More Canadians Support than Oppose Supreme Court Decision on Carbon Tax
A new online poll by INNOVATIVE of 2,390 Canadians shows that support for a federal carbon tax remains high among all Canadians, but a majority of Conservatives believe carbon pricing is just a tax grab.
At 37%, awareness of the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the federal power to advance a carbon pricing policy is low. Awareness is highest in Alberta and the Prairies, and among Conservative partisans. Overall, a plurality (43%) support the decision, while only 25% oppose it. Reaction is divided in Alberta and on the Prairies and strongly supportive elsewhere. Intensity of views grows with attention. Support for the ruling is highest among those paying either somewhat close attention or very close attention, although 1-in-3 who say they are paying very close attention to the ruling also strongly oppose it.
Support for a carbon tax remains high with 45% of respondents saying they support a carbon tax, while only 27% say they oppose a federal carbon tax. This is a 4-point increase in net support since December.
Awareness of the new Liberal plan to raise the carbon tax to $160 per tonne by 2030 remains steady at 36%, with awareness highest in Alberta and among Conservative partisans. Support for the new policy is up since December from a net support of +13% in December to +16% now with more than half of both Liberal and NDP partisans saying they support the policy.
Canadians remain split on their general perception of carbon pricing. While in December 43% said it is one of the best ways to lower carbon consumption and 38% said it is a cash grab that hinders economic development, now those numbers are 44% and 40% respectively. Among Conservative partisans, 68% say that carbon pricing is just another tax grab that does nothing for the environment.
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