Carney trumpets death of consumer carbon tax, Poilievre claims it will live again

Catharine Tunney · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 01, 2025 2:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Liberal Leader Mark Carney touted the extremity of the user c taxation during a run halt successful Winnipeg connected Tuesday morning, arsenic his main governmental hostile suggested he'll revive the arguable argumentation if re-elected.

Both Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre utilized the April 1 decease of the user c terms to tee off — a reminder of however this predetermination was erstwhile billed arsenic a referendum connected the contentious Justin Trudeau-era Liberal policy.

During Trudeau's unpopular last years, Poilievre — then trouncing the Liberals successful the polls — was adamant for what helium called a c taxation election, making "axe the tax" an anchor of his transportation to Canadians for the past 2 years. 

Carney mostly neutralized Poilievre's onslaught erstwhile helium signed a premier ministerial directive during his archetypal fewer hours successful office, instructing that the substance complaint for consumers extremity April 1. The concern terms for large-scale polluters remains.

"You whitethorn announcement that you volition soon beryllium paying up to 18 cents little per litre than you did yesterday to capable up your tank,"  Carney said during a run halt successful Winnipeg connected Day 10 of the campaign.

After signing the directive, Carney's governing and campaigning person go laser-focused connected the commercialized warfare launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The pivot appears to beryllium resonating. CBC's Poll Tracker suggests the once-collapsing Liberals are present astir apt to signifier authorities and are successful bulk territory.

Poilievre, who is facing disapproval that his campaign is missing the people by not talking capable astir Canada-U.S. relations, took purpose astatine "the celebrated c tax" during an earlier stop on Monday successful St. John's, N.L., accusing Carney of being disingenuous with his committedness to scrap it.  

"Up until astir 2 months ago, the Liberals said that if we didn't person a c tax, the full satellite would beryllium lit aflame," said Poilievre.

"After having this taxation successful spot for 7 years, and keeping the c taxation instrumentality connected the books arsenic we speak, what they present accidental is that they're going to fell the taxation from the pump for 28 days starring up to the election." 

WATCH | Poilievre says Liberals not committed to afloat removing user c tax 

Carney was a longtime protagonist of c pricing before changing people during the Liberal Party enactment campaign, saying it had go excessively "divisive."

Carney hasn't suggested he'll resurrect the user terms aft the election. The Liberal person has pledged to support and fortify the concern c price.

Poilievre has promised a Conservative authorities would alternatively extremity the concern terms connected c to "axe the taxation ... for good, for real."

On Monday, Poilievre defended his run messaging, arguing Canadians are inactive disquieted astir the lodging situation and outgo of living.

"My intent successful authorities is to reconstruct Canada's promise," helium said. "So we volition continue, contempt calls to the contrary, to speech astir those things, adjacent if I americium the lone person successful the state that offers immoderate change."