Even if it was not “ideal”, the Liberal ministers are united, for the moment, behind the decision of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to grant an exemption to the “carbon tax” for three years on the purchase of fuel oil used for residential heating.
This is a “solution to reduce fuel oil costs for people who live mainly in rural regions” without giving up “fighting climate change,” argued the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, while closing the door to other exemptions.
“I’m not saying that the decision-making was ideal,” agreed Minister Marc Miller before participating in a cabinet meeting. “But, it was the reasonable thing to do,” he added.
Mr. Miller mentioned “the duty” of the federal government to revise the scope of government policy to regional “dynamics”, such as that which prevails in the eastern provinces where “a good proportion of people depend on the oil to heat their house and [ont] difficulty adapting” due to the rising cost of living.
“Everyone wants to fight climate change, but we face an affordability crisis. We must be able to adapt,” he stressed in a press scrum.
The elected official expects to have to answer questions like “Should we cut the gas tax?” Should we cut into [la taxe perçue à] those who heat with natural gas? »
For his part, Minister Randy Boissonnault took a dig at Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who is calling for an exemption from the “carbon tax” on all heating costs, including natural gas, failing which it will order the state-owned company SaskEnergy to stop collecting the federal tax. “It’s not legal,” he insisted.
The Canadian government has been “responsible” and “flexible” in granting a “carbon tax” break to oil furnace owners, including “an area of the country that simply has no alternatives” for heat your home without polluting… and without becoming poorer, continued Mr. Boissonnault.
Members of the Trudeau government will have “good discussions” on the carbon tax, said Minister Dan Vandal, while heading towards a meeting room in the West Block.
The member for Saint-Boniface — Saint-Vital was asked if Manitobans could benefit from an exemption from the “carbon tax” similar to that of three years on the purchase of oil used for residential heating announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and elected Liberals from the Atlantic last Thursday.
Further details will follow.