Things concerning some changes made to carbon pricing- namely related to the portion on home heating. He is pushing fear and false information
Dear Editor, I’d like to take a moment to offer clarity and acknowledge the concerns that I have heard from constituents in my riding. Affordability is top of mind for many based on the feedback I have received. Please know I do hear you, I have been and will continue to deliver for you and champion your concerns with my parliamentary colleagues.
This message is echoed by so many Canadians, and the added complexity for those living in rural areas like Nickel Belt. It is undeniable that we have colder winters and that our communities are spread further apart than many. We recognize as a government this can sometimes make it difficult to make greener money-saving choices due to upfront costs. That is why the Greener Home Grant was launched to help financially support Canadians to access more energy-efficient options for their homes – from heat pumps to new window-sealing and much more.
There has been a recent campaign launched by Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative party, and his team, spreading outright lies concerning some changes made to carbon pricing- namely related to the portion on home heating. He is pushing fear and false information, from denying the science of climate change to misrepresenting details about many government policies and his own record.
I have said it before, I do not choose to play political games for personal gain at the expense of people’s emotions and I am very disappointed that the Conservatives have made fearmongering and disinformation their playbook.
Here are some facts to help clear the air and dispel falsehoods:
- Residents with a household income under $121,000 who heat their homes with oil in Ontario are eligible for support from the Federal government of up to $10,000 to acquire a heat pump- not just Atlantic Canada.
- An average family of four in Ontario receives nearly $976, a couple $732, and a single individual $488, all broken down into 4 quarterly payments provided by the Climate Action Incentive Payments.
- Temporarily suspending the fuel charge on homes heated with oil across Canada.
When Poilievre says he would “axe the tax”, what he’s really taking an axe to is our planet’s future and to axe the rebates that provide 8/10 families with more than they pay. Since becoming leader of the Conservative party over a year ago, Poilievre has refused to even acknowledge climate change and fails to present any semblance of a climate plan. As communities across this country were burned by wildfires this summer, Poilievre poured fuel on the fire by spreading disinformation and directing his party to vote against important climate investments.
Ultimately, protecting the environment while also tackling national affordability challenges is possible and necessary – which is why we have made great strides in both. Here are just a few examples of those achievements:
- Affordability: Reversed the changes made by the previous Conservative Government and restored the age of eligibility for Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement to 65 from 67. Making housing more affordable by building more homes, cracking down on speculation, and banning foreign investment.
- Environment: Delivering clean air and a strong economy by making zero-emission vehicles more affordable for Canadians. Banned the use of single-use plastics.
History has shown that Conservative governments abandon rural Canadians. As someone born and raised in Nickel Belt, I have a deep appreciation for the natural beauty we are surrounded by and the amazing people who live here and I wholeheartedly believe we can both protect the environment which is an instrumental piece to protecting the health of residents while also supporting our economy with measures that create…
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