Environment Canada Unable to Find ‘Thank-You’ Notes From Carbon Tax Supporters

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault speaks during media availability at the Climate Positive Energy Initiative conference in Toronto on Aug.10, 2023. Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) was unable to produce “thank-you” notes from supporters of the carbon tax that Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault previously highlighted as evidence that many Canadians welcomed the measure.

When asked for evidence of the correspondence that Guilbeault had cited—letters from two Canadians, “Bob” and “Jill”—the ECCC told Blacklock’s Reporter that “no records were found concerning this request.”

Mr. Guilbeault first mentioned the letters on Oct. 19 during question period, after being questioned by Conservative MP Dan Mazier. Mr. Mazier expressed skepticism over the claim taxpayers were thankful for the Liberal government’s carbon tax rebates, asking if the government would “finally admit its second carbon tax is not worth the cost.”

“Jill lives in the riding of the member for Regina-Qu’Appelle. She recently shared that she gets more money back than she pays out and that it helps her at the grocery store,“ Mr. Guilbeault responded. ”Bob, a teacher, also wrote to us. He just received his carbon pricing rebate. This year he and his partner will receive $720. That is more than $13 a week.”

The federal government’s Climate Action Incentive Rebates are tax-free payments through the Canada Revenue Agency meant to offset the cost of the carbon tax. Ottawa has said that 90 percent of money from the tax is delivered to eligible individuals every three months.

Following Mr. Guilbeault’s remarks, Conservative MPs erupted in laughter and jeers. House Speaker and Liberal MP Greg Fergus paused proceedings, saying “Order. I am certain we all love to get letters.”

“It’s interesting to see Minister Guilbeault only found two people in all of Canada who sent him fan mail on his costly carbon tax,” Mr. Mazier responded. “I’d be curious to hear how many thousands of letters he receives from Canadians who oppose his costly carbon tax.”

The question period exchange followed Oct. 19 testimony at the Commons Environment Committee in which the Department of Environment acknowledged it did not account for actual fuel use in calculating average costs of climate change regulations.

The department did “not have a breakdown” of the carbon tax’s impacts on urban versus rural Canadians, according to Derek Hermanutz, director general of economic analysis.

A recent poll from Abacus Data said that the majority of Canadians, 72 percent, want Ottawa to exempt from the carbon tax fuels for home heating, such as natural gas or propane, “to help people deal with the rising cost of living.” The remaining 28 percent said the government should not offer exemptions, as the tax is meant to encourage people to shift toward less polluting forms of heating.

The Conservatives have vowed to “axe” the carbon tax if elected. In recent months, the Tories have brought several motions to remove the carbon tax before the House of Commons, all of which have failed.