Tories give Trudeau Liberals ultimatum over carbon tax plan

OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – The official federal opposition says it can’t support the Liberal government motion on the Paris Climate agreement unless the Trudeau government changes its carbon price plan.

Several provinces are angry they are being forced to choose between a carbon tax and a cap and trade system, otherwise Ottawa says it will impose a price on pollution.

Conservative Environment Critic Ed Fast says his party will try to move an amendment. “It would require the government to respect provincial and territorial jurisdiction and also not to increase overall carbon taxes on Canadians. We support the agreement itself, what we don’t support is this prime minister’s approach.”

The Tories oppose the government’s carbon price plan but agree with the Paris Agreement. However they say if their amendment fails they’ll have to vote against the motion.

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is dismissing the opposition demands. “This is about the future for my kids, his kids for our grandkids. This is about setting us up. Let’s stop playing politics. Canadians expect us to take action now and we’re serious as a government about doing that.”

The vote to ratify the agreement is expected this afternoon and with a Liberal majority it’s expected to pass easily.

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