Ontario Premier Doug Ford slammed the federal carbon tax hike that kicked in Monday, calling on the federal government to scrap it.
“We stand against the carbon tax… we know Ontario businesses can’t afford this costly burden,” Ford said Tuesday at a news conference in East Gwillimbury, Ont., north of Toronto.
Ford, who has long opposed the increase, said the province has a long list of agricultural organizations that are feeling the impact and support the Conservative’s campaign to axe the tax.
“This carbon tax has to go or in a year and a half, the prime minister is going. It’s as simple as that, he will be going, I’ll guarantee you,” Ford said.
“[Trudeau] will not be there. The ideology they have is just beyond me — I just do not understand it at all.”
The federal government’s increase of $15 per tonne of carbon went into effect Monday. The carbon tax increase will cost drivers an extra 3.3 cents per litre at the pump.
Since the Canadian government’s fuel levy was introduced in 2019, the carbon tax has added 17.6 cents to the cost of a litre of gasoline.
The increase will also mean larger quarterly rebate cheques, which families are next set to receive on April 15 to help offset the higher cost of fuel, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said. In Ontario, a single-person household will receive $140 quarterly and a family of four will get $280 every three months.
Ford said the carbon tax hike is “punishing, crippling companies out there.”
Last week, Ford touted some of the transit investments and infrastructure changes his province has made at a news conference in Ottawa. He previously said there are other ways to reduce emissions rather than “digging into people’s pockets.
“We are going to fight it tooth and nail,” he said at an East Gwillimbury farm Tuesday. “We have so many people here I could fill this field, not with hundreds of thousands but millions of people who are against this carbon tax.”
WATCH | Ford slams carbon tax hike, says he does not understand it ‘at all’:
Carbon tax ‘has to go,’ Ontario premier says
12 hours ago
Duration 0:26
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the carbon tax ‘has to go, or in a year and a half the prime minister’s going.’
Drew Spoelstra, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said the levy is taking money away from investing in clean farming technology.
Spoelstra said last fall, he dried 2,500 tonnes of grain on his farm outside Hamilton, which cost $4,500 in carbon tax.
“We support a clean environment but farmers just don’t have any alternatives. We have to use fuel and energy to grow the food that we all eat,” he said at the news conference Tuesday.
While tax is increasing, so is the rebate: Trudeau
Trudeau has said that while the price on pollution is rising, so is the Canada Carbon Rebate.
“It’s money in people’s pockets while we continue stepping up in the fight against climate change,” said Trudeau while making an unrelated announcement in Ottawa Monday.
“So all those premiers that are busy complaining about the price on pollution but not putting forward a concrete alternative that they think would be better for their communities are just playing politics.”
In a statement to CBC Toronto Tuesday, the office of the Minister of the Environment, said the federal government does not keep any direct proceeds from pollution pricing in Ontario, and directs fuel charge proceeds are returned to the province.
“Pollution pricing was designed to take into account the unique needs of farmers,” the statement reads.
“Upon its creation, the federal system exempted all gasoline and diesel used on farms, as well as biological emissions, such that roughly 97 percent of on-farm emissions are not subject to the price on pollution.”
Crombie responds to Ford on carbon tax hike
Ford also took a jab at Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, dubbing her the “Queen of the Carbon Tax.”
The premier said he has spent years calling on the federal government to scrap its tax, adding that Crombie cannot say the same.
“For weeks, as the carbon tax hike loomed, Bonnie Crombie has refused to stand against it,” he said Tuesday.
Crombie has previously said if her party is successful in the next provincial election, she will not introduce a carbon tax.
“Doug Ford is spending all his time, energy and taxpayer money to distract from his failures, scandals, and the fact that his Conservative government has no plan to fight climate change and protect our children’s futures,” she said in a statement to CBC Toronto.
“Don’t forget: the only reason Ontario has a carbon tax is because Doug Ford spent millions to rip up the made-in-Ontario climate action plan he inherited.”
Crombie added that the Liberal Party intends to fight against climate change and introduce a “bold, progressive climate action plan” that will save families money.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — No. 1 Texas will start Arch Manning at quarterback Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe while regular starter Quinn Ewers continues to recover from a strained muscle in his abdomen, coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.
It will be the first career start for Manning, a second year freshman. He relieved Ewers in the second quarter last week against UTSA, and passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in a 56-7 Texas victory.
Manning is the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning.
Ewers missed several games over the previous two seasons with shoulder and sternum injuries.
The Longhorns are No. 1 for the first time since 2008 and Saturday’s matchup with the Warhawks is Texas’ last game before the program starts its first SEC schedule against Mississippi State on Sept. 28.
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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette returned to the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a right middle finger fracture.
The move, retroactive to Wednesday, essentially ends an injury-plagued season for Bichette.
He had two hits and one RBI in a 13-8 loss to Texas on Tuesday in his return from a 52-game stint on the IL with a right calf strain.
Bichette also missed nine games due to the calf issue in June.
His latest injury was suffered Wednesday during infield practice. Bichette was a late scratch in a 2-0 loss to the Rangers.
Bichette hit four homers with 31 RBIs in 81 games this season. He posted a .225 batting average and a .322 slugging percentage.
The Blue Jays also recalled outfielder Jonatan Clase from Triple-A Buffalo. He was active for the series finale against the Rangers on Thursday afternoon, the team said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Falcons wide receiver Drake London was penalized after catching a touchdown pass in the final minute of Atlanta’s 22-21 victory in Philadelphia on Monday night for pretending to shoot in the air, a violation of a longstanding NFL rule that prohibits violent gestures.
London immediately apologized on the sideline, according to Falcons coach Raheem Morris, and did it publicly on Wednesday.
“There’s a lot of stuff going around in the world with gun violence that I don’t think I should have displayed there,” London told reporters. “So, I’m not too happy with it, and (you) probably won’t see that again from me.”
The NFL has strict rules for celebrations and players are reminded annually that violations will result in unsportsmanlike penalties.
London’s 7-yard TD catch on a pass from Kirk Cousins tied the score at 21-21. His penalty pushed the extra point back 15 yards but Younghoe Koo made it from 48 yards out to give Atlanta a lead and Jessie Bates intercepted Jalen Hurts’ pass on the ensuing drive to seal the victory.
“We approach player celebrations as expressions of exuberance that are part of the excitement of the game. Rules were modified in 2017 that permitted group celebrations, including choregraphed demonstrations. Offensive demonstrations, celebrations that are prolonged and delay the game, and those directed at an opponent are still penalized,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Players are reminded annually and it’s part of the player manual that demonstrations that constitute taunting or unsportsmanlike conduct, or delays the game, will result in a foul against his team.
“Also prohibited acts that occur anywhere on the field or sideline include longtime prohibitions against throat slash; machine gun salute; sexually suggestive gestures; or stomping or demonstrations on a team logo.”
London’s celebration came 12 days after four people were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia. The Falcons hosted the school’s football team at their practice facility last week.
