Trudeau rejects request from premiers for emergency meeting to discuss carbon tax
By Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
Five provincial premiers have personally sent letters to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, urging him to convene an emergency first ministers’ meeting to discuss the carbon tax.
The unified stance follows recent polling showing that seven in 10 Canadians oppose the carbon tax, and an equal seven in 10 provincial premiers previously called for carbon tax relief.
Just before the April 1 carbon tax increase of 23%, the first premier to write a letter last Saturday was Newfoundland and Labrador’s Andrew Furey.
Furey told Trudeau that increasing the costs of necessities would not achieve the policy’s intention without sufficient alternatives.
“Today, a gas-powered truck drives fishing gear to the wharf in a rural Newfoundland and Labrador community. After April 1, there will be an additional carbon tax, but that same truck still must drive fishing gear to the wharf. There are no alternatives available. So, the key intent of this policy, to lower emissions, is not being achieved at this time,” wrote Furey.
The premier explained that his province has reduced emissions to the lowest level since 1992. He added that realistic change can only come through investment, not taxes.
“Solutions sought through a collaborative approach will lead to real and meaningful changes,” wrote Furey.