House of Commons votes down Tory non-confidence motion in Trudeau government

The House of Commons has voted against a non-confidence motion in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre sponsored the motion in an attempt, he said, to prevent the April 1 increase to the carbon taking place.

The House voted 204 to 116 against the proposal.

Had it succeeded, it could have precipitated an election.

Poilievre’s motion said the House should declare a loss of confidence in Trudeau “and his costly government for increasing the carbon tax 23 per cent on April 1, as part of his plan to quadruple the tax while Canadians cannot afford to eat, heat and house themselves, and call for the House to be dissolved so Canadians can vote in a carbon tax election.”

It’s not the first time the Tories have submitted a motion critical of the carbon tax. On Feb. 5, the House voted 209 to 119 against a Poilievre motion that called for the Liberal government to cancel the April 1 tax increase.

Poilievre promoted his motion on Wednesday, warning Trudeau that he had “one last chance” to abandon the increase to the levy.

For his part, the prime minister has accused Poilievre of not having a serious plan for the climate and insisted that the carbon tax is a net benefit for most Canadians.

He told reporters in Quebec last week that most Canadians will be better off as a consequence of the carbon tax.

“The Canada Carbon Rebate helps out 80 per cent of Canadians with more money than they pay in terms of a price on pollution,” he said in Montreal.

“It’s basic math. And we’re going to continue to be there to support Canadians with the Canada Carbon Rebate.”