Roundup: No, it’s not another carbon tax

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Pierre Poilievre is currently on a tour of Atlantic Canada, braying about the increase in the carbon price, and the incoming clean fuel standard regulations, which he has mendaciously dubbed “Carbon Tax 2.” Poilievre claims will be a combined hike of 61 cents per litre of gasoline. He’s wrong—the figure comes from future carbon price increases plus a dubious Parliamentary Budget Officer report on the clean fuel standard pricing effects, which were based on a lot of assumptions that may not happen, and the figure from that report that Poilievre is citing was an estimated price effect from 2030, which again, he falsely implies is coming right away.

While I’m not going to say much more, because I will probably write about this later in the week in a more comprehensive way, it was noted that a columnist at our supposed national paper of record not only fully bought into Poilievre’s bullshit, but he couldn’t even be bothered to check his facts on these prices. Here’s energy economist Andrew Leach setting the record straight:

As a bonus, here is Leach throwing some shade at Michael Chong as he tries his own brand of bullshit about what is happening with Norway.

Ukraine Dispatch:

The counteroffensive moves “slowly but surely,” not only in regaining a cluster of villages in the southeast, but also around Bakhmut, while Russians are bringing in their “best reserves.” Ukrainian forces also have to contend with low-cost suicide drones that are difficult to defend against, as these drones target valuable equipment. Meanwhile, in a speech to parliament, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy ruled out any peace plan that would turn the war into a frozen conflict.

https://twitter.com/zelenskyyua/status/1674074924124631041

Good reads:

  • Justin Trudeau was in the Greater Toronto Area to announce infrastructure funds to help build new childcare facilities around the country.
  • Trudeau also said that he needs “full buy-in” from opposition parties if there is to be a public inquiry on foreign interference (which will keep delaying this).
  • As well, Trudeau brushed off calls to bail out Toronto’s finances, saying that the province needs to step up, citing help the federal government has already given.
  • Dominic LeBlanc is taking his own (deserved) swipe at Blaine Higgs’ changes to New Brunswick’s policy around LGBTQ+ students in schools.
  • Sean Fraser announced a dedicated “express entry” immigration stream for healthcare workers. (But can they get Canadian licenses in time?)
  • Marco Mendicino extended funding that provides security for community institutions at risk of hate crimes to now include gender-based violence shelters.
  • At the Collision conference, François-Philippe Champagne touted the coming digital charter which will put Canada at the forefront of regulating AI.
  • Indigenous Services is overwhelmed in trying to reimburse for services under Jordan’s Principle because their systems remain antiquated.
  • StatsCan says that we welcomed the highest number of immigrants in the first quarter since comparable records started being kept in 1972.
  • A former Afghan interpreter who worked with Canadians can’t bring his family over because he moved them to Tajikistan just before the Taliban takeover.
  • The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that the expanded dental care programme could come in under budget, provided provinces don’t reduce care.
  • AFN national chief RoseAnne Archibald is due to be ousted after failing a non-confidence vote of chiefs, where 71 percent voted against her.
  • Here is the tale of a Canadian-born doctor practicing in Australia who can’t get licencing in Canada because of problems at the licensing body.
  • Competition experts say the Competition Bureau is unlikely to block a proposed merger between Torstar and Postmedia because of what they examine.
  • Three people were wounded in a stabbing attack at the University of Waterloo when a gender studies class was attacked (because there is a new Satanic Panic).
  • The Senate’s security and defence committee released a report calling for increased spending on Arctic defences.
  • The hot and dry weather in Alberta means that grasshoppers are likely to start to devour crops that are already suffering from lack of moisture.
  • Susan Delacourt muses about the rising tide of “brokerage” in politics and working together to get things done amidst a swamp of toxic partisanship.
  • Kevin Newman writes about Bell Media’s situation as it asks to reduce its local news coverage, and encourages the CRTC to tell them no.

Odds and ends:

https://youtu.be/ZRlFaB3lxhY 

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