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WINNIPEG — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew appeared at odds over taxing carbon Thursday.
Kinew’s NDP authorities, elected final October, is placing collectively a proposal to attempt to persuade Ottawa to exempt the province from the federally imposed carbon tax — known as a backstop — that has added to the price of gasoline, pure gasoline and different objects.
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Trudeau, within the Manitoba capital to announce new funding for reasonably priced housing, mentioned Manitoba and different provinces are free to suggest options to the federal backstop, however they have to embrace a worth on carbon.
“Numerous jurisdictions have moved ahead with completely different measures which might be completely different from the federal backstop, that preserve a worth sign on air pollution whereas they put money into renewables, whereas they proceed to achieve for internet zero (emissions), and that’s an necessary a part of your complete dialog that we’re having,” Trudeau informed reporters.
“However what stays important is that it can’t be free to pollute anyplace across the nation.”
Kinew later informed reporters that he needs the federal backstop eliminated and isn’t proposing to interchange it with a Manitoba tax on carbon.
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Manitoba’s proposal, nonetheless in growth, relies on emission-cutting initiatives — rebates on electrical automobiles on this week’s funds, subsidies for individuals switching to wash vitality for house heating and the billions of {dollars} Manitoba has spent on its hydroelectric grid.
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“We’ve bought a reputable path to internet zero. So we’re going to work along with that different degree of presidency to search out an strategy that works for Manitobans,” Kinew mentioned.
“It’s a two-way dialog. So we stay up for partaking.”
Kinew has been one of many much less overtly defiant premiers on the federal carbon tax. He was not among the many seven provincial leaders who not too long ago referred to as on the federal authorities to cancel the April 1 enhance within the federal worth. He has been hoping to influence the federal authorities that Manitoba deserves credit score for the steps it has taken to scale back emissions.
The previous Progressive Conservative authorities in Manitoba tried to keep away from the federal tax by means of inexperienced initiatives and included a decrease carbon tax in its plan. Nevertheless it didn’t persuade the federal authorities. The Tories took the matter to courtroom and misplaced.
Now in Opposition, the Tories mentioned Kinew has no choice to keep away from the federal backstop apart from imposing his personal carbon tax, regardless of his public statements on the contrary.
“When are the NDP going to share the main points of their Manitoba carbon tax?” interim Tory chief Wayne Ewasko mentioned in query interval.
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