YOU’VE GOT MAIL — The carbon pricing debate continues to devolve. — War of words: Premiers have been posting feisty letters with politically charged requests. Alberta Premier DANIELLE SMITH, Nova Scotia Premier TIM HOUSTON and Saskatchewan Premier SCOTT MOE each took a cue from New Brunswick Premier BLAINE HIGGS and shared to social a letter to the House finance committee asking to speak about the impending hike to the carbon tax and rebates. The letters echoed affordability concerns. Each was addressed to Liberal MP PETER FONSECA, chair of the House finance committee. — Political pressures: Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are due for provincial elections in 2024 and incumbent leaders are looking to scratch some wins to improve their popularity. Moe’s request to finance is TBD, though last evening he appeared on the agenda at today’s meeting of the House operations and estimates committee. — Rush order: In her letter, Smith asked to testify virtually before April 1. That leaves two days (counting this one) for a potential hearing; Good Friday is a statutory holiday. — Pesky details: The last-minute letters whiff of political stunt and theater. For one thing, the carbon tax’s increasing rates of charge have been public information since the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act became law in 2018. If premiers really wanted to be heard by MPs, they had plenty of time to coordinate their requests to committee. If the true objective of the carbon copy campaign is to score additional points on an unpopular Liberal policy, then winner, gagnant. Cabinet ministers insist the government won't pause the April 1 rate hike from C$65 to C$80 per metric ton of emissions. — Familiar campaign: Writer PAUL WELLS recently resurrected “The resistance” — that December 2018 Maclean’s cover featuring premiers at war with the carbon tax. Wells achieved a 2024 makeover by replacing the images of now former leaders with the faces of Smith, Houston and Higgs, plus Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE, P.E.I. Premier DENNIS KING and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier ANDREW FUREY. “The re-re-re-sistance,” captioned Wells on his amateur Photoshop job that accompanied a post about the politics of popularity now eroding Trudeau’s signature climate policy. — Committee 101: Not everyone who wants to speak at a committee gets invited. There are two ways for the premiers to be heard at committee: → The chair can call a meeting; → Members of two opposition parties can co-sign a letter to force a meeting. This is known as the ol’ meeting request pursuant to Standing Order 106(4). During such a meeting, a majority of committee MPs would have vote to move forward with a study before deciding on the witness list. Conservatives have circulated the premiers’ letters, suggesting it will be up to the Liberal chair to decide. When Playbook checked with the clerk of the finance committee late Tuesday afternoon, no meeting had been called and no formal letter from MPs requesting one had been submitted. — The road not taken: Tories could enlist opposition committee members — Bloc Québécois MP GABRIEL STE-MARIE or NDP MP DANIEL BLAIKE — to support the emergency meeting request. The Bloc confirmed to Playbook last night that they’ve received no such ask. — Open letter vs. open letter: Canada’s top economists have published an open letter in support of carbon pricing as a low-cost measure to cut emissions. — Spotted among the signatories: MEL CAPPE, DON DRUMMOND, STEWART ELGIE, GLEN HODGSON, LINDSAY TEDDS, CHRISTOPHER RAGAN, RICHARD LIPSEY and ELIZABETH BEALE. “Unfortunately, the most vocal opponents of carbon pricing are not offering alternative policies to reduce emissions and meet our climate goals,” the letter reads. “And they certainly aren’t offering any alternatives that would reduce emissions at the same low cost as carbon pricing.” — Show of resistance: On Tuesday, Trudeau sent a letter to the seven premiers pushing back against the fuel charge increase. He pointed out they have yet to propose alternatives of their own. — In related reading: From STEPHANIE TAYLOR at The Canadian Press: What 'axe the tax' means to PIERRE POILIEVRE's supporters.
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