New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has announced a renewed legal challenge against the federal carbon tax as the province nears an election this month.
The 32-day campaign, which features eight parties and Independent candidates, began on Sept. 19. The official election day is Oct. 21, with advance voting scheduled for Oct. 12 and Oct. 15.
Higgs said in a post to X that the carbon tax has driven up costs for essentials such as groceries and gas and pledged to protect the province from further economic burdens imposed by the federal government.
“We will fight the unfair Liberal carbon tax that takes millions out of healthcare and education every year,” said Higgs. “Justin Trudeau taxes New Brunswick every time we fill up an ambulance, build a school, or heat a hospital.”
Higgs has aligned himself with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s “Axe the Tax” campaign.
However, he warned that even if Poilievre forms government, a provincial leader in New Brunswick could impose a provincial carbon tax.
“Liberal Leader Susan Holt has spoken about creating a New Brunswick carbon tax,” said Higgs, pointing to the prospect of a Liberal-Green coalition government.
Higgs also promised to cut New Brunswick’s HST by 2% if re-elected.
The New Brunswick government, led by Higgs, recently doubled the surplus from initial projections for the 2023-24 fiscal year, rising to $500.8 million.
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick said that Holt supports Trudeau’s carbon tax and would implement her own if it were repealed.
“We’re launching a new legal challenge against the federal carbon tax after the Liberals violated the court’s ruling by applying it unequally with politically-motivated carve-outs,” said the party. “We will always fight for you, especially against unfair, inflationary Liberal taxes.
Higgs was previously one of four premiers who asked to make a case for axing the carbon tax hike on Apr. 1 before a federal committee, joined by the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia.
The four letters followed seven provincial premiers joining the revolt against the carbon tax.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejected the request from the premiers to meet and discuss the carbon tax.
True North reached out to every other party running in New Brunswick’s election but received no reply in time for publication.