Former B.C. premier Christy Clark says she would scrap the federal carbon tax if she turns into the subsequent Liberal chief and prime minister — and is denying that she was ever a member of the Conservative Get together.
Clark advised CBC Radio’s The House that she is “severely excited about” working to switch Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and would finish considered one of his key environmental insurance policies if she is profitable in profitable the management.
“I do not assume we must always preserve the carbon tax that the federal authorities has. I feel that the Trudeau carbon tax is not working. It’s extremely totally different from what we did in British Columbia,” she advised host Catherine Cullen in an interview airing Saturday.
Clark’s feedback come after Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre billed the previous premier as “carbon tax Clark” and the “carbon tax queen” throughout a press convention on Thursday.
Clark saved the B.C. carbon tax in place that was carried out by her predecessor, Gordon Campbell, in 2008. Whereas the tax was initially meant to extend over time, Clark’s authorities froze the worth at $30 per tonne in 2012 after she took over management. The present federal levy is $80 a tonne and set to extend to $95 in April.
Former B.C. premier Christy Clark, who’s contemplating working for the federal Liberal management, tells CBC’s The Home she thinks ‘the Trudeau carbon tax is not working.’ As premier, Clark saved a carbon tax that was carried out by her predecessor, however says it was ‘very totally different’ than what Trudeau’s authorities has carried out.
“A carbon tax is not the one reply to preventing local weather change. There’s a entire vary of different instruments within the toolbox and we’d be committing to determining which instruments we wish to put to work, but in addition with a thoughts to creating certain that they don’t seem to be issues that may maintain individuals again, that may harm our financial system,” Clark advised Cullen.
Clark denies ever being a Conservative, regardless of previous feedback
The previous B.C. premier additionally denied ever having been a member of the federal Conservatives, regardless that she beforehand endorsed former Quebec premier and Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Jean Charest’s bid for that party’s leadership in 2022.
Clark advised Cullen that she endorsed Charest as a result of she did not need Poilievre to win, however that she by no means formally signed up with the celebration to vote for him.
“I by no means bought a membership and I by no means bought a poll,” she stated.
“I got here out and I supported Jean Charest and the rationale I did that is easy: I believed it was vitally necessary that we stopped Pierre Poilievre.”
A spokesperson for the Conservative Get together refuted Clark’s claims, saying they’ve data of Clark’s membership from the 2022 management race.
“Christy Clark bought a Conservative Get together membership by way of Jean Charest’s management marketing campaign. That membership is not lively,” Sarah Fischer, the celebration’s director of communications, stated in an e mail.
Former B.C. Premier Christy Clark tells CBC’s The Home she was by no means a member of the Conservative Get together of Canada, regardless of supporting Jean Charest within the celebration’s 2022 management race. A celebration spokesperson says Clark bought a membership by way of Charest’s management marketing campaign and it is not lively.
When requested about Fischer’s assertion, Clark pushed again and insisted she had by no means been a member.
“Why do not they arrive out and present my membership or my poll? They by no means despatched me any of these — though I would not put it previous them to fabricate considered one of them,” Clark advised Cullen.
Following Clark’s interview on The Home, the Conservative Get together offered a screenshot of a membership database that means Clark had membership from June 2022 to June 2023.
Clark’s feedback to CBC Information additionally contradict what she had stated through the time of the Conservative management contest.
In an August 2022 interview with the Conservative Journal of Canada, Clark explicitly stated she was becoming a member of the Conservative Get together to help Charest.
“I am becoming a member of the celebration so I can help Mr. Charest and what I feel he can deliver to the nationwide dialogue,” stated Clark when requested if she could be getting concerned with the federal Conservatives.
Clark additionally advised The Canadian Press in 2022 that she had received a ballot and was looking forward to voting in the leadership race.
The Vancouver Sun and The Hill Times additionally reported in 2022 that Clark had signed up with the Conservatives to vote within the management contest.
“I stated I wished to help [Charest]. I stated I might be a part of the celebration. On the finish of the day I by no means did,” Clark advised The Home.
The Liberal Get together revealed Thursday night time that it is going to be asserting its new chief on March 9.
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