Most Quebecers want to scrap the carbon tax: poll
Quebecers, who still pay a provincial carbon tax, no longer wish to pay more for fuel.
A Léger-Le Journal-TVA survey reveals most Quebecers (56%) want the Legault government to eliminate its carbon pricing system, which adds about 10¢/litre at the pumps.
While the federal government asserts a consistent carbon pricing across Canada, Quebec received a lower and differently structured carbon tax.
In 2023, the federal carbon tax increased to 14¢/litre of gas and 12¢/cubic metre of natural gas, while Quebec's cap and trade cost 9¢/litre with a minimum of 4.8¢.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation argues these discrepancies show the carbon tax is politically motivated, not environmentally driven, as provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan would have paid considerably more in fuel taxes.
"Canada is the only G7 country that has not achieved any emission reduction since 1990," said Environment Commissioner Jerry DeMarco. "That needs to change."
The environment department has been faulted time again for not explaining the impact of carbon taxes and other measures.
The pollster Sébastien Dallaire points out that in times of economic and financial uncertainty, the population is less inclined to make sacrifices for the environment. "This is not the priority," he told Journal de Montreal.
Quebecers who frequently drive strongly oppose a carbon tax on gasoline, with only 7% abandoning conventional vehicles.
In addition, voters across most political affiliations and regions no longer wish to pay more for fuel.
Taxpayers outside Quebec paid an $80 per tonne carbon tax in 2023, while the province's cap-and-trade system was $57 per tonne, according to the Taxpayers Federation.
By 2030, Quebecers are expected to pay $97, reported La Presse, or 22.5¢/litre of gas. Other provinces would have paid 37¢/litre before the federal tax was eliminated.
The federal consumer tax is expected to be replaced with a comparable charge on industrial emitters, which will ultimately be passed on to consumers.

Alex Dhaliwal
Journalist and Writer
Alex Dhaliwal is a Political Science graduate from the University of Calgary. He has actively written on relevant Canadian issues with several prominent interviews under his belt.
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COMMENTS
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Bruce Atchison commented 2025-05-20 22:19:50 -0400How I despise out-of-touch leaders! They hold us all back. And taxing us for just living is evil. Any school child learns that carbon dioxide is what plants need for photosynthesis. It isn’t the control knob on global warmth either. There’s less than half a percent of it in the atmosphere so there’s no need to panic.
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Robert Pariseau commented 2025-05-20 15:25:24 -0400You are the carbon…