The Conservative opposition party in Canada on Thursday abandoned its resistance to carbon prices and accepted the tariff on emissions and fuel as part of its own climate plan, which could put it at odds with some of its strongest supporters.
Climate change is a thorny issue for the Conservative Party under leader Erin O’Toole. Most Conservative MPs voted last month to recognize climate change as a real threat.
“We will (Liberal Prime Minister) abolish Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax on working Canadians,” O’Toole said at the convention, pointing out that the party “fought and lost two elections against a carbon tax.”
O’Toole said his own plan was better than the Liberals’. Carbon prices charge for the use of carbon-based fuels such as oil, either by levying emissions or by adding the price of petrol and other fuels.
Trudeau’s national carbon price will rise to C $ 170 per tonne by 2030, although 90% will be returned to Canadian taxpayers through rebates. The Conservatives would tax C $ 50 per tonne for taxpayers, who would pay the levy on a savings account and use the money to make ‘green’ purchases such as bicycles.
A number of provinces – including the energy heartland and the conservative party bastion of Alberta – are opposed to the price of carbon and are challenging the government’s scheme in the Supreme Court. Last month, the court upheld Trudeau’s plan. read more
“Any new climate plan … should minimize the cost to Albertans and our exposed industries, while continuing to responsibly reduce Alberta emissions,” said Alberta’s Secretary of State Jason Nixon.
O’Toole said a conservative government by 2030 would live up to Canada’s international promise to reduce emissions by 30% below 2005 levels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the promise in the liberal climate plan.
“It’s outrageous that O’Toole is now planning to hammer Canadians with higher fuel bills through its own carbon tax,” said Franco Terrazzano, director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation.
Many Liberal insiders expect Trudeau to run for office later this year. Trudeau’s Liberals lead O’Toole’s Conservatives by 37% to 29%, according to a poll by Abacus Data published on Thursday.
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