Liberal-NDP Coalition Vote to Keep Carbon Taxes
Plus standing up for Alberta, upcoming town hall and more
Liberal-NDP Government Vote to Keep Carbon Taxes
This week, the Liberal-NDP government voted to keep its carbon taxes on Canadians and the cost-of-living hikes their policies have caused. By refusing to support the common-sense Conservative motion to axe the carbon taxes on gas, heating and groceries, the Liberal-NDP government has opted to inflict more pain on everyday Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet, maintaining their plans to keep raising carbon taxes when the current hikes have added over 60 cents to every litre of gasoline and diesel.
Even the Prime Minister’s own caucus is starting to break, as Atlantic Liberal MPs try to distance themselves from the failed policy. Voicing opposition to the carbon tax in recent days, despite previously voting for it, Newfoundland Liberal MP Ken McDonald was the only Liberal MP to support the Conservative motion. In an interview following the vote, he slammed his own government that the taxes are “putting a bigger burden on people who are now struggling with an affordability crisis” and that many people cannot “afford to buy groceries” or “heat their home.” And this is from someone inside their own government.
It is thanks to his government, home heating prices increased by more than 60 percent in Atlantic Canada. It is thanks to his government that inflation hit levels not seen since the 1980s. After eight years, it is clear that these Liberals are not worth the cost. While MP McDonald came around, many of his colleagues had another opportunity to help Atlantic Canadians with the spiralling cost-of-living but have again decided to punish their constituents. Conservatives are listening. Our common-sense plan will axe Trudeau’s carbon tax and bring home lower prices for all Canadians.
I invite you to watch the entire interview with this one Liberal MP who has finally caught the common-sense views of his constituents.
Standing up for Alberta at Environment Committee
In recent weeks, the Liberal government unveiled draft proposals to decarbonize Canada’s electricity grid by 2035. The regulations will require all electricity to be from renewable sources (e.g., wind or hydro) or equipped with carbon-capture technology by that time. That's the Liberal government version, but truthfully, it's an unconstitutional power grab where the federal government is setting fixed rules for utilities.
When the Alberta government pushed back against these regulations, noting the drastic impact it would have on Albertans, the environment minister waived away their concerns. They ignored a report from an Alberta Electric System Operator warning about the possibility of blackouts if the federal regulations are enforced.
It is these actions that feed western alienation. It is yet another “Ottawa-knows-best” approach that fundamentally misunderstands western Canada and is another attempt to assert federal power in areas of provincial jurisdiction. Here are the facts: The new federal regulations are not only misguided, but they are also misinformed. Canada's electricity grid is currently 50% less carbon-intensive than the OECD average, which comprises 38 countries. It also emits one-third as much as USMCA trading partners and about one-fifth as much as India and China. Alberta has total jurisdiction over electricity generation, and the NDP-Liberal government has no business in interfering in a provincial jurisdiction.
I was present at the parliamentary environment committee to point out to the Liberal MPs they were calling the wrong minister to explain the Alberta policies. They wrongly said an Alberta minister runs energy companies, and then ignored the unconstitutional nature of their own regulations.
Watch as I defend Alberta's right to govern itself and defy these new unconstitutional rules being imposed on us.
Reminder: Upcoming Town Hall on the Cost-of-Living Crisis
On October 11, I will be hosting a town hall with former Liberal MP Dan McTeague, a whiz about energy policy in Canada and a strong critic of the Liberal government. He is President of Canadians for Affordable Energy and is the brains behind the gaswizard.ca website that tracks gasoline prices in Canada. We will speak about the carbon tax, policies to promote Alberta’s energy sector, and many other issues. I hope to see you there!
Happy Thanksgiving
I’d like to wish you, your family, friends and co-workers a happy thanksgiving. Let’s take the time to reflect on the good we have in front of us, even in times of difficulty. My newsletter Resuming Debate will return on October 20th.
