Freeland and Gould unveil their carbon tax stances in Liberal leadership race
Liberal leadership contenders Karina Gould and Chrystia Freeland are distancing themselves from the Liberal government’s current consumer carbon tax model.
Government House leader Karina Gould, the only current cabinet minister to run in the contest, said climate change is one of Canada’s most pressing issues but that many Canadians feel the price on pollution doesn’t reflect how they can contribute or make a difference.
A woman gasses up at a gas station in Mississauga, Ont., on Feb. 13, 2024. The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov
Speaking at her campaign launch press conference in Burlington, Ont., on Jan. 19, Gould added that she would stop the scheduled carbon tax hike in April, and put the focus on the industrial sector.
“I will immediately cancel the increase in the price on pollution on April the first, and I will have programs to help Canadians make the choices they want to make—choices that can be too costly right now,” Gould said.
“At the same time, industry needs to play its part,” she added. “We need to make big polluters pay, and we need to ensure that we have a comprehensive national plan to fight climate change.”
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