Planned anti-carbon price protests prompt security warning to MPs

Supporters wait for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to arrive at an anti-carbon tax rally in Ottawa on Thursday, March 31, 2022.

Planned protests against the carbon price outside Liberal and NDP MP offices on May 3 have prompted a security warning from the House of Commons.

In an email to all 338 MPs and their staff on Thursday, the House of Commons’ sergeant-at-arms encouraged MPs to take extra security measures “should a demonstration arise at your constituency office or at your residence.”

“This is to inform members that coordinated demonstrations against the carbon tax will take place at members’ constituency offices nationwide on Friday, May 3,” Patrick McDonnell wrote in an email obtained by Global News.

“We continue to strongly recommend that constituency offices follow a ‘locked door’ policy. If an appointment with a constituent is necessary, members or their employees should consider virtual meetings for the foreseeable future.”

McDonnell’s email comes after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre encouraged demonstrations outside Liberal and NDP constituency offices over the carbon price, which has been in the spotlight since it increased on April 1.

At a March 10 rally in Toronto, Poilievre said his party is “unleashing a massive pressure campaign on NDP and Liberal MPs” to vote to stop the scheduled April 1 increase in the carbon price – which applies to provinces that don’t have an equivalent plan to reduce carbon emissions.

The money collected by Ottawa from the price is returned to Canadians in those provinces through a regular rebate.

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Poilievre has made getting rid of the consumer price on carbon a central plank in his bid to become the next prime minister. He has not revealed any plans to address carbon emissions in lieu of the carbon price but has said he sees the solution through technological measures like carbon capture and nuclear power.

“I can’t do it myself, it involves all of you. Politics is not a spectator sport, it is a participation sport. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Poilievre told the crowd.

“You need to back me up on the ground … How many will organize protests (outside) of Liberal and NDP constituency offices to pressure them to do the right thing?”

Poilievre’s office did not immediately respond to Global’s request for comment.

More to come.