Highlights: Canada plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. To do this, it will increase the carbon tax on April 1. This anti-pollution tool is targeted by the Conservative party in opposition. Seven provinces have asked to suspend or cancel the increase. The province of Newfoundland, although held by an ally of Justin Trudeau, is asking for a reprieve “ at least until inflation stabilizes ” “The current government has great difficulty explaining its own tax,” says a professor of political science.

Canada plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. To do this, it will increase the carbon tax on April 1. This anti-pollution tool is targeted by the party…

In Canada, the increase in the carbon tax does not pass

Canada plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. To do this, it will increase the carbon tax on April 1. This anti-pollution tool is targeted by the Conservative party in opposition. For months, its leader has promised to abolish it if he is elected in the next elections.

Canada is raising prices at the pump in the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick. The government believes that they have not taken measures deemed compatible with greenhouse gas reduction objectives (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)

By: RFI Follow

Canada

, discontent is growing against the carbon tax and its increase, raising it from 45 to 55 euros on April 1, is not happening. The surge in inflation in recent years and the push by the conservative opposition, which promises to abolish this tax if it returns to power, have clearly weakened this policy put in place by the Canadian Prime Minister in 2019.

Day after day, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilièvre hammers home the same message from every platform: The carbon tax is responsible for inflation in Canada and it must be removed. Seven provinces have asked to suspend or cancel the increase. The province of Newfoundland, although held by an ally of

Justin Trudeau,

is asking for a reprieve “

at least until inflation stabilizes

”.

“A communication problem”

However, a large number of economists argue the opposite, reports our correspondent in Quebec,

Pascale Guéricolas

. This taxation, applied in businesses and at the gas pump, has little inflationary effect and is very effective, as illustrated by Maya Papineau-Koritar, professor of economics. “

Theories have existed since the 1970s to prove that this is the most economical approach to achieve our CO2 reduction targets

,” she assures.

In addition, the government reimburses part of this tax to consumers, which the latter are unaware of, as a recent survey showed. “

The current government has great difficulty explaining its own tax. So there is a communication problem on the part of the government which poorly explained its tax and the measures it put in place to mitigate the effects of the tax

,” says Geneviève Tellier, professor of political science.

All this leaves the field open to his conservative adversaries. They continue to attack the Prime Minister on his inability to fight inflation, with a very populist message that is winning big in the polls.

In Canada, the increase in the carbon tax does not pass

In Canada, the increase in the carbon tax does not pass

“A communication problem”

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