A scandal that’s going to stick

Imagine for a moment if Kathleen Wynne were slapping a bright red sticker on gas pumps praising the federal carbon tax ahead of an election. Imagine if she threatened to fine business owners who didn’t comply.

Why, the energy from all the exploding heads could power Ontario for decades.

And yet, just last week, the Ford government announced that all Ontario gas stations will put a big blue sticker on the pumps telling people about the cost of the federal carbon tax. They also said gas station owners would be fined for failing to apply the stickers — $500 for their first offence and $1,000 on a subsequent offence for every day they don’t comply. For corporations, the fine is up to $10,000.

The Ford government is also in court arguing that the tax is “unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Rod Phillips says the tax isn’t needed because “Ontario leads the country in reducing Canada’s GHG emissions. We have reduced emissions by 22 per cent while the rest of Canada has gone up 3 per cent.”

In a nutshell, the Ford PCs say the tax is unlawful, unnecessary and unpopular — and that they have a clear mandate to oppose it by any means necessary. The facts say otherwise. Last time anyone asked, Ontarians support the carbon tax. Greater Toronto and Hamilton rea commuters — the demographic that would allegedly be hardest hit by the tax — are a whopping 59 per cent in favour.

Turns out, carbon pricing is surprisingly popular.

Minister Phillips also omits the fact that greenhouse gasses only went down thanks to the McGuinty government’s closing of coal plants — something the PCs opposed.

The Ford government also scrapped carbon trading, which would have eliminated the need for a carbon tax.

It also removed rebates for electric vehicles, which would have further reduced Ontario’s carbon footprint, which, since the coal plant closings, is only holding steady. So much for unnecessary. Whether or not the tax is illegal is a matter for the courts to decide — but given the disastrous first day of testimony by expensive government lawyers, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

The one clear message coming out of this mess, though, is that Ontarians aren’t buying what the Ford government is selling.

Earlier this week, a new survey said 64 per cent of Ontarians are opposed to the Ford government’s multimillion-dollar PR campaign to undermine the carbon tax.

So why is a government that brands itself “for the people” spending millions of taxpayer dollars to change peoples’ opinion about a federal program?

Why is Ford spending Ontarians’ money fighting a federal tax — one he brought on himself by scrapping cap and trade — in a fight he knows he can’t win?

Why are supposedly “business friendly” Tories suddenly threatening businesses with massive fines?

The answer is Andrew Scheer and the federal Conservatives.

Scheer’s Conservatives will be campaigning hard against the carbon tax in the fall federal election.

And while scrapping the tax might be a winner elsewhere, Ontario voters aren’t on board. Scheer needs to change that.

Enter Doug Ford — who isn’t really trying to change the federal government’s mind — he’s trying to change Ontario voters’ minds on Scheer’s behalf.

Make no mistake — Ford’s scandalous sticker blitz is a campaign contribution to the federal Conservatives — using Ontario taxpayer dollars.

And to make sure, businesses that don’t toe the line will get a visit from the Sticker Police. If in doubt, watch how fast he backs down if the Conservatives lose in November.

To hear them tell it, Conservatives are on the side of taxpayers and business and “the people.”

But when push comes to shove, it seems, they’re only on the side of other Conservative politicians.

If Ford isn’t careful, that’s an impression that’s going to stick.

Why are supposedly “business friendly” Tories suddenly threatening businesses with massive fines? The answer is Andrew Scheer and the federal Conservatives