OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding Conservative Party leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre for promising to scrap the federal carbon tax if he becomes prime minister. 

“It’s good to see Poilievre show leadership, stick-up for taxpayers and commit to fight the carbon tax,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “We encourage all future Conservative Party leadership candidates to commit to scrapping the carbon tax.”

Today, Poilievre announced that he would scrap the federal carbon tax if he was elected prime minister.

The federal carbon tax is increasing on April 1 to 11 cents per litre of gasoline. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he will increase the carbon tax to nearly 40 cents per litre of gasoline by 2030. The federal government is also implementing a second carbon tax through fuel regulations that could add an additional 11 cents per litre of gasoline.

Canada’s emissions increased during the first year of the federal carbon tax. Despite having North America’s highest carbon tax, British Columbia’s emissions have increased by 10 per cent since 2015, according to the government’s own data. 

“Ottawa is making these tough times tougher by hiking the carbon tax during a pandemic, while Canadians suffer with pay cuts and job losses,” said Terrazzano. “Poilievre is right to fight carbon taxes because Canadians should not be punished for fueling our cars and heating our homes.”