QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Carbon Tax
June 20, 2024
Senator Gold, last week the Trudeau government was finally forced to reveal the truth: Your carbon tax will cause $30 billion a year in economic damage to Canada. Your government kept this data secret for years. As Pierre Poilievre said, “It had to be pulled out like a rotten tooth.”
Senator Gold, former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall saw this ugly cavity coming eight years ago. On the first day the Trudeau government floated the idea of a carbon tax, in February 2016, former Premier Wall said that we would need to see an economic impact analysis first.
Senator Gold, why did your government continue to falsely claim that the carbon tax is revenue neutral when it knew the massive hole it would blow in the Canadian economy seven years ago?
Thank you for your question.
I cannot comment on the prescience — whether realized or not — of the former premier. However, the government stands by its analysis, and it is supported by serious analysis. You must put all the factors together — as one should in any serious, non-partisan, objective analysis — including the cost of the impact of the price of pollution, minus the rebates to individual families and companies, plus the cost of doing nothing — which is $35 billion — plus the cost of lost investments to our businesses, which must compete in a world where countries and corporations are increasingly demanding that investments only go to places or companies in jurisdictions with serious climate change policies. This government’s approach is sensible, responsible and based on facts.
Senator Gold, if this Trudeau government won’t listen to our common-sense Conservative opposition, you should finally start listening to the common sense of the people of Saskatchewan. Eight years ago, Premier Wall warned your carbon tax would “kneecap” the economy. For seven years your government knew how devastating your carbon tax would be to Canadians and hid it. Why don’t you make it much easier on yourselves and axe the carbon tax on everyone for everything?
It may make it easier for you to continue, with all respect — for your party, I should say; I don’t mean to make it personal — to offer no credible climate change policy and to simply offer tired focus group-driven slogans.
I understand that you see your role being primarily to ensure that your partisan, political electoral agenda is satisfied. The government’s responsibility is to Canada, to the future of this country, and to our children and grandchildren with regard to climate change —
Thank you.
