Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may be handling his own coronavirus pandemic, but he’s still committed to pursuing radical environmental policies and ingratiating himself to the global environmental elite.
Saturday night, while most Canadians sheltered at home, under “social distancing” order designed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, Trudeau suggested on social media that those sheltering in place turn off their electricity to save the planet.
“You’re already at home tonight, so why not unplug for #EarthHour at 8:30PM local time? Whatever you do tonight, #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe,” Trudeau tweeted.
His plan met with swift and crushing criticism on social media, as Twitter users pointed out how necessary fossil fuels have become in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
“Turning off the ventilators to save the planet,” one user mocked.
“Unplugging my ventilator for #EarthHour, thank you Justin,” chortled another.
Still others suggested that pressing environmental polices that could have a dramatic, negative impact on the Canadian economy was a bit of a misfire during a time where more than 500,000 Canadians are out of work. A few even reminded Trudeau that he just wrote a $2.65 billion check to help “developing countries” fight climate change — money that a suffering Canada could use to help bolster its own flagging economy.
That’s not Trudeau’s only issue, though. While a tasteless, ill-timed social media post is probably bad enough for most Canadians worried about whether their government is taking an active role in handling the growing pandemic, Trudeau is pairing his “Earth Hour” commitment to a massive, 50% carbon tax hike designed to punish businesses that consume too much carbon — and that tax is set to go into effect in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown.
Global News reports that Trudeau has refused to say whether he’ll put at least a temporary hold on the hike, even as groups beg and plead with the government to halt their environmental crusade.
“The Canadian economy is facing a serious challenge. Adding a 50 per cent increase in the carbon tax is a further hit to grain farmers’ bottom line and Canadian consumers’ food bills. Now is not the time to be to be adding to our household expenses,” the head of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association said in a statement earlier this week.
In response, Trudeau actually defended the measure, saying it would hurt some Canadians upfront, but save money in the long run.
“We know that it is important that we put more money in the pockets of Canadians at this point when they’re stressed,” Trudeau told reporters. “Our plan on pricing pollution puts more money upfront into people’s pockets than they would pay with the new price on pollution. We’re going to continue to focus on putting more money in people’s pockets to support them right across the country.”
It’s not as if coronavirus hasn’t hit home for Trudeau — his wife tested positive for the deadly virus and was forced to quarantine. The PM announced on Saturday that she is now “symptom free” and has been for several days.