Carney says he’ll scrap the carbon tax, introduce green incentive program if he becomes leader

Mark Carney, a candidate for the Liberal leadership, has announced a significant shift in his party’s approach to tackling climate change. Rather than continuing with the consumer carbon tax, Carney plans to introduce a green incentive program that rewards Canadians for making environmentally friendly choices.

At an event in Halifax, Carney stated, “The consumer carbon tax isn’t working; it’s become too divisive. That’s why I’ll cancel it and replace it with incentives to reward people for greener choices.” The new program will incentivize actions such as purchasing energy-efficient appliances, electric vehicles, or improving home insulation.

The Carney campaign emphasizes that this shift is part of a broader strategy to combat climate change. In addition to the green incentive program, other measures include investing in energy-efficient buildings, electrified transportation, and holding major polluters accountable. Trade measures will also be implemented to ensure fairness for Canadian industries in the global economy and align with countries actively fighting climate change.

Carney criticized Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s stance on climate change, stating, “His simplistic and misleading Axe the Tax inaction won’t work and would cost families more.” This highlights the contrast between Carney’s approach and that of his political opponents.

The consumer carbon tax, which started in April 2019, has faced criticism and has fallen out of favor among some Canadians. The tax was set to increase annually, reaching $170 a tonne by 2030. While the federal carbon price applies in some provinces, others like Quebec and British Columbia have their own carbon pricing systems.

Despite Carney’s proposal to replace the carbon tax, other Liberal leadership candidates have differing views on the issue. Chrystia Freeland, another contender, has also pledged to scrap carbon pricing if elected. However, Karina Gould has taken a different stance, promising to maintain the tax at its current level.

The Liberal leadership race is set to conclude with a vote on March 9th. Carney’s proposal for a green incentive program signals a shift in the party’s approach to climate change and could have significant implications for Canada’s environmental policy moving forward.