“Premier Kinew is very different from the other premiers”: Jagmeet Singh on Wab Kinew’s call to scrap carbon tax

As Wab Kinew joins the chorus of other premiers across the country asking the federal government to scrap the carbon tax, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh reacting to that news in an one-on-one interview with CityNews.

“Premier Kinew is very different from the other premiers in the sense that he believes there is a serious problem with the climate crisis, and he wants to protect the climate and he wants to protect the planet,” explained Singh.

“He’s just saying Winnipeg and Manitoba should be able to have its own plan.”

Singh agreed with Kinew’s desire to scrap the carbon tax in favour of a Manitoba-specific plan to combat climate emissions.

Singh expresses concern over the effect of the federal government’s carbon tax on families

He told CityNews that each province should have been allowed from the get-go to come up with its own plan to combat emissions.

“We know that big polluters should not get away with polluting our land, water and air. There should be a cost, and there is, to pollution. What I’m concerned about is putting the burden on everyday families, particularly when there’s no real alternative,” said Singh.

The Prime Minister was at a housing announcement in Winnipeg the same day as Singh was also in Winnipeg.

Trudeau says he welcomes alternatives to the carbon tax from provinces.

“It’s important that it not be free to pollute anywhere in the country. The federal backstop puts more money in the pockets of Canadians while fighting climate change in a very efficient and powerful way, but every province is open to putting forward an equivalent plan,” said Trudeau.

Kinew saying, “There’s an equally broad consensus that we have to find ways to make life more affordable. Everybody is dealing with the cost of living.”

Currently British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, have their own carbon tax, while Quebec, has a cap-and-trade system, making the three jurisdictions exempt from the federal backstop on carbon.

Singh hits the picket line, then the Maniotba legislature and commits to fund landfill search

Singh spent his time in Winnipeg Thursday attending the Griffin Wheel workers picket line. He then made his way to the legislature to meet with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

“I want to understand how we can support the work that is being done. The budget that has been announced has been a great example of what you get when New Democrats get elected,” Singh said.

Singh also said during his interview with CityNews that he is supportive of the recently announced joint funding from both the federal and provincial governments on a search of the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two Indigenous women believed to be dumped there. He added an elected NDP government federally would be willing to provide more funds for the search.

“We would be there as full partners doing everything possible to get to the bottom of this and ensure we send a clear message that Indigenous lives matter, that Indigneous women matter. The only way to back that up is with real committments to do the work necessary.”