Trudeau says there will 'absolutely not' be any further carbon tax breaks

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said there will “absolutely not” be any further carbon tax breaks.

Trudeau’s carbon pricing policy has been under pressure amid high inflation, a cost-of-living crisis and his recent decision to suspend the tax on home heating oil.

But speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, the prime minister said: “There will absolutely not be any other carve-outs or suspensions on the price on pollution.”

Trudeau said the three-year suspension of the carbon tax on heating oil has been put in place because that form of fuel is expensive, dirty and used mostly by people on lower incomes.

He added that lifting the tax on heating oil will give people who rely on it time to switch to heat pumps.

Also on Tuesday, during Question Period, Trudeau was challenged by Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who called on the prime minister to “axe the tax.”

Trudeau was dismissive, reiterating his belief that the carbon tax is both popular with Canadians and that it will help mitigate the effects of global climate change.

“It is amazing to me that after three failed elections in a row by the Conservatives they still want to fight another election on denying climate change,” he said, adding that “they are wrong” on the carbon tax and “Canadians will show them that” at the next election.

Premiers across the country have expressed frustration with the heating oil exemption, which is seen to favour the Atlantic provinces.

The British Columbia government said it was blindsided by the announcement, while BC United leader Kevin Falcon yesterday said he would cut the provincial carbon tax if his party formed the next government.