Conservative Poilievre Pledges Fight Against Carbon Tax 2.0 Boosting Gas Prices in New Brunswick

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has vowed to target what he calls the "carbon tax 2.0," referring to the federal Clean Fuel Regulations introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, which require fuel suppliers to reduce carbon intensity and have led to increased fuel costs. Poilievre argues these regulations will add approximately 17 cents per litre to fuel prices nationally and are essentially a continuation of the carbon tax, which the Liberals previously scrapped under his pressure. In New Brunswick, provincial legislation has allowed the cost of these regulations to be passed onto consumers through a "cost of carbon adjustor," currently adding about 8.77 cents per litre to gasoline prices. Poilievre criticizes this as part of the Liberal government's broader cost of living crisis and pledges to fight these regulations to boost Canadians' purchasing power. Meanwhile, the New Brunswick government has delayed fulfilling its election promise to make refiners pay these costs rather than consumers. Poilievre's campaign reflects ongoing political friction over climate policy costs and their economic impact on Canadians, particularly in Atlantic Canada.