(Ottawa) Since entering politics in 2019, the Minister of the Environment, Steven Guilbeault, has defended tooth and nail a flagship measure of the Trudeau government to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: the carbon pricing.
Published at 5:00 a.m.
In the House of Commons, he endured numerous attacks from the Conservative Party as soon as he took the helm of this ministry, in October 2021. Each time, Steven Guilbeault responded by trying to explain, beyond the slogans and sweeping declarations that make good extracts on social networks, the merits of a price on pollution.
He cited studies from leading economists to demonstrate that carbon pricing remains the best way to change people’s behavior while examples of extreme weather events are multiplying around the world at an alarming rate.
Remember that the Trudeau government has introduced two types of carbon pricing since coming to power. First: industrial pricing, which targets large companies and large polluters. Second: pricing on fuels, which affects distributors of fossil fuels and which has an impact on the price of gasoline, diesel and natural gas.
To reduce the impact of this carbon pricing on families’ budgets, the federal government pays financial compensation every three months through the Canadian Carbon Rebate.
These measures apply in provinces that have not introduced a price on pollution. Quebec, which participates in the carbon exchange with California, is not affected by the federal program. Since he was elected leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre has made the abolition of the “carbon tax” his main focus. And he wants to make the next campaign a referendum on this tax, which has become unpopular in several regions.
“Conservative Party of Canada MPs are entitled to their opinions, but not their own facts. The facts are clear. Eight in ten Canadian families receive more money than they pay in carbon pricing. Furthermore, data shows that carbon pricing has already made it possible to reduce the level of pollution by 25 million tonnes,” stated Minister Guilbeault last June in response to questions from the Conservative leader.
But now the race for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada is in the process of undermining the efforts of Steven Guilbeault. The main candidates in this race promise to abolish carbon pricing that affects consumers.
-Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney confirmed his intention Thursday to throw out a portion of this flagship program of the Trudeau government and replace it with a more effective and less costly plan for families that he will detail. over the next few weeks.
Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland intends to have a similar fate for this policy if she wins. His team suggested to some media, including -, that it was ready to make “difficult decisions” and abandon part of carbon pricing. Mme Freeland would instead propose making big polluters pay more in the plan she will unveil during her leadership campaign.
The Leader of the Government in the House, Minister Karina Gould, will also run for the leadership of the Liberal Party by promising to scrap carbon pricing that affects individuals, according to information obtained by The Press. Mme Gould is expected to confirm she will be a candidate by Monday.
Distance yourself
“It is clear that, politically, there is no one who wants to have this in their legs during the leadership race or during the next elections,” indicated a Liberal source close to Minister Steven Guilbeault who requested anonymity in order to to be able to express oneself more freely.
This source argued that the issue on the ballot in the next elections, in his opinion, will hardly be the carbon tax. It will rather be to determine, among the candidates in the running, who is best suited to confront the unpredictable Donald Trump who will take power on Monday.
Asked about this on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the various measures adopted by his government to fight climate change.
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson went further, challenging candidates to explain how they would meet the country’s targets to reduce emissions by at least 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
In the current leadership race, the main candidates are seeking by all means to distance themselves from the record of the Trudeau government. What fate will the next leader have in store for Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, the main defender of carbon pricing in the cabinet? The question now becomes unavoidable.
