Freeland to replace carbon tax if elected Liberal leader: source

If elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland would replace the carbon tax with a new system, a source tells CityNews.

The former finance minister is expected to announce her intention to run for the Liberal party leadership just before the U.S. presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.

A source close to Freeland tells CityNews as leader, she would not fight Canadians on a policy “they have been clear they do not support” and would replace the consumer carbon price with a “system that will work within our federation.”

“She is ready to make difficult decisions to meet our emissions targets and make sure big polluters pay for their outsized emissions. But she will not fight Canadians on a policy they have been clear they do not support,” said the source.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to “axe the tax” if elected, and even Liberal leadership prospect Mark Carney told a Senate committee in May the carbon tax had “served its purpose, until now.”

Former central banker Carney and government House leader Karina Gould are also expected to launch their bids to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau soon. 

With files from The Canadian Press