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Monday, May 7, 2018

More spin from the Spin Master

Last weekend, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer threw down the gauntlet, promising a credible plan to meet Canada's targets without a carbon price. He has said tearing up the carbon price law will be the first thing he does if he becomes prime minister in 2019. 
It was with that in mind that Poilievre told question period on Tuesday that the former Conservative government had already proven it's possible to cut greenhouse gases while growing the economy, all without a carbon price.

But did they really? Did greenhouse gas emissions go down while the Conservatives were in office and can Poilievre credibly tie it to tax cuts and economic growth?


Spoiler alert: The Canadian Press Baloney Meter is a dispassionate examination of political statements culminating in a ranking of accuracy on a scale of "no baloney" to "full of baloney" (complete methodology below).


This one earns a rating of "some baloney
Here's why

.
THE FACTS


When the Conservatives were in office between 2006 and 2015, the government cut taxes in a number of ways, including by eliminating two points from the GST, as well as shaving points from both personal and corporate income tax rates.


According to the most recent national greenhouse gas inventory report, which Canada files every April with the United Nations, annual greenhouse gas emissions in Canada were around 732 million tonnes when the Conservatives came to office in 2006. In 2015, emissions were about 2.5 per cent lower at 714 million tonnes.


During that same decade, Canada's economy grew by an average of 1.5 per cent a year.


So on the surface, the first part of Poilievre's claim is true.


However, looking at annual emissions paired with economic growth, things get a bit more murky.



Baloney Meter: Can Conservatives claim they cut emissions while cutting taxes?


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