If elected leader, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland would repeal the consumer carbon tax, one of the Liberal government’s signature environmental policies, a person close to her campaign said.
The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told CBC News that the former deputy prime minister is “making difficult decisions to meet emissions targets and make sure big polluters pay for their huge emissions.” I guess so.”
But the official said Freeland “will not fight Canadians based on policies that he clearly does not support.”
“Freeland will replace the consumer carbon price with a system that will work within the commonwealth and be developed in partnership with the states and territories,” the official said.
The news was first reported by CTV News.
Freeland has not yet officially announced his intention to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but officials say he will begin campaigning before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Monday. It’s planned.
Freeland said in a social media post Wednesday that she had “much more to say soon.”
Mr Freeland, a prominent Liberal Party member who has held several senior cabinet positions over the past eight years, is widely considered one of the frontrunners in the race for the next Liberal leadership on March 9. The winner becomes prime minister.
Mr Carney asks about carbon tax on US TV
The other front-runner in the race, former central bank governor Mark Carney, has remained mum about his plans for a carbon tax.
Currently appearing on daily show Earlier this week, Mr Carney was asked by host Jon Stewart whether being removed from the “carbon tax bag” would make it harder for him to face Tory leader Pierre Poièvre in the general election. .
Mr. Carney, who will officially launch his campaign in Edmonton on Thursday, said Canada is “doing our part to help businesses be more competitive.”
“But it has to be done in a way that Canadians today don’t pay the price,” he said, without defending the carbon tax or promising to maintain the policy.
A day after Mark Carney teased a run for Liberal leadership on The Daily Show, former B.C. Premier Christy Clark and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced they would not run.
“The majority of emissions in Canada come from our industry,” Carney added. “In fact, almost 30 per cent of emissions in Canada come from oil production and transportation to the United States.”
As part of Canada’s efforts to address climate change, Carney said, “More than changing the way Canadians live in the very short term, it’s important to clean up the climate and reduce emissions.” Ta.
The carbon tax, also known as the carbon price, went into effect in 2019 at $20 per tonne. Prices have risen steadily in the years since then, and are scheduled to increase by another $15 each year until 2030, reaching $170 per tonne.
The gradual increase is intended to act as an economic incentive for people and businesses to change their behavior to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and move to more environmentally friendly forms of energy.
Residents of states with a carbon tax will get their money back through a rebate program.
Poiivre has long opposed the policy, repeatedly calling on Trudeau to hold a “carbon tax” election.
The majority of the country’s prime ministers are also outspoken opponents of the federal government’s plan. Earlier this year, they called on Prime Minister Trudeau to pause or cancel the spring tax increase for consumers, citing concerns about the cost of living.
