Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his troubled carbon-pricing program on the world stage, arguing that misinformation is jeopardizing environmental progress.
Trudeau arrived in Brazil today for the G20 leaders’ summit and addressed a conference organized by anti-poverty group Global Citizen.
He praised Canada’s consumer carbon levy, arguing that it is one of the strongest in the world but “an easy political target” in Canada.
Trudeau acknowledged pushing back on the policy, but said it was being fueled by propaganda and misinformation that affordability is the opposite of fighting climate change.
He said his Liberal Party has already won three elections with carbon pricing as an issue, and he said the policy is “very much in question” for the next election.
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Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to repeal the policy, pushing for a “carbon-tax election” to reduce the cost of living.
Trudeau made the comments at a panel themed on Canada hosting the G7 summit next year, although Trudeau did not speak to that impending initiative.
Ahead of the event, his office said the remarks would discuss “the economic case for climate action and Canada’s climate finance and international assistance policies” for the G7 presidency.
Trudeau’s comments consisted almost entirely of defense of the carbon levy, stating that it has been the subject of “propaganda, misinformation, disinformation and flat-out lies.”
The federal NDP and some of their provincial counterparts have distanced themselves from the policy they previously supported.
Ottawa sends rebates to people to offset what they pay in carbon pricing when they buy fuel so they are less worse off as a result. People who work to reduce their fuel use are even better off, as they still get the same rebates but have to pay less in carbon pricing.
The levy applies in provinces and territories that do not have a carbon-pricing system that Ottawa considers consistent with its federal goals.
The parliamentary budget officer says most households get more rebates than they pay for carbon pricing, but for most, those benefits are erased once macroeconomic factors are taken into account.
Trudeau has rejected that analysis, including in his Sunday comments.
“It’s really become a way to help affordability and put more money in the pockets of people who are struggling,” he said.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
