Poilievre motion fails on carbon price increase; confidence threat remains

A Conservative motion to “spike the hike” and stop the April 1 carbon price increase was defeated in House of Commons on Wednesday as the environment minister says, “We can’t put climate change on pause.”

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre introduced a motion earlier this week to stop the annual carbon price increase, which is set to rise to $80 per tonne on April 1 from the current $65 per tonne.

Increases are scheduled to take place annually until 2030 when the pollution levy is set to reach $170 per tonne.

The motion was ultimately defeated, with the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois voting against.

Now, it appears Poilievre will introduce a non-confidence motion in the government over the increase.

“And call for the House to be dissolved so that Canadians can vote in a carbon tax election.”

Even if the motion is introduced, it likely will not be successful, due to the NDP having an agreement with the Liberals to support them on confidence matters in exchange for pushing legislative priorities like pharmacare.

When asked about the carbon price hike previously, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he wants to see the GST removed from home heating as he says it is an essential service.

This is the final sitting week for MPs before April 1, and the Conservatives signalled plans to use a variety of legislative tools to stop the increase.

On Tuesday, Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault said that the government will not pause the increase, despite receiving a request from the Liberal premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and growing concerns from Ontario Liberals about the policy, saying climate change isn’t stopping.

“The cost of climate change are also going up. And we can’t put climate change on pause. We can’t put