Mark Carney's carbon tax document hailed ineffective by critics

Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister, recently held a signing ceremony to announce the "cancellation" of the consumer carbon tax on his first day in office. He claimed the tax was too divisive and stated he had taken action immediately. However, critics argue that he did not actually cancel the tax; instead, he set the rate to zero. The document he signed has been labeled a "fake," with some suggesting it was simply a prop. Legal experts note that only Parliament can formally repeal such legislation, and the actual measure to set the carbon tax rate to zero came later through an official order that required the signature of the Governor General. Furthermore, the signing ceremony has drawn criticism for resembling events used by former President Donald Trump. Conservative MPs have labeled it as mere “theatre.” Critics highlight that the document Carney signed does not have any legal authority and is not part of the formal legislative process. In a response to the backlash, a former aide to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described Carney’s document as a "decision note." However, this type of document is typically part of a detailed process leading to a valid order-in-council, which Carney's signing did not follow. Elsewhere, Carney faced tough questions from reporters about his private assets, which he placed in a blind trust before taking office. He appeared frustrated when asked about potential conflicts of interest. The cancellation of the consumer carbon tax under Carney shifts the political landscape for the Conservative party, which has frequently criticized Liberal governments on this issue. The Conservatives plan to continue focusing on carbon taxes, emphasizing their intention to eliminate all forms of carbon taxation.