At an event at the Economic Club of Canada yesterday, Ontario premier Doug Ford asserted that the federal carbon price backstop – which will affect Ontario – will plunge the country into recession. That Ford wasn’t laughed out of the room is a bit more than curious, because that kind of assertion is beyond ridiculous. BC has had a carbon tax for ten years, and not only is not in recession, but is leading the country in economic growth. Quebec has a carbon price using cap-and-trade, and is also doing quite well in terms of its own economic growth. Alberta’s carbon tax didn’t cripple its economy either, and what fiscal troubles it has are related largely to the low world price of oil that stems from a global supply glut, the temporary price differential issue having pretty much been resolved before the production cut even went into effect, now that the American refineries are back in operation. “Oh, but there’s a report that says it’ll slow the economy!” Ford says – except that report says it’ll be about by 0.02 percent at a time when the economy is growing by two percent.

Ford’s environment minister later took to TV to try and falsely insist that the federal Parliamentary Budget Officer projected a hit to the economy from a carbon tax (he actually said that it would only have an impact if revenues weren’t recycled in an efficient manner), and that BC’s carbon tax didn’t stop its emissions from growing (also false, because the emissions are far lower than they would have been without the price, while their economy continued to grow). So Ford is relying on lies to feed his false narrative that is trying to get the population angry so that they’ll vote out Trudeau. And what was Catherine McKenna’s response? Her same line about Conservatives wanting to make pollution free, and that they have no plan for the environment. So, the lies stand on the official record. Slow clap, everyone.

"When asked if Mr. Ford has any experts to back up his claim, his office pointed to a 2018 report from the Conference Board of Canada that said a federal carbon tax could shrink Canada’s GDP by as much as $3-billion."

That's 0.1% of GDP ($2.2tr). https://t.co/pzBsnxURkL

— Stephen Gordon (@stephenfgordon) January 22, 2019

1) Life always gets more expensive. It’s called inflation. We consider 2% to be a good thing.
2) Data have proven that carbon taxes have not had an adverse effect on inflation.
3) Carbon taxes do mitigate the growth of GHGs. This is proven. Saying otherwise is just lying. https://t.co/z7YW6RCd1t

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) January 22, 2019

Good reads:

• Here’s a look at the diplomatic push that Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland are making with regards to the current tensions with China.
• A group of former diplomats and academics who deal with China have written an open letter to president Xi, calling on him to release the two Canadians.
• Ralph Goodale and Navdeep Bains want to remind people that there are other companies that can provide 5G technology, not just Huawei.
• Goodale is also shrugging off an American congressman’s concerns about the state of the US’ northern border.
• Marc Garneau says that his department is launching a task force on seat belts for school busses.
• Seamus O’Regan says the government has come to an agreement with First Nations about how to better deliver education funding.
• There are accusations that the military is slow-walking a process to avoid a human rights complaint about it discriminating against single parents.
• There was nearly a protest by Parliamentary security forces while the Liberals met in West Block, but was halted at the last minute.
• A Federal Court challenge has been launched to some First Nations band election rules regarding residency requirements.
• The deputy minister in charge of fixing the Phoenix pay system has been named the head of the Royal Canadian Mint.
• Members of the RMCP are accusing the force of covering up allegations that a staff doctor sexually assaulted members during exams.
• Andrew Scheer was in Montreal to promise that if he forms government, he’ll give Quebec more control over immigration and the unnecessary single tax form.
• While in Halifax, Maxime Bernier is using “Make Canada Great Again” rhetoric. He’s also claiming big fundraising windfalls.
• Former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe’s mother was found frozen to death in Montreal over the weekend after being locked out of her seniors’ residence.
• Brian Pallister is raising a fuss about Quebec’s list of demands to the federal government.
• The report from the BC Speaker into why the legislature’s Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms was finally released, alleging lavish overspending.
• Chantal Hébert evaluates the Bloc’s new leader, and how they are counting on weakness in the NDP to make a comeback and regain official party status.
• Andrew Coyne wonders how much more federal parties will openly pander to Quebec in the lead-up to the next election.
• Colby Cosh asks some thoughtful questions about the logical endpoints of treating addictions as a disease when it leads to criminal and unethical behaviours.

Odds and ends:

Leonid Sirota offers a rebuttal to my post on the Supreme Court’s decision around expats…but his arguments rest on an imaginary double standard.

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