(Ottawa) Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre challenges Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to defend his carbon pricing policy during a televised “emergency meeting” with the premiers of the provinces and territories.
The Conservatives tabled a motion in the Commons on Tuesday morning demanding that Mr. Trudeau sit down with his counterparts within five weeks. MPs are expected to vote on the Conservative motion on Wednesday.
Mr. Poilievre believes that Prime Minister Trudeau is “too afraid” to hold this televised meeting because he knows that the Liberal government is losing the debate in the country on carbon pricing.
“Trudeau is hiding,” Mr. Poilievre said Tuesday. There is going to be an election for a carbon tax, and whether Trudeau hides from me or not, he will have to face me in an election for a carbon tax. »
The Conservatives insist that this carbon price makes life less affordable for Canadians. The Liberals, for their part, argue that thanks to federal rebates paid to households, most Canadians end up with more money in the end.
Liberal MP Adam van Koeverden responded to Mr. Poilievre’s motion in the Commons by calling him an “oil puppet” who campaigns for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and oil and gas companies.
The Bloc Québécois said it was exasperated by another day spent in the “Conservative fiscal bubble,” accusing the opposition of spreading “crazy” lies about this policy.
Danielle Smith is among several premiers – including those of Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador – who want a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Trudeau to discuss this environmental measure.
Mr. Trudeau has until now always rejected their requests. He argued last week that provincial premiers preferred to complain and “take political advantage” of the federal carbon pricing program rather than present acceptable alternatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says it’s difficult to have a conversation with prime ministers who have no plan to tackle climate change.
The New Democrats, for their part, accuse the Liberals of considering carbon pricing as the “ultimate solution” to climate policy. “While the Leader of the Opposition wants to ignore the climate crisis, the Prime Minister wants to use it to divide Canadians,” said NDP MP Laurel Collins.
“He does not see the fight against the climate crisis as an opportunity to unite people, to confront this existential crisis. Instead, he uses it as divisive politics. »