Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced jeers from local leaders over his stance on the carbon tax in Canada.
Trudeau, addressing the Big City Mayor’s Caucus in Halifax with Mayor Mike Savage, discussed the nation’s progress and took questions from the audience, which comprises mayors from Canada’s largest cities working with the Federal Government.
During the event, an audience member criticized Trudeau for increasing the national debt, leading to a round of applause. The Prime Minister highlighted government efforts to stabilize the Canadian economy, including inflation reduction and the carbon tax, which he claimed benefits eight out of ten Canadian families financially.
His comments were met with boos and heckles from the audience, to which Trudeau responded with a light-hearted acknowledgment before FCM could confirm the questioner’s identity.
A segmented video of the exchange, shared on social media by Andrew Lawton of True North Wire, garnered over 1.5 million views.
The revenue generated from the carbon tax is redistributed to the provinces or territories where it was collected, maintaining its neutrality to the federal government, as confirmed by a spokesperson. The government website reveals that most households receive more in rebates than they pay in carbon charges, with lower-income families benefiting the most.
Trudeau’s political rivals, like Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, oppose the tax and promise its repeal. The Canadian Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act, enforced on June 20, 2021, aims to achieve a net-zero emission status by 2050.