How Canada’s carbon pricing scheme became a ‘political football’ | Politics News

Montreal, Canada – For years, to forbid He laid a simple house: “The tax ax.”
The leader of the opposition Conservative Party in Canada – who is expected to become the Prime Minister on a large scale this year – pledged to cancel the carbon pricing plan by the outgoing Prime Minister. Justin Trudeau Liberal government.
The policy has put an additional cost on fossil fuel products such as gasoline, as part of the country’s batch to reduce emissions and address the climate crisis.
Dubping it “carbon tax”, Poilievre blamed the ecosystem for the ability to withstand costs in Canada – despite research showing that carbon pricing had a little effect on inflation. He also has pledge To “the tax of the tax for everyone forever”.
“We need carbon tax elections to dismiss them all and bring a healthy conservative government,” He said in Modern video Posted on social media, referring to the liberals.
Conservatives hope that their carbon fighting tax strategy will pay a coming federal vote, as Canadians continue to conflict with the high costs of grocery and housing.
Experts say that the Conservative Party campaign made carbon prices a severe sale in a political point of view, even though The leaders of the race To replace Trudeau as head of the ruling liberal party, he is back away from politics.
“The conservatives have made a lot of political straw from fighting on the carbon pricing. Hadrian Mertens Kirkud, the first researcher at the Canadian Center for Politics, said” tax ax “is now the central corner of the federal conservative campaign strategy.”
There is certainly some political opportunism that occurs here. Conservatives believe that this represents a profitable issue, and therefore they multiply, multiply and turn it into a controversial position. “
However, MERTINS-KIRKWOOD said that the political discourse on carbon pricing “is excessively exaggerating this issue, both in terms of its effects on the ability to bear costs and its importance in the comprehensive climatic battle.
“The issue is that it has become this political football, this symbol of the government overcomes the side and then the example of the climate policy on the other hand. I only think it is not from these things.”

What is the carbon price?
In 2018, Canada enacted the pricing of greenhouse gas pollution, setting the minimum national carbon pricing standards in provinces and regions throughout the country.
the Federal government Place two systems in place: one for large industrial pollutants and one for Canadian consumers.
The carbon price for the consumer – which attracted the largest number of scrutiny and political temptation – draws fees on the daily purchases of fossil fuel products, such as diesel, gasoline and natural gas.
These drawings increased over time. The recent increase in April means that this policy is now $ 0.12 ($ 0.176 Kurnde) per liter of gasoline, according to the Canadian Tax Prosecutor Union (Pdf).
Thinking It is that by increasing the cost of fossil fuels, Canadian consumers will have to change their behavior and move away from products that increase greenhouse gas emissions.
This scheme is just one part of the comprehensive strategy of the liberal government to address climate change.
“You make everyone pay a little all the time, and therefore it is a very clear policy,” said Mertens Kirkud. He pointed out that the Canadians feel the effects of carbon prices every time they fill their gas tanks, pay the natural gas bill or go to the grocery store.
“This is just a recipe for lack of popularity, even if it is not a large price, and even if – as in the entire country – you will get a discount.”
“Psychologically, it is not just a profitable equation. I think this is a problem that is inherent in carbon pricing, regardless of how to deal with it politically. It is not a political policy.”
Bad contacts
In fact, the federal government has developed a rivalry system in an attempt to help Canadian families compensate for the carbon price.
in December reportCalgary University professors, Trevor Tombi and Jennifer Winter, found that Canadian families had received quarterly payments through the government discount system “which often exceeds the additional expenses resulting from the carbon price.
“This means that many families, especially families who have less income, are protected from the negative financial impact of pricing emissions and some of them may end with net financial gains,” explained the professors.
They also indicated that emissions prices led to an increase of only 0.5 percent to The total rise in consumer prices In Canada since 2019.
They said: “Most of the price increases were driven by global factors, such as high energy prices and disturbances in supply chains.”
Part of the problem about carbon pricing is that the government failed to communicate how the regime works clearly, allowing conservatives “water poisoning.”
“The answer to the communication they had on everything, trust us. We are smart economists. He said,” It has not been well connected. “

The money that the Canadians returned is not clearly called carbon discount. Money was deposited in people’s accounts without distinguishing them as part of politics, Confusion supply.
But Stewart warned against “throwing the child with bathing water” to rush to get rid of carbon pricing in Canada.
He said it was still possible to strengthen the industrial carbon pricing system, even if the consumer price is reduced. “He will do the same job without provoking the same anger.”
He also warned that the campaign to maintain “immediately” is heading to a more clear effort by the party to expand climate work and increase the production of fossil fuels.
Canada is one of the largest oil deposits in the world, in the western province of Alberta. POILIEVRE I pushed For the new infrastructure to maintain fossil fuels, such as pipelines, the liberal proposal opposes pollution by the oil and gas sector in Canada.
“At the present time, the conservatives suggested the judiciary not only on the carbon tax, but also with the standard fuel standard and the imposition of electric cars,” Stewart added. “This has a much greater effect than just what they say,” immediately after the tax. “
Liberals break politics
Caroline Brillite, Executive Director of the Climate Work Network in Canada, said that some Canadian politicians were “pricing carbon” as part of an “effort to reduce all climate measures.”
Al -Jazeera also told the conservatives that they failed to put forward “any climate plan or constructive proposals” so far.
“The conclusion that I take at this stage is that Mr. Poilievre – when he faces one of the most dangerous crises faced by the components he competes with – tells us only what he will do less.”
Bruyelett said that Canadian political parties must determine what they are planning to do to address both climate and economy before the upcoming elections, which must take place by October 20.
She said: “We hope to see these candidates participate in a constructive conversation about what they offer to tackle the ability to withstand costs and climate crises jointly, instead of engaging in a race to the bottom.”
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party is scheduled to choose a new leader to replace Trudeau in early March, and the two applicants in the race made consumer carbon pricing one of their early promises of their pregnancy.
Let’s follow a new approach to combating climate change.https://t.co/krlqbgjigl pic.twitter.com/wfcuetlh6e
Markjcarney February 1, 2025
Mark CarneyFor a former governor of Canada Bank and the best rival in the race, last week he would replace carbon pricing with incentives “to reward people to make more green options.”
These options include “purchasing a more efficient device, driving an electric car or isolate your home,” Carney said. “The truth is that the consumer carbon tax does not work. It has become very dispersed and divisive. For this reason I will cancel it.”
His opponent to the Leadership Center, Chrystia Freeland – Vice Trudeau deputy for a long time and Former Finance Minister She also said she plans to cancel the carbon price for Canadians.
She said in an interview with him recently: “When people have a price facing the carbon consumer, they say:” As you know, we do not like it. “So we have to listen, and at the same time, we need a strong plan to combat climate change.”
“Change the Skin behavior”
Ultimately, Mertens-Carakud said that the debate about carbon pricing, partly, has worked to pay the attention of Canadians “from talking about what may actually be an effective climate policy.”
He said that the most effective procedure is to put government regulations to make climate measures a condition, not a proposal.
Mertins-Kirkwood pointed to the gradual disposal of coal electricity as one of the examples, as well as a plan to ban the sale of new vehicles in internal combustion engines by 2035.
These are difficult regulations. These are the difficult methods that change behavior, unlike something like carbon pricing or the incentives of the electric car where it stimulates and hopes that people will do it. “
Stewart said at Greenpeace that Canada should look forward to developing a “green industrial strategy” that creates green functions and leads to better investments.
“We need to change the channel from only,” Do you support carbon tax? “To,” if not carbon tax, then what? “
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2025-02-05 17:18:00