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Trudeau says N.L. premier bowing to political pressure over carbon tax increase
Trudeau said that meant fighting climate change and spurring technological innovation. He said the carbon tax rebate was financially beneficial for roughly eight in 10 Canadians. (File Photo: Justin Trudeau/Facebook)
Furey, a Liberal premier, called this week for carbon tax increase to be delayed
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey’s call to delay the carbon tax is a sign he is caving to political pressure.
I think Mr. Furey is continuing to bow to political pressure,
Trudeau said in response to a question about Furey’s stance during an event in Montreal on Friday morning. I think Canadians in Newfoundland and Labrador and right across the country expect their governments to do the right thing.
Trudeau said that meant fighting climate change and spurring technological innovation. He said the carbon tax rebate was financially beneficial for roughly eight in 10 Canadians.
It’s basic math,
he said.
The remarks Wednesday mark another scuffle in the war of words (new window) between the two Liberal compatriots, which began when Furey shared an open letter Tuesday calling for a planned carbon tax increase on April 1 to be delayed. Furey is the only remaining Liberal provincial premier.
The federal carbon tax will increase from $65 per tonne to $80 on April 1, a roughly 25 per cent increase.
Trudeau has faced pressure from provinces and territories — all of whom use at least part of the federal tax system, except for B.C., Quebec and N.W.T. — to delay the planned increase.
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Taking away the price on pollution, or levelling it off where it is, would actually mean less money in the pockets of eight out of 10 Canadians in the jurisdictions where it’s imposed, which doesn’t make sense,
Trudeau said Wednesday.
Premier Furey’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The carbon tax has been perhaps the most prominent focus of the Conservative critique of the sitting government, with Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre regularly calling for the policy to be scrapped during Axe the Tax
rallies across the country.
Christian Paas-Lang · CBC News
This article is republished from RCI.
