WESTLOCK — Peace River-Westlock Member of Parliament (MP) Arnold Viersen joined with fellow Conservative MPs in supporting a motion directing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to publicly meet with premiers regarding carbon pricing.
The motion, which was adopted with the support of the NDP and Bloc parties April 10, states the prime minister must do so within five weeks.
“The Prime Minister admitted that the last time he met with premiers about the carbon tax was in 2016 – eight years ago,” said Viersen in the House of Commons on Wednesday. “Since then, the carbon tax has been wreaking havoc on the finances of Canadians and our economy.”
He also followed up with a question he asked of the government in December 2023, regarding carbon taxes and farming. Viersen spoke of the impact the carbon tax is having on farmers and young families in communities across the region.
“When we tax the farmer who grows the food, tax the truckers that deliver the food and tax the person who sells the food, Canadians cannot afford to buy the food,” said Viersen. “Very soon, a 5,000-acre farm in Canada will be paying $150,000 a year in carbon taxes.
He also highlighted the increased visits to food banks in Barrhead, Westlock and Peace River, as a result of the carbon tax.
“Barrhead and District Family and Community Support Services, in a town of fewer than 5,000 people, saw 184 new families using the food bank in 2023. This was a dramatic increase from 2022,” said Viersen. “The Westlock and District Food Bank has already added 140 families just this year for an increase of 30 per cent.”
In his speech, Viersen also stressed how Canadians are worse off because of the tax’s negative impacts.
“The carbon tax is stopping Canadians from being able to afford to live. It’s time to axe the tax,” said Viersen.
