Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings says the Atlantic caucus was vocal with what they’ve heard from their constituents over the summer.
The federal rural economic development minister says if the provinces in Western Canada want to have more input into the federal government’s carbon policies, they should elect more Liberal MPs like Atlantic Canada.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Oct. 26
announced a three-year pause, beginning Nov. 9, on the carbon tax on heating oil in all jurisdictions where the federal charge on fossil fuels is in effect.
He said the federal government will also work with the provinces and territories to help make it easier for households to switch from an oil furnace to an electric heat pump. The new measures, targeting low- to median-income households, will be piloted first in Atlantic Canada, where
30 percent of homeowners still use oil for heating. In provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, most households use natural gas.
The PM also
said the government would raise the carbon tax rebate from 10 percent to 20 percent of the baseline amount starting in April 2024 for rural households.
Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, during an
appearance on CTV’s Question Period on Oct. 28, said the cut was made after “listening to people over the summer.”
“I can tell you Atlantic caucus was vocal with what they’ve heard from their constituents. And perhaps they need to elect more Liberals on the Prairies so that we can have that conversation as well,”
said Ms. Hutchings.
According to Statistics Canada, the Atlantic provinces are the biggest
users of heating oil, with Prince Edward Island having 40 percent of its heating fuel coming from oil. Nova Scotia came second, at 32 percent, while Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick are at 18 percent and 7 percent respectively.
Ms. Hutchings’s comments did not sit well with the Prairie provinces and the Conservatives.
Alberta, Sask. Premiers Speak Out
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called for “an
end to the failed carbon tax and the burden it places on each of us and our families.”
She said “the federal government has decided that one area of Canada using one type of home heating is worthy of a carbon tax break,” while those living elsewhere using other types of heating are not. Natural gas is the primary type of heating fuel used the Prairie provinces, British Columbia, and Ontario, for example.
“After telling Canadians for years that rebates covered the costs of the carbon tax for every day consumers, the Feds now admit with this one-region-one-fuel-type-only tax break, this claim is not true,” Ms. Smith said.
“You heard them. The carbon tax isn’t about reducing emissions, it’s punishment for not voting Liberal. There are no words to describe how absurd and damaging this is to our confederation,”
added Ms. Smith.
The Alberta premier also said her province has
two Liberal MPs, George Chahal and Randy Boissonnault. “Both have been completely silent on this issue and now is the time for them to speak up,”
said Ms. Smith. “YES or NO: Does Alberta deserve the same carbon tax break that other parts of Canada are getting?”
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe was also critical of the comments made by Ms. Hutchings, stating on X on Oct. 28, “This is the
most divisive federal government Canada has ever had.”
On Oct. 26, Mr. Moe had said on X that over 90 percent of Saskatchewan households heat their homes with
natural gas, where the carbon tax still fully applies.
On Oct. 28, he added: “And there it is… a Trudeau minister just admitted Saskatchewan families are
being punished with the carbon tax because they don’t vote Liberal. It’s not about climate change, not about fairness, not about families, it is only about votes.”
Reaction by Tories
Mr. Trudeau’s announcement came as Mr. Poilievre began a series of “Axe the Tax” rallies to campaign against carbon tax in Atlantic Canada, where the Liberals currently
hold 24 of the 32 House of Commons seats in the four provinces.
A number of Conservative MPs reacted to the comments by the minister.
“It is disgusting that this Liberal Minister is trying to blackmail Western Canadians,” said Conservative MP James Bezan
Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman wrote on X on Oct. 28 that Ms. Hutchings “said the quiet part out loud.”
“Divide, distract, rinse and repeat,”
said Ms. Lantsman, who added that the “failed carbon tax” should be axed for everyone.
Alberta Conservative MP Chris Warkentin also
reacted to the minister’s comment, saying, “The Liberals new line is to western Canadians ‘Elect more Liberals so you can be protected from destructive Liberal policies,’” he said.
‘About People’
Ms. Hutchings, in her Oct. 29 CTV appearance, defended her comments when asked whether the cut to the carbon tax for the eastern provinces was because of the Liberals’ drop in polling numbers in Atlantic Canada.
“No,” she said. “This isn’t about polls. This is about people.”
“We’re making sure that everybody can participate, no matter what your income is. We’re going to help you be cleaner and greener and more money in your pocket, which is what this is all about. It’s about affordability,” added Ms. Hutchings.
When asked if the federal government was open to reducing taxes for other types of heating in other provinces, Ms. Hutchings said, “That’s a discussion that we'll have down the road.”
“We’re always open to conversations to help all Canadians on the affordable issue, and especially when it was reducing the carbon footprint,” she said.
“After listening to people over the summer, we realized we had to make some tweaks. We know in Atlantic Canada, there are more people heating their homes with oil. So it’s significant now, to do this now before people start to fill up their tanks for the winter, and show that there is a plan in place to help people move from oil heat to a heat pump source of heat,” said the minister.
