(Ottawa) The New Democratic Party (NDP) motion proposing to remove the federal sales tax – the GST – from all forms of residential heating was soundly defeated on Wednesday in the Commons.
Only the New Democrats, the Greens and an Ontario Liberal supported the motion while the other Liberals, Conservatives and Bloc members opposed it. In total, 30 deputies were in favor and 292 were against, according to the results announced in the House.
The motion had two other parts. It also called on the government to provide “free and easy” energy efficiency upgrades and heat pumps to “low-income and middle-class” Canadians, and to finance the measures with a tax on “excessive profits” from big oil companies. and gas.
During question period, New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh explained that his “plan” makes it possible to finance a reduction in the cost of heating and the fight against the climate crisis by passing the bill on to the oil companies.
At the same time, he warned that “the liberal-conservative coalition of CEOs” could well “strike again” to “protect the profits of big oil companies.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded that “millions of progressives” in the country were “deeply disappointed” that the NDP voted with the Conservatives on Monday “against the most successful measure to fight climate change (including) Canada ( be) endowed”.
This is because Wednesday’s vote comes two days after another motion relating to the cost of energy, from the Conservatives, was also defeated, despite the surprising support of the New Democrats.
It aimed to extend the suspension of federal carbon pricing to all forms of residential heating, not just fuel oil.
Since then, the Conservatives have increased attacks against the Bloc Québécois – which opposed their motion – and accuse “the separatists” of having formed a “coalition” to keep the Liberal government in power for two years, which they deny. the leaders of the two political parties.
At the end of the exchanges, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, laughed at the fact that it is “almost tragic and heartbreaking to see these two bickering like this”.
“The Prime Minister was very disappointed by the NDP leader’s about-face on the carbon tax for heating. But the good news for the Prime Minister is that the leader of the NDP has turned around and now supports the Prime Minister’s plan to quadruple the tax,” he sent.