Liberal platform contains no alternative to federal carbon tax
PCs slam Susan Holt’s claim that she’ll persuade Ottawa to approve a different system for consumer emissions
New Brunswick Liberals have released a full campaign platform that contains no specific plan for how to address one of their biggest political liabilities: the federal carbon tax.
Leader Susan Holt says she'll work to persuade the federal government to let her adopt an alternative to the federal price, which this year is adding 17.6 cents to the price of a litre of gasoline.
"That's a conversation that we'll need to have with Ottawa," she told reporters.
Earlier this year, Holt promised "a bold made-in-New Brunswick plan that reflects our local reality and opportunities" if she becomes premier — reflecting that many residents don't have an alternative to driving cars and trucks that produce carbon dioxide emissions.
'I'm not Brian Gallant,' Holt says
A previous Liberal premier, Brian Gallant, attempted to make that argument to the Trudeau government in 2017 and 2018, when he crafted a provincial carbon price with a built-in rebate.
But Ottawa rejected that, and imposed its own price, because it didn't comply with the national climate plan's pricing standard.
"I'm not Brian Gallant and this isn't Brian Gallant's model, so we're going to bring something different to the feds," Holt said Thursday after releasing her full platform.
The federal carbon price is designed to nudge consumer behaviour away from burning fossil fuels by gradually raising the cost of consumption — while providing rebates after the fact.
Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs has brushed off the rebates and complained that the tax adds to the cost of living.
He has repeatedly assailed Holt for not standing up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the issue, tying her to Trudeau's unpopularity.
PC
Leader Blaine Higgs has called out Susan Holt for what he calls not
standing up to Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the carbon
tax. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)
Holt opposed the most recent scheduled increase to the carbon tax in April.
But she was not able to articulate on Thursday what she might put in place as premier that would remove the 17.6-cent charge from the pumps while still complying with the federal requirement.
"We're going to go to Ottawa with a clear ask of what we want our industrial price to be, what we're looking to do incentivize and support new Brunswickers to change their behaviour … and I am expecting a willingness to have the conversation from the federal government," Holt said.
The national plan requires both a fuel charge for consumers and an industrial price, unless a province adopts an alternative such as a cap-and-trade system used in Quebec.
The Green Party has promised to adopt that mechanism, which they say shifts more of the cost of emissions to industry.
The existing New Brunswick industrial price, known as an output-based pricing system, has been accepted by Ottawa, even though critics say it's not stringent enough.
Holt said it needs to be more "robust" but provided no detail of what she'd propose on the consumer side.
PC candidate Glen Savoie said Holt's answers aren't consistent with her attempts to distance herself from Trudeau.
"Susan Holt has run around everywhere saying she's never had a conversation with this prime minister, but yet somehow she's going to convince him to take off the consumer portion of the carbon tax?" Savoie said.
"This is just more Liberal strategy to confuse voters."
PC
candidate Glen Savoie pointed out what appears to be either an
accounting error or an increased HST in the Liberal platform costing
table. (Jacques Poitras/CBC News)
Savoie also questioned the overall costing of Holt's platform, pointing out that it appears to count a portion of harmonized sales tax revenue twice.
The PCs have promised to cut the HST by two points, to 13 per cent, at an eventual annual cost of $450 million in lost revenue.
The Liberal platform costing table shows that revenue being added back onto the provincial total – but the total already assumes a 15 per cent HST, meaning the $450 million is being counted twice.
Savoie said either the Liberals have made a major accounting error or are planning to raise the HST by another two points to 17 per cent.
"They need to come clean with New Brunswickers about what this is actually going to mean," he says.
"It tells me that as per usual, Liberals are not going to put out anything that gives a transparent fiscal accounting of what their election promises are actually going to be."
Without the double-counting of the HST revenue, the Liberal costing would show budget deficits.
In an email statement, the Liberals didn't dispute the revenue is being counted twice but pointed out that Higgs's HST math doesn't add up either.
The PC leader hasn't said clearly how he would avoid cutting services without that $450 million in revenue, talking in vague terms about finding better ways to manage government finances.
"Premier Higgs has said he can reduce the HST without impacting the deficit," the Liberals said in a statement.
"We thought that should be reflected in the costing to give a sense of what surplus surprise the government is expecting."
The
Liberal campaign criticized Higgs for not clearly explaining how he
would cover costs after the HST is cut, a key campaign promise from the
PCs. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The 30-page Liberal platform document is the first full platform from any of the three major parties campaigning for the Oct. 21 election.
It recaps the party's major promises to date and adds some new ones.
But it also omits some of the ideas that were approved by members at a Liberal policy convention in February, including lowering the voting age to 16 and convening a "citizens' assembly" to discuss electoral reform.
Holt said Thursday that she was open to the idea, which was opposed by several sitting Liberal MLAs who attended and voted at the policy convention.
"That discussion is happening now with candidates and, actually, with folks from other parties," Holt said.
"That's something we're not prepared to promise in an electoral platform like this, but those are conversations that are going to continue."
She said the party chose to focus the platform on issues that are clearly priorities for New Brunswickers.
Vivian Unger, a party member who introduced the resolution on electoral reform at the February convention, said it was disappointing that electoral reform and a lower voting age were excluded.
"Those are both things that will improve democracy, and they are things that the members voted on," she said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reply to David Amos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZqArRNshSM&list=PLuU1suLgDIULi75uxJ83972pfHR0MM5gE&index=3&t=313s
2018 New Brunswick Provincial Election Fredericton Region Candidate Messages
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OU5s0ilggY&list=PLuU1suLgDIULi75uxJ83972pfHR0MM5gE&index=1Meanwhile the Provincial Fuel tax adds 10.87 cents a litre and then the HST provinical componet adds another 10% so lets call that 15 cents a litre.
If the cost of fuel is to high the politicians should lower the taxes they control.
Jerry Dion
Those balance budgets every year isn't looking to good.
Jerry Dion
Reply to Jerry Dion
Meaning holts promise
David Amos
Reply to Jerry Dion
Do you recall what I said about the provincial debt when I ran in 2018? If not rest assured that Higgy does
David Amos
Reply to Jerry Dion
Do you recall who defeated Holt in 2018?
Jerry Dion
So does that mean Holt isn't gonna change the clean fuel regulations she heavily criticized Higgs on?
David Amos
Reply to Jerry Dion
Nope
Denis Van Humbeck
Better technology is needed not carbon tax.
David Amos
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
Yup
Marc Leger
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
The technology’s there, buy an EV.
Michael G. McKay
Unfortunately Ms. Holt the leader of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick is too WOKE in her policy and will adopt the policies and agenda of the Federal Liberal party Government that is now in power. I can honestly say that nothing any good or lasting other than a lot of hi prices, and a Globalist agenda that is what we as New Brunswickers can expect from a Liberal part in power in the Province of New Brunswick. I would not vote Liberal if they were the last party to vote for. they are simply not worth voting for.
David Amos
Reply to Michael G. McKay
Why is it I am not surprised?
Lou Bell
This is more like Ms. Holt is being made aware that her promises would guarantee NBers another 4 years of high deficits and an added billions more in debt from her party . Just look at their candidates and their shadow cabinet they've had over the past 4 years . Most all NBers haven't even heard from them . Our Public Broadcaster has been their mouthpiece with their left wing news , and as we're now seeing from polls by Narrative research , we've been not getting the truth .
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
If you know the truth tell it
Robert Brannen
Reply to Lou Bell
Finally, one of your posts that I have found useful. You have confirmed my suspicion that one of the numbers that pops up from time to time on my Call Display is, in fact, a polling organization. I never answer that call. Thank you!
Lou Bell
Really , anyone surprised Liberals have made another huge accounting blunder ? Remember , they and the Greens , as well as the union leaders themseves , have said they fully support the one Public Employees union that has cost NBers oer a billion dollars in underfunded pensions , and currently their pensdion fund is in arrears of 287 million dollars , a fund Prmier Higgs has attempted to convert to the same " shared risk " plans of all the other Public employees , a plan that has cost NBers not one cent , and of which those employees have indicated they're very happy with . In fact , the antiquated fund is shown returns well under those of the shared risk plan . Really , we sure don't need and can't afford the Liberals and Greens anywhere near our taxpayer dollars !
David Amos
Reply to Lou Bell
Why are you not running in this election? Obviously you have been campaigning for years
Buford Wilson
I see Susan is following Blaine's lead on the carbon tax issue.
Smart. Very smart.
David Amos
Reply to Buford Wilson
Yea right
Demelza Jones
The carbon tax isn't a problem what is a problem is oil and gas and their plastics as if Canadians are that foolish. My province was destroyed by a conservative government for 7 years our debt and the loss of services which costs lives our wounds are fresh If we can not see through this scam when fires are burning, places are under water we have plastics and forever chemicals in our bodies what more proof is there. When a political party make no mistake federal or provincial is supported by an industry based on gluttonous behavior and federal conservatives are claiming they will fix everything their provincial conservatives and Harper broke. A carbon tax is a positive and will do nothing for the cost of living if eliminated. Harper's evolution on Canada's international mobility program IMP will explain our immigration situation which has nothing to do with the sitting federal government this is a provincial problem under the provincial conservatives governments. Canadian conservatives are the same as republicans in U.S as the Tory's in the UK provincial, state, municipal they all wear the same coat the UK is in a terrible state after 13 years of what they call Tory rot.
James Risdon
Reply to Demelza Jones
It is patently untrue that immigration is primarily a provincial matter and it is equally untrue that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has simply been like previous governments in its approach to immigration.
The Trudeau government in Ottawa has set record-breaking immigration levels for several years now, both for permanent immigrants and temporary ones in our universities and working here as temporary foreign workers.
Canada has never in its history had as high a number of immigrants in our country. This is due to the Liberal government's immigration levels plan which sets out even higher immigration targets for next year.
With regards to the carbon tax, removing it would clearly help ease inflation as it would reduce the cost of goods and services Canadians buy. Imposing taxes curbs consumer spending, cutting taxes fuels consumer spending. That's just basic economics.
Liberals and Conservatives are not the same. In terms of taxes and spending, Liberals tend to raise taxes and increase government spending. Conservatives tend to lower taxes and cut back on government spending.
Sometimes government spending is a good thing. We all enjoy public schools and healthcare and roads and parks. But when government spending goes overboard, it leaves the country - or province - in debt and increases the government's interest costs which means money then gets diverted from things like education and healthcare just to pay interest on the debt.
Out-of-control government spending has to be brought in check so our tax dollars can be used on things we want and need, like education and healthcare and roads and parks, and not frittered away on interest payments because our governments are too much in debt.
Premier Blaine Higgs' government is bringing down that debt.
David Amos
Reply to Demelza Jones
How long has Trudeau the Younger held the reigns of power?
valmond landry
Reply to James Risdon
higgs is bringing down the debt on the back of us the tax payers while giving big corporation special treatment .
Strange how the war in Afghanistan and Iraq had little effect on gasoline and diesel fuel prices. Canada and the U.S had better leaders back then.
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
Better leaders? Bush and Cheney with ombs urstin in air for what? Moneeeeey! Quite an effect on the area and the world in general. Let's get with today?
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
Afghanistan isn't a major oil producer and the average price of a barrel of oil in 2003 was $30 per barrel in March 2003 and $98 by the end of 2011.
Try harder.
Reply to Harold Reagan
What moneeeey?
Reply to Harold Reagan
Amen
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
Our moneeeey
Reply to David Amos
Our current government is taking more of our moneeeey with carbon taxes and subsidies to the Ontario auto sector.
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
There was no war in Afghanistan; it was an invasion.
Denis Van Humbeck
Scrap that carbon tax. It does nothing. How about putting China out of business with its coal mines along with India.
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
🤣🤣🤣
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
China aside from coal, is leading the world in renewables and sets an example for us to follow. They claim to need coal for a while to produce steel.
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
Don't they have coal mines in Canada?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-mine-to-hire-only-chinese-temporary-workers-for-years-1.1144647
Reply to Denis Van Humbeck
How much of a rebate did you get?
TOM CASEY
Wow never in an election have I ever been so underwhelmed. Is the rhinoceros party still alive?
David Amos
Reply to TOM CASEY
I am still alive
Reply to TOM CASEY
You should see B.C. politics, kinda makes you want a gag.
Carbon taxes are like opinions: everybodys got one
Reply to james bolt
I don't have a carbon tax but I have lots of opinions
Studies on countries across the globe have proved that carbon taxes work, so a non issue anyway.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
Surely you jest
Reply to David Amos
John is being inconsiderate.
he should realize that facts will confuse some people
Reply to Steph Roche
I don't see your names going on any ballot
Reply to John Montgomery
Then why do so few countries have a carbon tax ?
Reply to Dennis Woodman
do some homework buddy , most countries do
Reply to buster jones
Most countries? 27 does out of 195 countries.
James Risdon
Provincial Liberal leader Susan Holt is basically a clone of federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. She even uses the same phrasing in speeches as does Prime Minister Trudeau.
Expecting her to do anything other than Ottawa's bidding on the carbon tax is just downright silly.
Holt will do whatever Trudeau asks her to do. They're both playing on the same team.
If you like Trudeau, vote Holt. If you don't like Trudeau, well, why would you vote for clone in New Brunswick?
higgs will do anything big corporation tell him to do except the people that voted him in .
Reply to valmond landry
And also the people who share his religion. Let's not forget that.
Reply to John Montgomery
Lets not forget that just last week, Speaker Greg Fergus ruled that the government "clearly did not fully comply" with an order from the House to provide documents related to a now-defunct foundation responsible for doling out hundreds of millions of federal dollars for green technology projects.
Reply to James Risdon
This is baloney. Susan Holt is not like Trudeau. Trudeau is an arrogant fop who thinks he knows better about everything than everybody. Holt is much more humble and willing to listen. I like Holt, and I can't stand Trudeau.
Reply to Vivian Unger
Provincial Liberal leader Susan Holt has used exactly the same phrasing as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, head of the federal Liberal party, in her campaign. That's a matter of public record.
They both have the exact same stand on the carbon tax.
True, Holt is a blonde woman and Trudeau is a dark-haired man. They are not the same person.
Their politics, though, are exactly the same.
Holt will not stand up to Trudeau. That much is certain.
Daniel Henwell
Liberals at all levels have historically taxed this country into oblivion.
MR Cain
Reply to Daniel Henwell
Canadians have always benefited the most with Liberal governments.
Reply to Daniel Henwell
“Liberals at all levels have historically taxed this country into oblivion”
Clearly you are not familiar with Canadian history
Reply to Eddy Geek
I am
Reply to Eddy Geek
What was our National Debt in 1970?
Reply to David Amos
One graph is worth a thousand words
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/a-really-quick-history-of-canada-s-federal-debt
Reply to David Amos
Problem is that graph is almost a decade old now.
Reply to MR Cain
Benefited how ?
Reply to Mike Fowler
That is the problem
MR Cain
Reply to Dennis Woodman
You got your rebate. Got kids too, I bet. Start there. No sense I tell you; you will learn if you look for yourself.
Matt Steele
Susan Holt is the P Ms biggest cheerleader , so she won't say a thing . Fortunately , the FERERAL government will change in another year , and the Carbon Tax will be eliminated by the incoming CPC . One more year , and it is BYE BYE Carbon Tax .
Reply to Matt Steele
Matt Steele
Reply to Chantal LeBouthi.
Very easily , by changing the law which Parliament is free to do , and will do once the CPC assumes power in a year's time.
Reply to Matt Steele
“and the Carbon Tax will be eliminated by the incoming CPC”
Yes, but then replaced with a carbon fee
Reply to Eddy Geek
Yea right
John Montgomery
Reply to Eddy Geek
They would need to renegotiate most trade agreements with Europe to actually do that
valmond landry
Reply to Matt Steele
can't change the law with a minority government polirabit will never go in anyway
Reply to Matt Steele
Cheerleaders don't say a thing? I'm not sure how you can be a cheerleader for somebody without saying positive things about them.
Dennis Woodman
Reply to Matt Steele
Or sooner. The Bloc has a month end deadline for Libs to comply
Dennis Woodman
Reply to Eddy Geek
How do you know what it will be replaced with ?
Dennis Woodman
Reply to John Montgomery
Vast majority of our trade is with US and China.
Dan Lee
Cons......transparent accounting.....bahahaha........
David Amos
David Amos
"The government has been unable to put any of its own business before the House of Commons for a full week, and the Conservatives on Thursday said that's the result of Liberal "corruption."
Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer said the governing party would rather see the House bogged down in debate than produce documents related to misspent government dollars in a program his party has dubbed the "green slush fund."
House Speaker Greg Fergus ruled last Thursday that the government "clearly did not fully comply" with an order from the House to provide documents related to a now-defunct foundation responsible for doling out hundreds of millions of federal dollars for green technology projects.
The House has been seized with a debate on the issue ever since and Scheer said it will stay that way until the government agrees to hand over the documents to police."
David Amos
Reply to Dan Lee
Oh My My
Chantal LeBouthi
Meanwhile the facts is In 2023, the Government of Canada provided at least $18.553 billion in financial support to fossil fuel and petrochemical companies.
Can you imagine if we could get that money how we could change things but no
Ron parker
Reply to Chantal LeBouthi
I wish they would stop that, they are doing fine on their own.
Darren MacDonald
Reply to Chantal LeBouthi
Can you imagine if the same government could find the missing hundreds of billions they are yet to account for.
Chantal LeBouthi
Reply to Darren MacDonald
Agreed
Eddy Geek
Reply to Ron parker
Doing fine?
They’re making record profits that unfortunately go out of the country to the foreign owners of the big oil and gas companies
David Amos
Reply to Chantal LeBouthi
Ditto
Vivian Unger
Reply to Eddy Geek
Record profits, yes. I think that qualifies as "doing fine on their own."
And let's not forget the TMX, which has cost Canadians billions and allowed the doubling of tar sands output. A climate disaster in the making. That money could have been used to put solar panels on every roof in the country, among other things. Trudeau is a spectacular failure.
Dennis Woodman
Reply to Chantal LeBouthi
Meanwhile Canada has given 43 billion to battery plants, millions on EV rebates and heat pump rebates. Can you imagine what we could do with that money ?
Dennis Woodman
Reply to Vivian Unger
Why is a climate disaster in the making ?
Ron parker
Reply to Eddy Geek
Yes, like I said.
Robert Brannen
I'm happy to see the idea of lowering the voting age to 16 is gone, it should never have been lowered below age 21.
Jake Newman
Reply to Robert Brannen
Why? at 16 you can drive a car, you can change your name or sex, but voting is a no-go?
Reply to Jake Newman
The human brain is still a few years short of reaching full maturity at the age of 16.
Reply to Jake Newman
What the drinking age in NB Jake?
Oh btw/ a person must be at least 18 to change their gender in NB
David Amos
Reply to Robert Brannen
So you say
Reply to Jake Newman
16 yr olds would just vote for who their parents told them too.
Robert Brannen
Reply to David Amos
Regarding the brain, those who study such matters agree it reaches full development in the mid to late twenties.
Vivian Unger
The carbon tax is supposed to leave most people with more money in their bank accounts due to the rebate. I guess everyone from Liberals to the media have given up on pointing that out?
MR Cain
Reply to Vivian Unger
The PCs always forget; when reminded, they ignore. Everybody knows it benefits 8 out of 10 Canadians.
David Amos
Reply to Vivian Unger
Par for the course
Dennis Woodman
Reply to MR Cain
If the carbon tax was really about emissions, it would be used for green initiatives, not rebated.
Jake Newman
so no actual plan and a potential a HST increase from the liberals?
David Amos
Reply to Jake Newman
Bingo
Loran Hayden
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