The list of premiers joining the revolt against the carbon tax is quickly growing, with most of Justin Trudeau’s provincial counterparts now calling for a halt to the impending tax hike.
Premiers from seven out of 10 provinces have now publicly opposed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax, which is set to increase Apr. 1.
Only the premiers of Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba have thus far not publicly voiced opposition to the tax, although Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew wouldn’t say whether he had raised issues with the federal government privately.
That 70% of provincial premiers have signalled their displeasure with the carbon tax mirrors the seven in 10 Canadians opposed to it, according to a recent poll.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been one of the most outspoken premiers on the matter. Alberta took the federal government to court over the carbon tax as early as 2020. Smith has even gone as far as asking Trudeau to fire Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault over his failed climate policies.
She was joined by premiers from Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, who issued a joint letter asking Trudeau to extend his carbon tax exemption in November.
The latest first minister to join the fray in personally sending a letter to Trudeau was Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston.
“Rather than impose a punishing carbon tax that will hurt Nova Scotians, I am asking that you cancel the carbon tax before any more financial damage is done and work with us to focus on the most beneficial path for the environment, that would mean a more self-reliant (and cheaper!) path for Nova Scotia,” wrote Houston in his letter.
This letter was sent the same day that Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey sent a letter asking Trudeau to pause the upcoming carbon tax hike.
“We ask for the collaboration of the federal government to address the ramifications of the current challenges families face and not to compound them,” wrote Furey, a Liberal.
Saskatchewan’s premier, Scott Moe, another vocal advocate against the carbon tax, took a slightly different approach.
The Saskatchewan government officially stopped sending Ottawa federal carbon levy funds at the start of March.
Saskatchewan argued that the carbon tax was at least applied fairly until the Liberals implemented an exemption primarily benefiting Atlantic Canada.
“When asked what it would take to extend a similar affordability relief to families in Western Canada, a Liberal minister suggested that we should elect more Liberals. That’s no way to run a country,” said SaskEnergy Minister Dustin Duncan.
Saskatchewan had already stopped collecting carbon tax on electric heat at the start of this year. The province owns the natural gas utility SaskEnergy, which allowed it to stop collecting the tax. Guilbeault went as far as calling Moe “immoral” for breaking the carbon price law.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called on the federal government to wake up and smell the coffee.
“Instead of raising the carbon tax by another 23 per cent, they need to scrap their terrible tax and start helping us keep costs down for hardworking Ontario families,” wrote Ford.
Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King sent a letter to Trudeau the day before Ford’s announcement, requesting that the feds urgently act and revisit any further increases.
King said that P.E.I. is in a unique position.
“With most goods arriving by diesel trucks… adding to the cost of gas and diesel continually drives up the costs to goods, services, and food for Islanders,” he said.
New Brunswick’s Premier Blaine Higgs said that Trudeau’s carbon tax is “crippling” residents of the province. He added that he should stop any planned increase even if Trudeau doesn’t cancel the tax outright.
“Justin Trudeau is putting ideology above individuals and politics over people,” said Higgs.
While Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has not spoken out against the carbon tax, his government previously sought the same exemption from the carbon tax that Trudeau gave Atlantic Canadians on home heating.
The Progressive Conservatives in Manitoba have called on Kinew to stop collecting carbon tax on home heating for families and businesses, similar to Saskatchewan’s tactic.
The opposition to the carbon tax is so strong in the oil and gas powerhouse of Alberta that numerous candidates in the NDP leadership race have announced their opposition to the carbon tax in their campaigns.
The opposition is not limited to the provinces, with one territorial premier also weighing in.
Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson asked Trudeau for an exemption from the carbon tax. Nunavut and Yukon have not yet spoken out.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on Canadians to protest outside of Liberals and NDP MPs offices to cancel the carbon tax. He has also asked Canadians to bombard MPs with phone calls and emails.
