Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the concerns raised by Liberal Premier Andrew Furey of Newfoundland regarding the federal carbon tax.

In a press conference on Monday, Trudeau stated that Furey is utterly mistaken in his assessment that the carbon tax costs most Canadians more than the rebates benefit them.

When asked why not only Conservative Premiers across Canada, but also Furey, the Liberal Premier, are all opposed to the recent carbon tax hike, Trudeau told reporters that they’re all making Canadians poorer by wanting to scrap the tax. 

The Prime Minister said that provinces have their own opportunity to follow federal emissions guidelines with their own type of carbon tax, like British Columbia and Quebec have done. 

“That’s what a federal backstop is. But we’re not seeing detailed plans from the premiers on this. They’d much rather try to complain about it and make political hay out of this,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau mostly focused his criticism on the Conservative opposition, including federal leader Pierre Poilievre. 

However, when asked a second time about the Liberal and NDP opposition to his carbon tax, such as Furey and Ontario’s Liberal (opposition) leader, Bonnie Crombie, the Prime Minister doubled down. 

“The question for me isn’t, why am I fighting climate change and putting more money in people’s pockets? It’s why do so many politicians out there stand against fighting climate change and putting more money in people’s pockets? That’s the question,” Trudeau said.

The Prime Minister maintained that the federal carbon tax is an effective tool in the fight against climate change and that it ultimately puts more money in the pockets of four out of five Canadians through the associated rebates.

Furey pens letter to Trudeau

Two weeks ago, Furey penned an open letter to Trudeau, asking him to pause the planned April 1 carbon tax hike: “I continue to stand up for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians against the federal carbon tax…. I am now asking Ottawa to pause its planned increase to the carbon tax, set for April 1st, as the high cost of living is enough of a burden on families.”

Alberta Premier Smith subsequently responded: “Alberta stands shoulder to shoulder with people of Newfoundland & Labrador in their opposition to the Federal carbon tax, which makes life more unaffordable and hurts families.”

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs took it one step further, saying the tax is “crippling New Brunswickers.”

The Trudeau Government’s tax on carbon pollution went up by $15 per tonne on April 1, and aims to escalate annually until 2030.