A motion concerning the carbon tax was brought to a vote in Parliament on Nov. 6.
This proposal, initiated by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, suggested expanding the suspension of the carbon tax to include all home heating methods. The motion did not pass.
Conservative Member of Parliament Bob Zimmer and Jackie Jacobson, former MLA for Nunakput, voiced their concerns about the carbon tax in Yellowknife earlier this week SA国际影视传媒� and they did it while standing in front of Liberal MP Michael McLeodSA国际影视传媒檚 constituency office.
SA国际影视传媒淎ll Liberal members were forced to vote with Justin Trudeau against (PoilievreSA国际影视传媒檚) motion,SA国际影视传媒� said Zimmer. SA国际影视传媒淲e were hoping some of the rural Liberal members of parliament would vote for the motion, but sadly, they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 because they were forced. What that does is basically support a carbon tax for the North.SA国际影视传媒�
Jacobson said he has witnessed firsthand the impacts of the carbon tax on Northern home heating, food costs and fuel prices. He expressed concern about the financial strain the tax has placed on Northern families, stating that related government rebates are insufficient to cover the increased cost of living.
The carbon tax program in the NWT is not a federal program. However, Zimmer pointed out that Trudeau forced the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 legislative assembly to implement the tax. The assembly chose to manage the tax themselves in order to rebate their citizens and mitigate some of the impacts.
But in April, Zimmer said, the federal government told the NWT that rebates couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be given out under the then-model.
SA国际影视传媒淗ere we have another Ottawa-knows-best plan again,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t really shows a lack of understanding of Northerners and the impacts of it.SA国际影视传媒�
However, the implementation of the tax has not gone as planned.
SA国际影视传媒淟ast year, when the bill went through, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 supposed to be a tiered system in the territory,SA国际影视传媒� said Jacobson. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 no tiered system, so that we failed right off the hop.SA国际影视传媒�
The impacts of the tax have been felt by trucking companies and food companies, who he says are being blamed for the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 decisions. Northerners face markups ranging from 150 per cent to 400 per cent on items like eggs and milk due to shipping costs, according to Jacobson.
Zimmer, a B.C. MP for the riding of Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, quoted a recent article which indicated that the carbon tax hike poses a major threat to territorial businesses. Shane Thompson, then-minister, expressed that the territory cannot afford to pay for the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 promises. Despite these concerns, the Government of Canada has refused to exempt the NWT from the federal carbon tax program.
Zimmer also spoke about the need for mineral exploration and getting critical minerals to market. He mentioned that the only active rare earth mine in Canada had gone bankrupt, and the company behind the effort had to seek sources of funding to keep the operation going. He blamed this on the existing regulatory regime.
The MP emphasized the need for more practical solutions such as forest management, water management and technological advancements.
Zimmer said if the Conservatives form the next federal government, getting rid of the carbon tax SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒楢xe the TaxSA国际影视传媒�, as has been the line SA国际影视传媒� will be one of the first things that would happen.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 an easy one,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat would eliminate the fuel surcharge to transport goods to places such as Tuktoyaktuk and elsewhere in the Arctic. If you look at Yukon, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a 92 cent surcharge on getting food from Edmonton to Dawson City. Getting rid of that alone would bring costs down dramatically.SA国际影视传媒�
-with files from James McCarthy
