Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to repeal Canada’s entire carbon pricing system, including both consumer and industrial charges, if elected as prime minister. His statement follows Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent decision to phase out the consumer carbon price, set to be removed after March 31, 2025.
In a video posted on social media, Poilievre criticized the Liberal government’s decision to end only the consumer carbon price through an order-in-council, arguing that a serious commitment to eliminating the charge should be done through Parliamentary legislation.
“If the Liberals were truly committed to ending the carbon tax, they would recall Parliament and pass legislation—not just issue an order,” Poilievre stated.
Poilievre reaffirmed that a Conservative government would eliminate carbon pricing entirely, including the industrial charge, which currently applies to businesses in Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, and Nunavut—the only jurisdictions using the federal industrial pricing system. All other provinces set their own industrial pollution charges, using the federal price as a minimum benchmark.
Instead of carbon pricing, Poilievre’s plan to reduce emissions would focus on:
- Expanding eligibility for clean technology tax credits
- Supporting clean manufacturing incentives to drive private-sector investment
With a federal election expected soon, the future of carbon pricing in Canada is emerging as a key political battleground. The Liberals argue that carbon pricing is necessary for climate action, while Poilievre’s Conservatives claim the policy is driving up the cost of living without effectively lowering emissions.
As the campaign unfolds, Canadians will soon decide the future of carbon pricing and environmental policy at the ballot box.