Trudeau says Singh ‘caving’ to Poilievre on carbon price

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took shots at the NDP on Friday for equivocating on the consumer carbon price, accusing Jagmeet Singh of caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Speaking to reporters in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., Trudeau blasted the NDP in response to a question about the upcoming byelection in Montreal, arguing that voters in the riding deserve better than a party that would “walk away” from progressive values and the fight against climate change.

“I do believe that Jagmeet Singh and the NDP actually do care about the environment. It’s just increasingly obvious that they have no idea what to do to fight against climate change,” Trudeau said.

“They had no ideas on the environment, and one of the first things they do after walking away from that agreement to deliver progressive things for Canadians, is walk away from any plan to fight climate change.”

Trudeau was referring to the NDP leader’s announcement last week that the party was leaving the supply-and-confidence deal with the minority government.

On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but he would not say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.

Canada has a levy on fuel purchased by individuals and smaller businesses and another that is applied to a portion of the actual emissions produced by big industrial companies. The price per tonne is the same, but the way the systems work is different.

Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.

While the Conservatives have blamed the carbon levy for raising the cost of living, the