OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauds Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre’s promise to end all carbon taxes, including the industrial carbon tax, if he becomes prime minister. 

“Poilievre is right to oppose the hidden industrial carbon tax that makes everything more expensive and costs Canada jobs,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Canadian businesses are already struggling to survive massive tariffs and hidden industrial carbon taxes make them even less competitive.

“A carbon tax is a carbon tax is a carbon tax, and Canadians can’t afford to keep paying more to fuel up their cars, heat their homes and buy groceries.”

The federal government imposes an industrial carbon tax on oil and gas, steel and fertilizer businesses, among others. 

Today, Poilievre said a Conservative government will “repeal the entire carbon tax law, including the tax on Canadian businesses and industries.”

During the Liberal Party leadership race, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would “improve and tighten” the industrial carbon tax and “extend the [tax’s] framework to 2035.” 

“So in changing the carbon tax … we are making the large companies pay for everybody,” Carney said.

However, just 12 per cent of Canadians believe businesses pay most of the cost of the industrial carbon tax, according to a recent Leger poll commissioned by the CTF. Meanwhile, 70 per cent said businesses would pass most or some carbon tax costs on to consumers.

“Carbon taxes on refineries make gas more expensive, carbon taxes on utilities make home heating more expensive and carbon taxes on fertilizer plants increase costs for farmers and that makes groceries more expensive,” Terrazzano said. “Canadians can’t afford a carbon tax on businesses, which will mean higher prices, fewer jobs and less production in Canada, especially during a trade war.

“Poilievre deserves credit for being the only federal leader committed to ending all carbon taxes.