Singh announces NDP’s rejection of Liberal carbon tax, will unveil alternative proposal

September 12, 2024 TruthUSA

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has indicated that his party will oppose the Liberal government’s carbon tax, stating that the current system is costly for Canadians. He mentioned that the NDP will unveil its own climate change policies.

“We want to address the climate crisis in a way that does not burden working people and holds major polluters accountable,” Singh explained to reporters on Sept. 12 after a series of caucus meetings. “We have been crafting a plan to achieve this goal and will release our vision for a stronger approach in the upcoming months.”

When asked about the consumer carbon tax, Singh declined to confirm its continuation, emphasizing the need for a fair system that protects working individuals, targets major polluters, and reduces emissions.

The federal carbon tax, touted by the Liberals as a means to combat climate change, has faced criticism. The Conservatives argue that it exacerbates the cost-of-living crisis by raising prices for essential goods like food, fuel, and heating.

The federal carbon tax recently rose to $80 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions and is projected to reach $170 by 2030. A Leger survey from earlier this year reported that 69% of respondents did not support the Liberal plan to increase carbon pricing in April.

Following the tax increase, Singh criticized the federal government’s carbon tax plan as unjust, alleging favoritism towards oil and gas companies.

On April 10, a non-binding Conservative motion, supported by the NDP and Bloc Québécois, called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to engage with provincial leaders regarding the carbon tax hike.

End of Supply and Confidence Agreement

Singh also criticized the Liberal carbon tax, describing it as divisive and disadvantageous to certain regions at the expense of others. He voiced opposition to the preferential treatment provided to Atlantic provinces by the government, citing the need for fair policies that benefit all regions.

In October 2023, Trudeau announced a temporary pause on the heating oil carbon tax to facilitate a transition to electric heating pumps. Liberal MPs from Atlantic provinces raised concerns about the impact of the tax on their constituents, while other provinces sought similar exemptions for various heating fuels, a request that the federal government rejected.

Last week, Singh announced the NDP’s withdrawal from the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals signed in 2022. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has indicated plans to table a non-confidence motion when the House of Commons reconvenes on Sept. 16.

Following the NDP’s exit from the agreement, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet stated that his party now has more influence in Parliament and will seek concessions from the Liberals in exchange for support on key votes.

Blanchet affirmed on Sept. 10 that while he does not aim to maintain the Liberal government, he opposes a Conservative administration. He emphasized the need for a confidence motion aligned with Quebec’s interests, excluding mandates like the carbon tax.

The Conservatives, currently leading in polls, have made opposition to the carbon tax a focal point of their campaign.

Source link