QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Carbon Tax
November 7, 2023
Senator Gold, it’s getting cold outside. Even here in Ottawa, there is no denying that winter is on its way. However, yesterday, your Liberal colleagues in the House of Commons chose to further punish hard-working Canadians by voting against our motion to remove the carbon tax from all home heating in Canada. The gimmick announced by Justin Trudeau a couple of weeks ago does nothing to promote the use of cleaner forms of home heating fuel, but does leave 97% of Canadian households out in the cold. Those Canadians are struggling not only to keep the heat on this winter but also to fill up their cars to get to work, keep food on the table and keep their barns warm to produce food that the rest of us eat. Do they not matter because not enough of them voted Liberal? Is that what this is all about, Senator Gold? Is this a bribe, Senator Gold, or a threat? Which of these two is it?
Thank you for the question. It’s neither one nor the other. The government has made fighting climate change a central element of its legislative agenda and policies. It’s hard work. It’s going to take time, and, indeed, progress is painfully slow at times. The government also makes adjustments, as it has done from the beginning, to try to mitigate the impact that a price on pollution imposes necessarily — by virtue of its nature — on Canadians. It will continue to do so and try its best to chart a responsible path forward, because we and future generations face an existential crisis in this country and on this planet. The government remains committed to addressing that crisis.
Senator Gold, the only thing this tax does is punish working-class Canadians. It has created divisions in our country. Pausing the tax for one group while quadrupling it for another is completely unfair.
Senator Gold, just admit it — Justin Trudeau isn’t making decisions to benefit Canadians. He’s making decisions to try to save his sinking political ship. Also, just admit that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost for Canadian taxpayers and only Pierre Poilievre and a majority Conservative government will keep the heat on for all Canadians.
I don’t know how to answer that. I like a good slogan. If I hear one once or twice, it’s cute and will land. After a while, it becomes like last year’s hits that seem to fade and become tiresome.
The fact is that this government is pursuing the policies that it deems to be in the best interests of Canadians.
