MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Comes Down Hard on Carbon Tax

In his quarterly check-in with NACTV, MP Dan Mazier and host Lyle Watson jump right into the hot topic of the day, the federal carbon tax, which is increasing by 23% on April 1. Mazier, a representative of the opposition Conservative Party, criticizes the Liberal government for implementing what he calls a tax plan, not an environmental plan. He notes that many people do not currently have access to alternative fuels, including many First Nations, and are being penalized for that lack of choice.

"At the end of the day,” says Mazier, “we're elected on behalf of the people and we should be focusing on what's important to that community."

Mazier also says that the federal government has suggested in the media that if a provincial government has an alternate plan, they should bring it forward for consideration, but in 2016-17 the Manitoba Green Plan was brought forward and subsequently rejected.

Ultimately, Mazier says that a carbon tax plan might work in a smaller nation but “not for Canada,” which is too vast. As well, Mazier believes we could be a leader in the export of clean energy with more focus on natural resource development and less on a penalty tax. As Vice Chair of the Environment Committee, he does not dispute a need to address climate change but he does dispute the methods.

In his conversation with Watson, Mazier also covers the federal budget, crime,  immigration, and partnership between levels of government regardless of party affiliation. When asked whether it’s possible to see the three levels of government working together with common goals, leaving the politics out of it, Mazier says, “Besides the rhetoric, what you see on the advertising ... what I bring to the table is, focus on the policy."