(Ottawa) Two Liberal ministers invite Jagmeet Singh to an information session on carbon pricing, in order to explain to the NDP leader “the positive effects” of this measure on the fight against climate change, which leaves more money in the pockets of households.
In a letter sent to Mr. Singh on Friday, the Minister of the Environment, Steven Guilbeault, and his colleague from Energy, Jonathan Wilkinson, say they are “very disappointed” that the New Democratic Party is allowing itself to be influenced by what they call the Conservatives’ “disinformation campaign” and “empty slogans” on carbon pricing.
PHOTO SPENCER COLBY, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault (left) and his Energy colleague Jonathan Wilkinson (center)
The Liberal ministers believe that Mr. Singh’s position “comes on the backs of middle-class Canadian families, who must deal with the majority of the costs in the event of a climate catastrophe, and who would no longer see the benefits and payments of the Canadian Carbon Rebate”. Ministers add that families rely on these refunds to help them pay their bills.
Mr. Singh responded in a letter attacking Mr. Guilbeault’s record.
“There are no lessons to be learned from you when it comes to tackling the climate crisis, because your record is one of broken promises, watered-down policies, and concessions to oil and gas lobbyists,” he wrote.
He added that “yes, Pierre Poilievre is lying about the price of pollution and the federal rebates, but you have also pitted communities and regions of the country against each other and your loopholes have allowed the biggest polluters to ‘get it cheap’.
At the NDP caucus retreat earlier this month in Montreal, Mr. Singh did not want to commit to maintaining this measure if he formed the government.
Mr. Singh criticized the Liberals and Conservatives for their respective approaches to fighting climate change, and explained that the NDP did not want to “put the burden on workers.”
The NDP leader did not propose another measure to reduce emissions; he said his party was working on a plan that would make big polluters pay instead.
The New Democratic reversal on consumer carbon pricing comes as the Conservatives are calling for a snap election, which they present as a referendum on the Liberals’ climate policy.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to “remove the tax” on carbon, an environmental measure that he says would be responsible for an increase in the cost of living.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated that eight out of ten households in the provinces and territories covered by the federal measure receive more money in rebates than they pay in consumer carbon pricing.