Liberals, Bloc Qubcois strike down Poilievre's pitch to exempt all home heating from carbon tax

The Liberals and the Bloc Qubcois voted Monday to strike down a motion calling on the federal government to extend a carbon tax exemption to all forms of home heating, not just heating oil.

The non-binding motion was sponsored by Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who said the exemption is divisive and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is engaging in regional favouritism.

Speaking outside the House of Commons after the vote, Poilievre said Trudeauhas a "carbon tax coalition" with the Bloc Qubcois, whom he referred to as "separatists."

"He's now signed on with the separatists to divide Canadians into two separate classes: those who will have to pay carbon tax on their home heat, and a small minority who will get a pause from the pain," he said.

Statistics Canada reports that in 2021, only three per cent of all Canadian homes relied on home heating oil. Most of these homes are in the Atlantic region, but the new exemption applies across the country.

Trudeau has said heating oil is much pricier to use than natural gas and households in Atlantic Canada need more time to replace their furnaces with electric heat pumps.

The Liberals also have said there are actually more Canadians outside the Atlantic region that use home heating oil, but only three Atlantic provinces have signed on to a program to help oil users switch to heatpumps.

The New Democrats voted in favour of Poilievre's motion.

WATCH:Singh explains why New Democrats are voting with Conservatives on home heating motion

Singh explains why NDP is voting with Conservatives against Liberal carbon tax carve-out

10 months ago

Duration 1:37

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he's 'uncomfortable' voting with the Conservatives but the government's pause on the carbon tax for home heating oil is 'divisive' and must be rejected.

Before the vote, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he is "always reluctant to vote alongside the Conservatives in any way" but he also rejects "the divisive approach of the Liberals."

At a meeting in Halifax on Monday, Canada's premiers said they want fair treatment under the carbon tax. Some went even further; Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houstonsaid the tax should be eliminated altogether.

Singh said the NDP wants the GST taken off home heating. The party also wants to use revenuefrom a proposed windfall tax on oil and gas companies to help Canadians buy a heat pump.

Shortly after the votes were tallied, Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay raised a point of order accusing Liberal MP Ken McDonald of raising his middle finger during the proceedings.

In response, McDonald said he "scratched the side of my head with two fingers," prompting loud exclamations from Conservatives.

Speaker of the House Greg Fergussaid he would review videotape of the alleged incident and report back if necessary.