Justin Trudeau says climate deniers are ‘putting future white Christmases at risk’ as he spars with Conservative leader in Canadian parliament

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exchanged words with the Conservative Party leader on Wednesday, criticizing opposition climate change deniers for “jeopardizing future White Christmases.”

The testy exchange drew laughter from both sides of the House of Commons during Question Time on Wednesday, where the two politicians laid out their opposing views on climate policy.

Pierre Poilievre, the Tory leader who Trudeau hopes to replace at the next election, fired a holiday salvo at the Liberal prime minister, saying all he had to offer Canadians for Christmas was a “carbon tax on coal.”

“I'm happy to point out that we are the government phasing out coal!” Trudeau hit back, adding: “The Conservative Party of Canada's climate denialism puts future White Christmases at risk. And that's why we're on this side of the House for Christmas.'

Undeterred, a smiling Poilievre responded, saying, “Mr. Speaker, that has to be the angriest and most caustic Christmas message I have ever seen!'

Question Time is a regular feature of parliamentary systems, in which members have the opportunity to question ministers, including the prime minister, who are obliged to answer.

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The carbon tax, a standard price per ton of CO2 equivalent emissions produced, is intended to discourage the use of fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

The tax is currently set at $65 CAD per tonne, but will increase over time to encourage the switch to alternatives to fossil fuels.

However, the ongoing cost of living crisis has contributed to an 11-point drop in support for carbon pricing compared to 2021 levels among Canadian voters. recent survey showed.

The Angus Reid Institute poll found that 42 percent of Canadians want the carbon tax to be eliminated and another 17 percent would like to see it temporarily reduced over the next three years, while a quarter want a freeze on any subsequent increases .

Only 15 percent said the tax should continue as planned with the planned price increase in April next year.

Poilievre has long wanted to abolish Canada's carbon tax, arguing it is an unfair cost to consumers and making it a signature issue for the opposition party.

Last month, Trudeau announced a three-year carbon tax exemption for heating oil and higher carbon tax credits, especially for Atlantic Canada, amid rising costs of living.

But the limited breakdown of one of the Liberal government's key climate policies has led to demands from other provinces' premiers for similar concessions.

Poilievre has long wanted to abolish the tax, arguing that it is an unfair cost to consumers and that it is becoming a signature issue for the opposition.

The Conservative leader would topple Trudeau if an election were held today, polls show. However, a vote will not take place until 2025.

The Angus Reid Institute said the latest poll “reveals a profound lack of awareness and misconceptions” about how much tax Canadians actually pay.

In September, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said the carbon tax added about 0.15 percentage points to the inflation rate, which was 3.8 percent that month.

He said that if the current carbon tax were abolished, it would reduce inflation by 0.6 percentage points for a year.