Conservatives Demand Government Spending Limits, End of Carbon Tax Ahead of Budget Release

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre gives remarks during a press conference in Mississauga, Ont., April 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has released his party’s demands ahead of the April 16 federal budget announcement, asking for the abolition of the carbon tax, the adoption of a Tory motion on housing, and a cap on government spending.

“These are common sense demands, and if we don’t get them we won’t support the budget,” Mr. Poilievre said during a press conference on April 7.

The Conservative leader said his party was calling on the Liberals to “reverse the policies that have destroyed the middle and working-class people” in the upcoming budget. His first demand was to pass Tory Bill C-234, which would exempt farm fuel from the federal carbon tax for grain drying and barn heating.

Mr. Poilievre also called on the Liberals to require cities to permit 15 percent more housing competition each year as a condition of receiving federal dollars, and that they curb spending by finding one new dollar of savings for every new dollar of spending. Both policies have been previously floated by Mr. Poilievre.

Poilievre also called for the prime minister to agree to meet with provincial premiers to discuss the federal carbon tax, which seven premiers have opposed. Mr. Trudeau has stood by the policy, and previously said that if premiers were opposed to the tax they could propose alternate plans to lower carbon emissions.

“If Justin Trudeau is so sure of his plan to quadruple the carbon tax to 61 cents a litre, he should have the courage to sit down with our premiers and explain that to them,” Mr. Poilievre said.

The supply-and-confidence agreement the Liberals have with the NDP means the government will likely have enough support for its budget to pass without support from the Conservatives.

Pre-Budget Announcements

Ahead of budget day, Mr. Trudeau and several of his cabinet members have been making a series of announcements on upcoming initiatives related to affordability.

This has included several policies relating to housing and rental affordability, such as a new “bill of rights” for renters, another $15 billion in the upcoming budget for its Apartment Construction Loan Program, and $600 million in loans and funding to make it easier and cheaper to build homes.

During an announcement on $2.4 billion in additional funding for artificial intelligence on April 7, the prime minister took aim at Mr. Poilievre, saying he was promoting “austerity and cuts” and raising concerns among Canadians about government spending.