Canada’s conservatives are addicted to lying to you about carbon pricing. We’re here to keep them honest, and give you the whole story about Canada’s plan to fight climate change.
Lie: the rebate won’t cover the costs associated with the carbon tax
The Truth: Canada’s independent budget watchdog, the Parliamentary Budget Office,released a reportanalyzing the costs associated with carbon pricing, and found that only the wealthiest quintile of Canadians (those who make over 100,000 dollars a year) will have to pay more than what they get back.
Lie: Trudeau’s giving special deals to big polluters while charging you the full price of the carbon tax.
Polluters are charged the same carbon price as individuals. There are rebates going to certain emitters, just like households, because they export products and it will help keep Canada competitive while fighting climate change. Far from being a policy loophole, the rebates to industry are a key way to ensure our export industry stays strong.
Lie: Canadians can’t fix a changingclimateon our own – we shouldn’t have a carbon tax until countries like China and the United States start taking real action.
All countries need to take action but Canada must do its part. Countries who emit as much carbon as Canada or less represent one third of all global emissions. So Canada and other countries like it need to be part of the solution. Further, China and the US have recognized the need to fight climate change and are taking action. The US has carbon pricing in 10 states representing 1/3 of its economy, and China has implemented a carbon price in its power sector, which by 2020 will be the largest carbon pricing program in the world.
Lie: You can’t trust the government to return carbon tax money to consumers.
Under the government’s federal carbon pricing law, they are legally obligated to return carbon rebate money to you. The government made the rebate available to residents of Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick as part of their 2018 income taxes.
Lie: The carbon tax will do nothing for the environment.
Carbon pricing around the world has proven to reduce fuel use and change behaviour. In BC, which has the fastest growing economy in Canada, carbon emissions are up to 15% lowerthan they otherwise would’ve been. In Britain, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, greenhouse gas emissions have fallen to their lowest level since 1890. One key factor: A carbon tax that has prompted electric utilities to switch away from coal. In California, where a cap and trade program is in place, emissions have fallen by 14% since 2005, they have the third lowest emissions level in the country. In short, carbon pricing really does work to cut emissions and change behaviour.
Lie: The carbon tax will kill jobs and hurt our economy.
The Truth: Carbon pricing is universally considered the lowest cost way to address climate change. By returning money to households and businesses, the economic impact will be minimal. In fact, a carbon price can spur economic growth in some fast-growing sectors like clean energy. Despite what politicians say, many businesses across Canada support it including the largest business group in Canada representing 200,000 businesses of all sizes.
Lie: Canadians can’t afford to pay the carbon tax and the costs related to it.
This totally ignores the fact that the government is giving 90% of the funds back to Canadian families as rebates. Most Canadians (8 in 10) will be better off – receiving more in rebates than they pay in extra costs. The only Canadians who will pay more than they get back are those in the wealthiest quintile in the country. Canadians deserve the whole truth – climate change is too important to play political games like this.
Lie: The carbon tax is an excuse for the government to take money from citizens.
This is purposefully misleading. The vast majority of households will be financially better off because the government is returning 90% of the tax directly to households (the rest goes to businesses and nonprofits). The average Ontario family will get a $307 rebate in April (and will pay $240 in increased gas, heating and other costs). Why is Doug Ford purposely misleading people?