A Liberal MP broke ranks with his party to vote in favour of a Conservative motion to scrap the federal government’s carbon tax on Oct. 4.
The vote received 119 “yeas” and 209 “nays,” with the Liberals, New Democrats, Bloc Quebecois, and Greens voting against it. Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken McDonald was the lone Liberal MP who stood in the House of Commons to vote in favour of the motion, earning him the applause of Conservative MPs.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s motion called on the Liberal government to repeal the carbon tax through legislation in a bid to bring down the cost of gas, groceries, and home heating.
The carbon tax rose by $15 per tonne to $65 per tonne in April 2023, and will reach $110 per tonne in 2026 before topping out at $170 per tonne in 2030. Mr. Poilievre has repeatedly argued that the tax will lead to higher transportation costs, and as a result, most consumer goods will become more expensive.
Mr. McDonald, who represents the primarily rural riding of Avalon, has
lobbied Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a special policy in regard to his riding, including a carbon tax rebate, according to CBC News.
Mr. McDonald said he told the prime minister during the recent national Liberal caucus meetings that the government was “punishing the rural areas of our country and the most vulnerable people in our society,” according to CBC.
Mr. McDonald said he was inspired to speak up after hearing the stories of rural Canadians struggling to heat their homes. He heard one story of a constituent who could no longer afford home heating oil and needed to wear a blanket around the house.
The Conservatives have introduced several motions in the House of Commons to “Axe the tax,” all of which have failed. On Oct. 24, 2022, a
motion to scrap the carbon tax was defeated 116-202 after the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc Quebecois voted against it. A Sept. 28
vote received a similar outcome, failing 209–116 due to opposition from the three parties.
A recent Leger survey found that a slight majority of Canadians (
55 percent) believe the carbon tax should either be reduced or eliminated altogether. The poll also found that 68 percent of Canadians were not willing to pay higher taxes on gasoline to support the Liberal government’s net-zero carbon emissions goals.
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has
said Canadians are already “paying a very high price tag” for the impacts of climate change such as natural disasters, and that carbon pricing was one of the best ways to fight it.
