The federal Conservatives are calling on Canadians to put “pressure” on the Liberal government to help pass Bill C-234, which would exempt some fuels used by farmers from the carbon tax.
“We can’t have more taxes on our food when two million people are already forced to food banks and Canadians are forced to downgrade their diets,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said during a Nov. 13 press conference.
“This is a common-sense solution, it’s a compassionate solution, and we pledge to work with all Canadians over the next weeks to mount a massive pressure campaign, just as we did on home heat, to take this tax off.”
Mr. Poilievre added that his message to Canadians was to “call your Liberal MP, tell them to get Justin Trudeau out of the way” of the bill. The legislation is currently before the Senate but a vote on it has been delayed until later this month.
The bill was debated in the Senate as part of the third reading on Nov. 9. Before it could go on to receive Royal Assent and become law, a Liberal Senator proposed amendments to it.
Sen. Lucie Moncion, who was appointed by Mr. Trudeau, is seeking to remove provisions in the bill that would allow Parliament to extend the carbon tax exemption on the use of propane and natural gas for agricultural purposes, eight years after the bill is passed. She said action was needed on climate change and that the bill, in its current form, could “incentivize inaction.”
“While some colleagues have determined this legislation is necessary to present circumstances, I think we can all agree that we do not know whether such a carve-out will be necessary eight years from now,” she added.
Mr. Poilievre said federal carbon pricing is increasing food costs by taxing “the farmer who grows the food, the trucker who ships the food, and you who buy the food.” He cited the story of a Canadian mushroom farmer who had spent tens of thousands of dollars on the tax, which raised the cost of his mushrooms, incentivizing Canadians to buy cheaper produce from other countries.
The Tory leader also mentioned the government’s recent decision to provide a three-year carbon tax exemption on heating oil, which came after Liberal MPs in Atlantic ridings pressured the government to implement an exemption. Roughly 30 percent of residents in the Maritimes still use heating oil to heat their homes.
Mr. Poilievre accused the Liberals of implementing the exemption because the party was polling poorly in Atlantic Canada. He also mentioned federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s recent comment that there would be no more exemptions from the carbon tax as long as he remains in his position.
“That message to Justin Trudeau is very clear,” Mr. Poilievre said. “He’s gonna have a cabinet resignation if this bill C-234 passes the Senate.”
