Liberal MP says NS government is ‘promoting false information’ about CO2 tax
DARTMOUTH, NS — A Liberal Nova Scotia MP says he’s trying to “cut through the noise” of what the county government tells its residents when it comes to pollution pricing.
Recently, the Nova Scotia government spent $56,000 on a two-week radio, print and social media campaign to pass on “correct information” about the fuel price increase that took effect on July 1.
“Prices have risen by at least $0.14 a liter. This is a new permanent federal tax that goes up every year,” the ad reads. “Nova Scotians want strong action on climate change, but can’t afford to pay the pump.”
The provincial government further claims it has a better plan than the federal government’s carbon tax that will not cost Nova Scotians more money.
But according to Sean Fraser, the federal minister of immigration and member of parliament for Central Nova, what the provincial government is pushing is wrong.
“When it comes to the campaign launched (Prime Minister Tim Houston), he is promoting false information that is not correct,” Fraser said at a news conference at Shubie Park in Dartmouth on Thursday.
“It is incorrect to suggest that this step will be a punishment.”
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Fraser’s comments are the latest in a back-and-forth bickering between the federal and provincial governments over the carbon tax.
Just before the carbon tax went into effect, Houston said the federal government was focusing on taxing people, while the county government is looking at “real, meaningful solutions that will protect the planet.”
Fraser, joined by Halifax West MP Lena Metlege Diab, held a press conference Thursday to highlight the reduction in the pollution price.
The discount, which will be distributed next week, will result in Nova Scotians receive instant cash payments four times a year from Ottawa. A family of four living in Nova Scotia gets $248 per quarter, while an individual gets $124.
Although the cut had been announced earlier, Fraser said he wanted to clarify and correct what countless conservative politicians — whom Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilièvre called the “chief offender” — have said.
“I point out to those conservatives who suggest that this is unprecedented or that Nova Scotian families cannot afford this rebate program that gas is actually cheaper now at the pollution price it was a year ago, except there was no rebate last year,” Fraser said.
But it’s not just the conservatives who say Nova Scotia residents will suffer a financial loss when it comes to the carbon tax despite the cuts.
“Most households in counties subject to the backstop will experience a net loss as a result of federal carbon pricing under the (Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy) Plan,” said a report by parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux.
Fraser said that while he has a lot of respect for the parliamentary budget officer, you have to dig deep and look at more than averages.
“When you’re dealing with averages, you don’t necessarily reflect reality for regular families,” he said.
“Look, Michael Jordan and I have each won an average of three NBA championships. It turns out he won six and I won zero.
“When we look at the price of pollution, it’s the wealthiest families who are going to pay the most — dramatically more than the average — because they tend to take several vacations a year when flying on jet fuel-fueled planes.”
Fraser went a step further in pushing back the county government by questioning some of their practices and policies.
“The reality is I find it hard to accept that anyone would use taxpayer money to fund an ad campaign saying a federal price for pollution that pays families money is bad when they themselves have a provincial tax on using gas that doesn’t.” t offer any refund,” he said.
Fraser said at the end of the day that climate change is extremely costly, giving examples of costs in the wake of the recent wildfires and post-tropical storm Fiona, and action needs to be taken.
“We know that the most expensive climate policy is to do too little,” Fraser said.
