Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says he’s been having conversations with a number of senators to explain his government’s position on a bill that would grant further carbon tax exemptions to farmers.
But he told reporters on Nov. 14 that those efforts do not amount to “lobbying.”
“It was more of a conversation than a lobbying effort on my part,” said Mr. Guilbeault.
The environment minister said he has engaged with around “half a dozen” senators over the last two weeks on the matter of Bill C-234, a private member’s bill sponsored by Conservative MP Ben Lobb.
The bill would grant an exemption to farmers where the carbon tax is applied to propane and natural gas for agricultural purposes such as heating barns or drying grain. The piece of legislation is at the very last stage in the Senate before becoming law, only needing to pass third reading before receiving royal assent.
Mr. Guilbeault was asked by reporters about his efforts with the Senate the day after Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said the Liberal government was very active in having the bill killed in the Upper Chamber.
“We now know that Justin Trudeau’s top ministers have been frantically calling senators, begging them to block this bill,” said Mr. Poilievre on Nov. 13.
The Tory leader announced at the same time his party would launch a “full-on campaign” to press “Liberal senators” to adopt the bill. Conservatives say that lifting the carbon tax on farmers will help reduce food inflation amid the affordability crisis.
Mr. Guilbeault remarked that there are only a handful of Liberal senators, with his government appointing independent senators since 2015.
“I’ve had conversations with some of them to explain our position and why we don’t support that bill, but this is what they’ve been—they’ve been conversations,” he said.
Bill C-234 passed the House of Commons with support from the Bloc Québécois, the NDP, and three Liberal MPs from Atlantic ridings.
On Oct. 26, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he was implementing a three-year carbon tax pause on home heating oil, which is predominantly used in the Atlantic provinces. The move came after lobbying from Liberal MPs from that region.
Soon after, Mr. Guilbeault said there would be no additional exemptions as long as he’s environment minister. This prompted Mr. Poilievre to ask whether Mr. Guilbeault would resign if Bill C-234 is adopted in the Senate.
“That message to Justin Trudeau is very clear. He’s gonna have a cabinet resignation if this bill C-234 passes the Senate. So what’s going to happen? Well, the pressure is on,” he said.
