The NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to its stance on the consumer carbon price, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday.
Speaking to reporters in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., Trudeau blasted the NDP on its equivocation on the consumer carbon price while responding to a question about the upcoming byelection in Montreal.
B次元官网网址淚 do believe that Jagmeet Singh and the NDP actually do care about the environment. ItB次元官网网址檚 just increasingly obvious that they have no idea what to do to fight against climate change,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said.
B次元官网网址淭hey had no ideas on the environment, and one of the first things they do after walking away from that agreement to deliver progressive things for Canadians, is walk away from any plan to fight climate change.B次元官网网址�
Trudeau was referring to the NDP leaderB次元官网网址檚 announcement last week that the party was leaving the supply-and-confidence deal with the minority government.
On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldnB次元官网网址檛 put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldnB次元官网网址檛 say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.
SinghB次元官网网址檚 noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.
While the Conservatives have blamed the carbon levy for raising the cost of living, the prime minister once again cited the parliamentary budget officerB次元官网网址檚 finding that eight out of 10 households in jurisdictions that have the federal backstop receive more money in rebates than they pay in carbon pricing.
B次元官网网址淎nd yet, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are caving to the political pressures from Pierre Poilievre and from the Conservatives,B次元官网网址� Trudeau said.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not what Montrealers expect and deserve.B次元官网网址�
Voters will be heading to the polls on Sept. 16 in MontrealB次元官网网址檚 LaSalleB次元官网网址斆塵ardB次元官网网址擵erdun. The seat was held by former justice minister David Lametti before he resigned.
Another byelection will be held on the same day in the Winnipeg riding of ElmwoodB次元官网网址擳ranscona, a seat that has been held by the NDP.
Poilievre responded to SinghB次元官网网址檚 Thursday comments by releasing a video pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the LiberalsB次元官网网址� carbon price.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to B次元官网网址渂ig polluters,B次元官网网址� if the federal government dropped its requirements.
Economists are widely in favour of carbon pricing, arguing it is the most cost effective way to reduce emissions.
