Conservative Poilievre and Provincial Leaders Intensify Fight Against Carbon Tax and Climate Policies During Unprecedented Cold Spell
As extreme cold temperatures hit a large part of Canada, including the Prairie provinces, the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre are ramping up their campaign against the federal carbon tax on home heating sources.
“They voted to quadruple the carbon tax on gas, heating, and groceries. Making you pay more,” he wrote. “Conservatives will take the tax off to keep the heat on.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also employed social media to criticize renewable energy sources, alongside a warning that the provincial grid system was “under stress.”
“When renewables are unreliable, as they are now, natural gas plants must increase capacity to keep Albertans warm and safe. Please stay safe.”
“Here’s what temperatures are going to be like across Canada tonight,” Mr. Moe said in the post.
“Remember on this cold winter’s night how Trudeau provided a carbon tax break on home heating oil, mainly for Atlantic Canada, but did nothing for all the other Canadians who will be using other heat sources to keep their homes and families safe and warm tonight.”
Mr. Trudeau’s Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault previously said he’s been working with Alberta on “clean electricity” options.
The ministers also said that “building a clean electricity grid” would provide a “massive economic opportunity” for Alberta.
Mr. Guilbeault has said that the carbon tax was implemented to avoid natural disasters caused by climate change.
Mr. Guilbeault said climate change is costing Canadians “tens of billions of dollars” and that there’s no “bumper sticker solution” to the issue. “We know that carbon pricing is one of the best ways to fight climate change.”
Mr. Trudeau’s government has said that having the carbon tax will encourage consumers and businesses to reduce their carbon use, and in turn, help reduce climate change and natural disasters.
Premiers Unite in Call to End Carbon Tax
The premiers of several provinces have joined together to call on the federal government to pause the carbon tax on all forms of home heating.
“By singling out Atlantic Canadians with this relief [on home heating oil], it has caused divisions across the country,” the premiers wrote.
“There will absolutely not be any other carve-outs or suspensions of the price on pollution,” he told reporters on Oct. 31. “This is designed to phase out heating oil.”
Mr. Moe has previously said that his government will not be collecting the carbon tax from Saskatchewan residents starting on Jan. 1, 2024.
Noé Chartier, Isaac Teo, and Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.