A cartoon pictured a man sitting at the head of the table, at a board meeting saying, “All those who disagree with me, signify by saying ‘So long, gainful employment’.”

It reminded me of a Governor General who expressed her opinions a month after she was appointed by mocking those who had different beliefs on such issues as climate change.

Our prime minister defended her speech by stating his government is grounded in science, and that the Governor General has never hidden her faith that knowledge, research and the truth is a foundation for any free, stable, successful society. There was no need to defend the Governor General, because she can’t be fired, unless Queen Elizabeth herself recalls her, which is highly unlikely.

Unfortunately, many Canadians aren’t unanimously agreeing with the knowledge, research and truth that forms the foundation of a carbon tax. This disagreement is making Canada’s environment and climate change minister uncomfortable.

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“I don’t have time for politicians that play cynical games about climate action,” she said. “I have time for Canadians who disagree with me, and I have conversations with them all the time. But I don’t have time for politicians that pretend climate change isn’t real.”

After her comments, someone reminded her that, when in government, it’s one’s job to have time for those who disagree with you. The minister’s comments effectively avoided the primary issue, which isn’t whether climate change is real. The real issue is Canadians don’t like a carbon tax that’s being forced on them under the pretence that it promises to protect the climate.

When the minister was asked what would happen if a province pursued legal action against the Liberal government, she replied, “They’ll lose in court.”

It’s estimated the tax would cost Saskatchewan $4.5 billion over the next five years. The federal plan would have Ottawa deciding how it is returned to the province.

Premier Scott Moe argues that, “Nowhere in the world does a carbon tax actually reduce emissions. Provincial resources have always been the provincial jurisdiction, and this is an infringement on what is traditionally a provincial area of regulation.”

We find ourselves in a similar situation as Australia did in 2012, when they introduced a carbon tax without a clear mandate, and the new government promptly did away with it two years later.

Meanwhile, in Alberta, the government has recognized the tax is presenting a hardship to citizens who pay more to stay warm, get to work and transport products, yet offers no concrete evidence that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

But the tax does offer the federal government five per cent of the revenues from the cost of $10 per tonne on carbon pollution in 2018, which will increase to $50 per tonne by 2022.

The federal government is determined to equate a carbon tax to climate action. At the same time, they’re willing to take Saskatchewan to court, a province that is taking action, and has gone to a great deal of research and effort to establish a viable climate strategy.

The Liberal government’s response is similar to the cartoon I shared earlier: “All those who dare to disagree with us, signify by going to court.”

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