Poilievre’s non-confidence motion on carbon pricing fails

The Federal Liberal Government will not be forced into an election over carbon pricing, at least not today.

The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois all voted against a conservative motion calling for a confidence vote in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for refusing to call off a planned April increase in Canada’s carbon price. 

The price will go up by $15 a tonne next month as scheduled, adding another 3.3 cents to the price of a litre of gasoline and 2.86 cents for a cubic metre of natural gas. 

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Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre says carbon pricing makes everything more expensive. But the liberals insist their rebates mean most Canadians are not worse off as a result of the levy.

The carbon price is set to rise on Apr. 1, meaning consumers will see the price of gasoline go up about three cents a litre. 

Hours before the vote a report by the Canadian Climate Institute Analysis says Canada’s Carbon Price could slash greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 100 million tonnes a year by 2030, but only about one-fifth of that will come from the consumer carbon price at the centre of conservative attacks. 

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The analysis said aid the price applied to big industrial emitters plays a far greater role in cutting emissions than the consumer fuel levy. 

Poilievre is adamant that if he wins the next election, consumer carbon pricing is toast. But he has been less clear about the big emitters system. It was a big topic in the House of Commons on Thursday. 

“This year groceries are going to cost $700 more than last year for the average family and what does the NDP and this PM choose, to raise taxes on food and fuel, heat and homes, on all the materials that go into building a home which will raise taxes on all who buy the home. Raise taxes on gas and diesel to get to work to earn a paycheque to make payments on that home,” said Pierre Poilievre the Conservative Party of Canada leader.