Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is gearing up to present a motion of non-confidence in the Prime Minister, aiming to trigger what he terms a “carbon tax election,” should Justin Trudeau persist with the April 1 price hike.
Addressing his caucus on Parliament Hill, Poilievre emphasized his party’s ongoing efforts to pressure the federal minority Liberals on pollution pricing.
“I’m giving Trudeau one last chance to spike his hike. One last chance and only one more day,” declared Poilievre.
Throughout the week, bolstered by increasing resistance to the April 1 hike across Canada, including from premiers of both Conservative and Liberal stripes, Poilievre’s party has been relentless in pressing the Liberals on the carbon price. Their endeavors included a failed attempt to initiate an emergency debate on the issue.
Following question period, a vote is scheduled on Tuesday’s opposition day motion, urging the “NDP-Liberal coalition to immediately cancel this hike,” citing widespread opposition.
With another opposition day debate and vote set for Thursday, the Conservatives seem poised to escalate, despite slim chances of success.
Poilievre has tabled a motion that reads in part: “That the House declare non-confidence in the prime minister and his costly government… and call for the House to be dissolved so Canadians can vote in a carbon tax election.”
This isn’t the first time the federal Conservatives have threatened to bring down the Trudeau government. In 2020, they flirted with tabling a motion of non-confidence before retracting.
Similarly, calls for a “carbon tax election” have been voiced before, notably in November, amidst scrutiny over carbon-price exemptions for home heating oil.
The parliamentary “confidence convention” outlines that a defeated government is expected to resign or seek the dissolution of Parliament. However, since March 2021, the Liberals and New Democrats have operated under a supply-and-confidence agreement, ensuring the government’s stability until June 2025.(Developing Story)