Goldie Ghamari - Question Period - Liberal Carbon Tax scheme

00:00:00.000 Last week, the Toronto Sun called the Liberals' carbon tax scheme plan a Peter Pan approach

00:00:25.080 to carbon pricing. The National Post proclaimed the Liberals were in retreats over their—

00:00:32.920 I asked the member who is the question to, which minister?

00:00:37.400 Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.

00:00:43.480 After years of government here at Queen's Park that rolled over any time the federal government

00:00:49.240 asked for anything, we finally have a government who is standing up for the people. Sorry,

00:00:54.520 not sorry. Will the Minister of the Environment commit to this place that he will continue

00:01:00.520 to fight a Trudeau carbon tax of any kind and of any size?

00:01:10.520 Mr. Speaker, through you to the member from Carleton, thank you for that question.

00:01:15.160 Last week, I was very pleased to join my colleague, the Attorney General,

00:01:18.600 as we announced our next steps as a government to fight the Trudeau carbon tax.

00:01:24.520 Our government promised that we would take steps to protect Ontario families, to help

00:01:31.620 job creators, at the same time as pursuing a real action plan that would support the

00:01:35.680 future of our environment. That plan will not include a regressive carbon tax.

00:01:40.880 We understand that carbon taxes are not effective, and the people of Ontario understand that

00:01:44.240 a carbon tax will not be revenue neutral. We know it, Ontario businesses know it, the

00:01:49.820 people of Ontario know it, and now the Prime Minister is indicating that perhaps he knows

00:01:54.140 With all of the uncertainty in the economy today, with all of the tension in our trade

00:01:58.200 relationships, Ontario does not need a job-killing carbon tax.

00:02:09.620 I thank the Minister for his response.

00:02:11.960 Mr. Speaker, back to the Minister.

00:02:14.360 It's no surprise the federal government's plan to impose a carbon tax on the people

00:02:18.380 of Ontario is falling by the wayside.

00:02:21.180 As the minister mentioned, last week, our government announced our intentions to vigorously

00:02:26.120 challenge the authority of the federal government to impose a national carbon plan.

00:02:32.060 I'm proud to know that we are on the side of the people.

00:02:36.320 Just over a week ago, a new poll was released that reported two-thirds of Canadians agree

00:02:42.940 with our policy and believe that provinces should have jurisdiction over how to reduce

00:02:49.760 emissions. Will the Minister of the Environment confirm that he will

00:02:54.760 continue to fight for what's best and for what's right for the people?

00:02:58.820 Mr. Speaker, through to the member from Carleton. As the member noted, the

00:03:09.260 federal government has started its climb down after seeing the writing on the

00:03:12.060 wall, not just from the polls, which are very interesting, but after direct

00:03:16.100 feedback from Canadian business, Canadian business that went to them and said we

00:03:20.000 can't be competitive globally when we have the pressure of this carbon tax. The

00:03:24.680 Trudeau government has finally admitted the carbon tax is a bad idea. Mr. Speaker,

00:03:28.820 a tax is a tax and the federal government is acknowledging that the

00:03:32.220 carbon tax is bad for jobs and bad for investment. If the Prime Minister is

00:03:36.380 willing to cut carbon tax deals with big business, he should not stop at half

00:03:40.760 measures and he should be willing to eliminate his carbon tax on the people

00:03:44.780 Ontario. Our message to the Prime Minister was clear. Prime Minister, it's never too

00:03:49.460 late to do the right thing. Scrap your carbon tax. Stand up for the families of Ontario.

00:03:54.460 Stand up for jobs in Ontario.

Goldie Ghamari - October 03, 2018