The federal New Democrats backed Conservative demands Wednesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take part in a televised "emergency meeting" on carbon pricing with Canada's premiers.
The federal carbon price is not the "be-all, end-all" of climate policy and New Democrats are open to alternative plans presented by premiers, NDP environment critic Laurel Collins said Wednesday.
Collins accused the Liberal government of using climate as a political wedge issue, and that a meeting would help unite Canadians and spark new ideas.
"We need to bring Canadians together to fight the climate emergency, to tackle the cost of living crisis, and we need a government that will support them," Collins said.
The New Democrats backed a non-binding Conservative motion demanding that Trudeau sit down with provincial and territorial leaders within five weeks.
The motion passed Wednesday in the House of Commons with the support of both the New Democrats and the Bloc Québécois. Liberal MPs opposed it.
"Trudeau has a responsibility to listen to Canada's premiers about the misery his carbon tax is causing Canadians," the Conservative party said in a statement on Wednesday following the vote.
"In this meeting, he must also allow provinces to opt out of the federal carbon tax and pursue other responsible ideas for lowering emissions without taxes."
The Conservatives insist that the carbon price is making life less affordable for Canadians, while the Liberals insist their carbon price rebates mean most Canadians actually end up with more money at the end of the day.
Trudeau has so far spurned requests for a face-to-face meeting from six different premiers, including in Ontario, Western Canada and the Atlantic provinces.
Trudeau has said he believes premiers would rather complain and "make political hay" out of his federal carbon pricing program than present an alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2024.
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NDP environment critic Laurel
NDP environment critic Laurel Collins: "'We need to bring Canadians together to fight the climate emergency, to tackle the cost of living crisis, and we need a government that will support them.'
"The Conservatives insist that the carbon price is making life less affordable for Canadians, while the Liberals insist their carbon price rebates mean most Canadians actually end up with more money at the end of the day."
A fact that somehow escapes the NDP.
Very disappointing to see them back the Conservatives in undermining and unwinding climate policy. The carbon levy with rebate is a progressive policy that puts more $$$ in the pockets of 80% of households.
"The federal carbon price is not the 'be-all, end-all' of climate policy"
Who said it was? Carbon pricing is one tool in the toolbox. An essential tool, but not the only one. To reduce emissions on time, we need to use all the best tools in the toolbox.
"Collins accused the Liberal government of using climate as a political wedge issue"
Or the NDP is trying to score political points off the Liberals, with the Conservatives making a play for working class voters.
Rather than defend sensible climate policy that serves the interests of working-class families and communities, the NDP decide to pander to the anti-climate rabble, defer to public ignorance, and sacrifice climate policy for votes. With nothing on the table to replace it.
WTF, NPD?
With the Conservatives on the
With the Conservatives on the warpath against the carbon "tax", let us not forget or forgive the betrayal of this key climate policy by politicos on the centre-left.
Let the Conservatives attack the carbon tax. All sound and fury. But when progressive politicians join in, that spells its defeat.
All Alberta NDP leadership candidates have ruled out against a consumer carbon tax.
"Ontario Liberals rule out provincial carbon tax as part of 2026 election platform" (CBC, Mar 18, 2024)
"Leader Bonnie Crombie says she has an expert policy panel to lead consultations on party's climate platform"
"Manitoba premier says he'll take up PM's challenge to find carbon tax alternative" (CBC, Mar 31, 2024)
"Kinew says measures in this week's provincial budget will put Manitoba on path to net zero without federal tax"
"Trudeau says N.L. premier bowing to political pressure over carbon tax increase" (CBC, Mar 15, 2024)
"Andrew Furey, a Liberal, called this week for the carbon tax increase to be delayed"
When the conservatives go on the attack, carbon pricing can still stand as long as progressive politicians defend it.
It's when progressive politicians fail to defend carbon pricing that the roof caves in. For that, federal and provincial Liberal and provincial NDP politicians are to blame.
Now the federal NDP has gone over to the Dark Side of the Force.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
On climate, the federal Liberals and provincial NDP do far worse than nothing. They build pipelines, greenlight LNG projects, approve offshore oil projects — and insist we need to sell fossil fuels in order to transition away from fossil fuels. Worse, they abandon science and lead their followers over to the Dark Side. Putting a progressive stamp on petro-politics and implicit climate change denial.
When it comes to "climate villainy", right-wing politicians and climate change deniers are noisy but ineffective. When centre-left leaders join in, that's when the fire takes hold and spreads.
Enjoy your wildfires, folks.
P.S. Let Ms. Pargeter note that I am now criticizing the federal NDP, not just the federal Liberals, provincial NDP, and Conservatives.
When self-serving politicians and parties fail to serve the public interest, I will call them out on it, whatever their stripe.
Correction: That should be NDP in the last line.
What does NPD stand for? Narcissistic personality disorder — "a mental health condition that causes you to need admiration, attention or approval from others."
Sounds like political parties and politicians, all right.
I agree. The PM has not used
I agree. The PM has not used climate as a political wedge issue. It is Pierre Poilievre and some Conservative premiers, most notably Smith, Moe, Ford and Higgs, that have done this . It is extremely disappointing that the NDP have sided with the Conservatives who oppose all initiatives to address the climate crisis. The NDP should be attacking the Conservatives on this issue, not the Liberal government.
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