Far Reaching Consequences

Doug Ford has railed against "unelected judges." But this week he has been trying to convince those judges that the federal carbon tax should be quashed. Martin Regg Cohn writes:

In a Toronto courtroom this week, the Ontario government launched Doug Ford’s quixotic legal battle against the federal carbon tax — at a cost of $30 million coming out of Ontario taxpayers’ pockets.

Ontario’s lawyers argued in court that the province has already done enough, thanks to the previous Liberal government’s decision to shutter coal-fired power plants. While Ontario is unlikely to meet future emission reduction targets, the Ford government insists that Ottawa has no right to meddle. Except that, implicit in Ford’s argument is the contradictory suggestion that other provinces should be compelled to do more so that Ontario can do less in the future.

Unsurprisingly, Ford’s lawyers downplay the reality that the federal government granted the provinces flexibility to design their own programs. In fact, Ontario’s pre-existing cap-and-trade program (inspired by a similar carbon pricing program in neighbouring Quebec) complied fully with the federal requirements — until he cancelled it. And until Ford took over the Tories a year ago, the official PC platform called for full co-operation and implementation of the federal carbon tax — so is it truly intrusive?

While the fight was going on in court, Fordian acolytes began a media blitz that conveniently avoided key facts:

While his lawyers argue a weak case before the judges, Ford is flexing his legal muscle outside the courtroom: New legislation would impose $10,000 fines against any gas station that doesn’t affix to its pumps government-dictated propaganda stickers opposing Ottawa’s policy.

Drafted to demonize and distort the federal carbon tax, the stickers inexplicably fail to explain that the 4.4 cents a litre cost at the pump will be largely rebated to Ontario families. The stickers also ignore the reality that Ford is quietly pocketing a far bigger share of gas taxes (14.7 cents a litre, plus 8 per cent provincial sales tax under the HST).

The costs of sticking it to Ottawa with stickers are indeterminate. But there is a price to be paid by a pro-business party that casts itself as a guardian against the big hand of government while converting gas pumps into partisan messengers.

While threatening heavy fines, the government is spending big bucks to get its message onto the airwaves this week with the launch of its controversial anti-tax ad blitz that boasts, “Ontario has a better way.” The provincial advertising campaign is more accusatory than explanatory, unprecedented in its puerile targeting of a federal government that Ontario voters elected four years ago.

Ford has always been a bottom feeder. He has an ally in the newly elected premier of Alberta. Both practise the politics of resentment and victimization.

The upcoming election will have far reaching consequences.

Image: Macleans