Two Liberal ministers invite NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to briefing on carbon pricing.
In a letter to Mr. Singh on Friday, Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault and Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said it was very unfortunate that the NDP had been fooled by the Conservatives’ so-called “disinformation campaign” on climate policy. said.
“Your position on carbon pricing puts middle-class Canadians at the biggest cost. Not only will they bear the brunt of the costs when a climate disaster occurs, they will also lose out on Canada’s carbon rebate payments. ”, the ministers wrote, referring to the views of the family. We rely on those rebates to help us with our living expenses.
“To help you better understand the positive impact of carbon pricing, we would like to invite you to a briefing on carbon pricing.”
Mr. Singh responded with a letter attacking Mr. Guilbeault’s record.
“There are no lessons to be learned from you about fighting the climate crisis, because your history is one of breaking promises, watering down policies, and capitulating to oil and gas lobbyists,” he wrote. .
“Sure, Pierre Poièvre is lying about the cost of pollution and about federal kickbacks, but you’re also pitting communities and regions across the country against each other and using your loopholes,” he told Guilbeault. Because of this, we are allowing the biggest polluters to escape.”
B.C. NDP Premier David Eby is promising to scrap the provincial carbon tax if Ottawa drops its mandate, as the federal NDP signals a complete rethink of its carbon tax plan. .
At the NDP caucus retreat earlier this month, Singh indicated his party would not commit to maintaining a consumer carbon price if it forms government.
Singh criticized both the Liberals and Conservatives over their efforts to combat climate change, saying the NDP “doesn’t want to put the burden on workers.”
The NDP leader did not offer alternative policies to reduce emissions, but said his party is working on a climate change plan that would make big polluters pay for it instead.
The NDP’s focus on consumer carbon pricing comes as the Conservatives seek an early election framed as a referendum on the Liberals’ climate policy.
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poièvre has vowed to “abolish” the carbon tax on consumers, saying it worsens affordability.
Congressional budget officials estimate that eight out of 10 households in jurisdictions with federal backstops receive more in rebates than they pay in carbon pricing.
