Dozens protest carbon tax outside N.L. legislature, while Opposition says Furey is flip-flopping

A few dozen people gathered outside Confederation Building in St. John's on Monday to protest the federal government's carbon tax increase, which came into effect Monday and resulted in a 3.8-cent-per-litre increase in the price of gas in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Usually we're pretty silent people. But this is the time not to be silent, because this has gone too far," said protester Elaine Tonna.

While Premier Andrew Furey has been vocal about his opposition to the carbon tax increase, including sending another letter to the prime minister Saturday asking him to delay the tax increase, PC Opposition House leader Barry Petten says the premier is flip-flopping at the last minute.

In a press release Monday afternoon, Petten said Furey should have considered the effect the tax would have on the province before the federal Liberals imposed it, not after.

"It is laughable that the premier is sending letters to Ottawa using the same argument our caucus used in the House of Assembly against the carbon tax," said Petten.

Outside the province's legislature Monday, protesters received enthusiastic honks from passing drivers and held signs reading things such as "Axe the Tax" and "I Need to Be Able to Tell My Children I Did Not Stay Silent."

Protester Mike Cooze said democracy and the cost of living have "gone to hell" in Canada and elected officials are not working for the people.

When asked his opinion about the role the tax plays in addressing climate change, Cooze said governments aren't going to "save the world" by taxing Canadians and called carbon tax rebates "glorified welfare cheques."

"We are working people, they don't need to take our money and send it back to us because they are showing us pity," he said.

Furey too little, too late

Ottawa's carbon tax has increased from around 14 cents to more than 17 cents per litre of gasoline, and will apply to gasoline and diesel in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Furnace oil and stove oil heating fuels are currently exempt from the federal carbon tax.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday, Furey asked the federal government to delay the carbon tax increase and asked Trudeau to convene an emergency meeting of Canadian leaders to discuss alternatives to addressing climate change.

Without rail or subway systems and inadequate infrastructure to support electric vehicles in the province, Furey said, goods still need to be shipped and then trucked throughout the province by gas-powered vehicles.

"Increasing the costs of necessities without sufficient viable alternatives prevents achieving the intention of the policy," Furey wrote. 

"While it may result in the anticipated outcome in urban centres, it cannot yet have the desired environmental impact through consumers in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Furey previously shared an open letter addressed to Trudeau on March 12, asking the prime minister to delay the increase to the tax. At an event in Montreal in mid-March, Trudeau said Furey's call to delay was him "continuing to bow to political pressure."

Tonna says she questions what the future will look like for her and her children, because the cost of food and electricity in the province continues to rise and is affecting vulnerable people.

"There's other ways to fight climate change and, you know, we all know that," she said. "This is just a government tactic."

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