'We're struggling enough,' say carbon tax protesters in northern Ont.
Protests opposing the federal carbon tax, including the latest increase, took place across the country Monday.
Rallies outside politicians’ offices and at provincial borders were held. In northern Ontario, protesters gathered at the Ontario-Quebec border near Kirkland Lake.
The latest 23-per-cent increase hiked gas prices by around four cents, bringing frustrations to the boiling point.
“Where do we draw the line?” one person told CTV.
“Well, it seems that this carbon tax initiative has been the place that we are choosing to draw that line in the sand. Enough.”
“We’re just retired, living on a pension, and the higher the groceries go and the higher the gas goes, the less we get to do,” another resident said.
“We’re struggling enough, as it is, and with it being raised up, we can’t support ourselves. It’s making things difficult, we can’t live like that.”
Rallies outside politicians’ offices and at provincial borders were held. In northern Ontario, protestors gathered at the Ontario-Quebec border near Kirkland Lake. (Photo from video)
Defenders of the carbon tax say it’s an effort to combat climate change and it actually brings a net surplus back to the taxpayer.
Timmins area New Democrat MP Charlie Angus said that pollution should come with an added price, but added the Trudeau government dropped the ball when it comes to charging the country’s largest polluters.
“Big oil is not being held accountable for the pollution,” Angus said.
“So people are frustrated when they’re thinking, ‘Well, I’ve got to heat my house in the winter. Why am I paying my share when Suncor isn’t?’ And the Trudeau government’s failed to explain that. Emissions have gone up, the oil companies just factored it in and they didn’t care.”
Need to be held accountable
He said large grocery stores also need to be held to account for rising consumer costs.
But the protesters Monday said none of that makes carbon pricing any more appealing to the working class.
“I call B.S.,” one person said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t … believe politicians at this point.”
“All the young people that are coming along, now, that want to buy houses and stuff, they’re so out-priced, with all these taxes and crap, that they’ll never have one.”
Angus said the situation leaves Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre in a position to promote climate denialism, in a time where affordability and climate change are both issues that need solving.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer's disease
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
B.C. court date set for 3 accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three suspects accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year are scheduled to appear in court in Surrey on Tuesday.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.