The Conservative Canadian opposition party on Thursday withdrew its resistance to carbon prices and adopted the tax on emissions and fuels as part of its own climate plan, a move it could face some of its most firm supporters.
Climate change has proven to be a thorny issue for the Conservative party led by Erin O’Toole. Most Conservative delegates voted against recognizing climate change as a real threat at a political convention last month.
“We will eliminate the carbon tax (Liberal Prime Minister) from Justin Trudeau to working Canadians,” O’Toole said at the convention, though he noted that the party “fought and lost two elections against a tax on carbon “.
O’Toole said his own plan was better than the liberal’s. The price of carbon imposes fees for the use of carbon-based fuels such as oil, either through emission charges or in addition to the price of gasoline and other fuels.
Trudeau’s national carbon price is expected to increase to $ 170,000 a tonne by 2030, although 90% will be returned to Canadian taxpayers through bonuses. Conservatives would limit prices to C $ 50 per tonne for taxpayers, who would pay the tax in a government savings account and could use the money to make “green” purchases like bicycles.
A number of provinces, including the Alberta Conservative Party’s energy core and stronghold, oppose the carbon price and challenged the government’s scheme in the Supreme Court. Last month, the court upheld Trudeau’s plan. Read more
“Any new climate plan … must minimize the costs to Alberta and our industries exposed to trade and, at the same time, continue to responsibly reduce Alberta’s emissions,” said Alberta’s environment minister. , Jason Nixon.
O’Toole said a Conservative government would fulfill Canada’s international commitment to reduce emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, and match the promised greenhouse gas reductions in the liberal climate plan.
“It’s outrageous that O’Toole is planning to attack Canadians with higher fuel bills through his own carbon tax,” said Franco Terrazzano, Alberta director of the Canadian Federation of Taxpayers.
Many privileged Liberals expect Trudeau to seek elections later this year. Trudeau Liberals lead O’Toole Conservatives between 37% and 29%, according to an Abacus Data poll released Thursday.
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