Ontario’s Liberal leader, Bonnie Crombie, firmly asserts that she will not introduce a provincial carbon tax if elected premier in the 2026 election. In a video statement released on Monday, Crombie emphasized her commitment to pursuing alternative strategies, such as bolstering transit, investing in electric vehicle infrastructure, and reforming land use planning to foster livable, walkable communities.
However, there remains ambiguity regarding Crombie’s stance on the federal carbon pricing mechanism and whether she intends to reinstate the cap-and-trade program to circumvent federal carbon pricing. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy has urged Crombie to clarify her position on the federal carbon tax, questioning whether her opposition extends to the federal Liberal government’s carbon pricing measures.
John Fraser, Liberal MPP, reiterated that the Ontario Liberal plan would not impose a carbon tax on Ontario families. Although Fraser refrained from confirming the party’s support for the federal carbon tax, he indicated a distancing from it, emphasizing the party’s reluctance to increase carbon taxes.
Premier Doug Ford’s government has attempted to associate Crombie with the federal carbon pricing, labeling her as the “queen of the carbon tax” in political advertisements. In response, Crombie’s administration introduced legislation mandating a referendum for any future provincial carbon pricing program, highlighting a divergence from federal carbon pricing initiatives.
Crombie also announced the formation of a “Climate Action Panel” tasked with leading consultations on the Liberal environmental platform ahead of the provincial election. This panel, comprised of notable figures including MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon and experts from various fields, aims to devise strategies that hold major polluters accountable without imposing a carbon tax on consumers.
