Poilievre Calls for PM to Allow Liberal Free Vote on April 1 Carbon Tax Hike

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rises during the question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 18, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Tuesday called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to allow a free vote on a Conservative motion to scrap the April 1 carbon tax increase, highlighting provincial Liberal leaders who have come out against the 24 percent hike.

The hike in the carbon tax is a concern for many Canadians, particularly at the fuel pump where the price of gasoline could rise from 14.31 cents per litre to 17.61 cents per litre in certain provinces and territories. Prices could further increase to as much as 37.43 cents per litre by 2030, more than double the 2024 amount.

Speaking during question period on Tuesday, the Tory leader said that despite Liberal promises of large rebates, many Canadians will pay the government hundreds of dollars per year due to the carbon tax.

“The prime minister’s tax will cost $1,500 for the average Nova Scotia family, far more than they get back in rebates,” Mr. Poilievre added. “That’s why Nova Scotia’s Assembly passed a unanimous motion with all three parties supporting it, calling for federal MPs from that province to vote with Conservatives.”

Mr. Trudeau replied to the comment, suggesting that Mr. Poilievre “wants to take away those cheques from Canadians and he wants to do far less to fight against the climate change impacts the Canadians who feel like from coast to coast to coast. No plan for the future. No money for Canadians.”

Mr. Poilievre responded that Ontario families could pay as much as $600 per year due to the carbon tax. He added that Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has distanced herself from the federal Liberals on the issue and Ontario’s Liberal Parliamentary Leader John Fraser stated Monday that the party had no plans to introduce a provincial carbon tax on families.

Turning to British Columbia, Mr. Poilievre stated: “According to the Vancouver Sun today, the budget presented by the NDP in that province says the carbon tax will raise 9 billion [dollars] over three years and only pay back 3 billion,” resulting in nearly $6 billion net carbon tax costs.

The Tories later released a statement on the planned tax increase, calling it the “April Fools’ carbon tax hike.”

Seventy percent of Canadians and “70% of provincial Premiers oppose this tax hike,“ Mr. Poilievre said. ”Liberals across the country have joined Common Sense Conservatives in calling for Trudeau to spike the hike, including the Liberal Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and provincial Liberal Parties in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario.”

The statement continued: “Tomorrow, MPs will have an opportunity to vote for a Common Sense Conservative motion to spike the hike. Justin Trudeau must allow Liberal MPs a free vote on our motion to bring Canadians the relief they desperately need.”