Liberal leader Mark Carney on French-language radio Sunday night confirmed his commitment to imposing a carbon tax.
Appearing on the state broadcaster Radio-Canada’s radio show Tout le monde en parle, Carney stressed the difference between him and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is his willingness to fight against the impacts of carbon and reduce emissions.
“I have researched the carbon market, [Poilievre] has not researched the carbon market,” said Carney in French, emphasizing that big polluters must pay.
He added that to be competitive on the world stage in fighting climate change, countries must have a plan to reduce emissions more and more.
The “carbon market” Carney refers to is a system where credits or taxes are used for the “right” to emit greenhouse gases. Carney during the election campaign promised to eliminate the consumer carbon tax, but impose an industrial carbon tax, which would trickle down to consumers.
The clip from the interview was posted by former Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, a former Greenpeace activist who was shifted to the Culture and Identity portfolio under Carney.
“By removing the price on industrial pollution, Poilievre will allow big polluters to pollute without limit and without cost,” wrote Guilbeault in the caption.
“This is not only bad for the environment, it will make our industries less competitive in a low-carbon global economy.”
Carney is a longtime carbon tax pusher. Prior to announcing his candidacy for the Liberal leadership on January 16, Carney served as the United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance.
When Justin Trudeau was prime minister — and Carney was his economic adviser for five years — the now-Liberal leader said Trudeau’s controversial carbon tax was too low and called for more “punishment” on polluters.
