would lift the tax for five months at an estimated cost of $2.4 billion to federal revenues.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne introduced the bill shortly after Question Period, framing it as direct affordability relief for Canadian households still grappling with elevated living costs. The measure, first announced Wednesday, would see the excise tax suspended from mid-April through Labour Day in early September.

Opposition parties offered mixed reactions. Conservative MPs, while broadly supportive of the tax cut's intent, pressed the government on whether the relief was sufficient and questioned whether the measure would meaningfully reduce pump prices or be absorbed by fuel distributors. NDP members expressed concern that the cut disproportionately benefits higher-income households who drive more frequently.

The government argued the legislation would deliver roughly $200 in savings over the five-month period for the average Canadian household that drives regularly. Officials said the Canada Revenue Agency had already begun coordinating with fuel distributors to ensure the reduction is passed on to consumers at the pump.

The bill is expected to pass with support from at least one opposition bloc, allowing it to clear the Commons before the long weekend. Parliamentary budget analysts said they would assess whether the $2.4 billion cost estimate accounts for potential behavioural changes in fuel consumption during the summer driving season.