By Canadian Press

Trudeau accuses N.L. premier of ‘bowing to political pressure’ in carbon tax spat

Mar 15, 2024 | 10:10 AM

The chummy Liberal leaders of Canada and of Newfoundland and Labrador are sparring over the federal government’s carbon pricing regime.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Friday he believes Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey is “continuing to bow to political pressure” in his opposition to an anticipated increase next month to carbon costs.

His comments come after Furey publicized a letter he wrote to Trudeau on Monday asking the prime minister to halt the increase on carbon pricing set for April 1, as people in the province struggle with the cost of living.

Furey has spoken out about carbon pricing in the past, joining his fellow Atlantic premiers in calls to exempt home heating from the pricing regime, and to extend the deadline for provinces to submit their own plans.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Thursday called on the federal Liberal government to scrap or give exemptions ahead of the carbon pricing increase.

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Nonetheless, the province’s Opposition Progressive Conservatives have tried to link Furey to the so-called carbon tax, tweeting Wednesday that they stood with the federal Conservatives in “calling on the Trudeau and Furey Liberals” to “spike the hike.”

Trudeau said conversations about carbon pricing are too often dominated by its cost, rather than the rebates it generates for the majority of Canadian households.

“I think Canadians in Newfoundland and Labrador, and right across the country, expect their governments to do the right thing,” Trudeau said.

“And the right thing, right now, is not just fighting climate change and spurring innovation for the future. It’s about being there to support Canadians during this affordability crisis.”

Trudeau said about 80 per cent of households receive more from the rebate than they pay in carbon pricing.

Furey, the country’s only Liberal provincial premier, has long touted his close relationship with Trudeau.