Ahead of the April 1 carbon tax hike, Chrystia Freeland refuses to answer how much money the Liberal government has taken out of the pockets of Canadians through the carbon tax.

Speaking yesterday, Conservative MP Marty Morantz had the opportunity to ask Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland a very simple question: “How much has your government collected in carbon taxes.”

Freeland, much like Trudeau, completely dodged the question, stating, “[This is] also an opportunity for me to point out that Manitoba families will be getting $1,200 this year.”

“Again, minister, if I could just have the number [of] how much you’ve collected in carbon taxes,” Morantz persisted.

Again, Freeland completely sidestepped the very straightforward question. According to Freeland, the “key point” that viewers should take away on the carbon tax is that the “price on pollution” is “revenue neutral”. And upon further grilling, she claimed that money taken via the carbon tax is “all money that goes back to Canadians,” which isn’t true.

Of course, Freeland knows the real number, even if she won’t say it out loud, as does the opposition.

How much has actually been taken?

“With the greatest respect, it’s not revenue neutral,” Morantz said. “The estimates say that—you refuse to answer with giving accurate information, minister. The government’s own financial documents—your main estimates—show that you’ve collected $20.7 billion in carbon taxes and have only paid out $18.6 billion since the carbon tax took effect.”

“Your government’s collected over 2 billion dollars out of the pockets of Canadians since the tax has been implemented that you have not paid back.”

Again, Freeland refused to address this issue, claiming that the extra money would be going to help small businesses in the future and that smalls will have “good news soon.” However, no specific date has been set for that “good news” and the carbon tax hike is still set for April 1.