MPs to Vote on Extending Carbon Price Pause to Home Heating
Members of Parliament are scheduled to vote on Monday on a motion put forward by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to extend Ottawa’s carbon price pause to include all forms of home heating. The non-binding motion, which does not require action from the government, is expected to be supported by the NDP, which has previously backed the minority Liberals through its supply-and-confidence agreement.
Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked criticism from premiers across Canada for announcing a three-year pause on the carbon price for home heating oil, primarily used in Atlantic Canada. Poilievre’s motion calls on the government to extend this pause to all home heating methods.
The motion is set to be voted on after the question period ends at approximately 3 p.m. Eastern time. Trudeau has firmly rejected the possibility of further exemptions to the federal carbon price, despite the backlash against the heating oil plan. As part of the initial announcement, Trudeau also mentioned plans to collaborate with provincial governments on subsidies for heat pumps targeting low-income residents.
The Liberals, with 158 seats, hold a majority in Parliament and could defeat the combined seats of the Conservatives (142) and the NDP (which has pledged its support). This means that the Bloc Québécois, with its 32 seats, could hold the balance of power or choose to abstain from the vote altogether. Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet stated on Thursday that a freeze on the federal carbon price would not benefit Quebec, as the province has its own program.
NDP MP Peter Julian announced the party’s support for Poilievre’s motion on Thursday, citing “equity” as the reason behind their decision. Julian emphasized that the motion does not deny climate change and called for equal treatment of all forms of home heating across regions.
Economist Trevor Tombe from the University of Calgary predicts that the debate on this issue will continue, as he believes the carbon price pause undermines the effectiveness of the policy, which is a cornerstone of Trudeau’s government. Tombe argues that the strength of the carbon tax lies in its ability to provide a consistent incentive for emissions reduction across all sectors and regions. He warns that further exemptions and potentially the removal of the carbon tax on a retail level could result from this pause.
Conclusion
The motion to extend Ottawa’s carbon price pause to all forms of home heating will be voted on by MPs on Monday. The non-binding motion is expected to be supported by the NDP, aligning with the minority Liberal government. Prime Minister Trudeau’s announcement of a three-year carbon price pause for home heating oil faced criticism from premiers across Canada. The motion calls for equal treatment of all forms of home heating and may potentially impact the future of the carbon tax policy. Economist Trevor Tombe predicts that the debate surrounding this issue is unlikely to die down, as the pause undermines the effectiveness of the carbon price and could lead to further exemptions or even the removal of the tax at the retail level.
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