Andrew Scheer aligns with Brad Wall on carbon pricing, slams Ralph Goodale

Echoing the words of Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, federal Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, who is in the running to lead the federal Conservatives, criticized the Liberal government for insisting that provinces will need to implement a carbon pricing schemein an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Brad Wall slams Justin Trudeau for carbon pricing deadline

• Justin Trudeau gives provinces until 2018 to adopt carbon price plan

"While the provinces are working hard to co-operate and collaborate on strategies to fight climate change, the prime minister prefers to issue unilateral ultimatums in an area of clear provincial jurisdiction," the Regina-Qu'Appelle MP said Tuesday in a short statement in the House of Commons.

Overblown rhetoric doesn't reduce carbon emissions.- Ralph Goodale

Scheer also took a swing at Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, who also represents a Regina riding.

"I call on the member for ReginaWascana to do the right thing," Scheer said. "He should stand with his premier, with his province, and quit the Liberal caucus over this betrayal."

The outrage was sparked after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a federal carbonpricing deadline all provinces must comply with by 2018 or the federal government will impose a price.

Calling such a move a "cold-hearted attack on working families", Scheer claimed thousands of jobs would be in jeopardy if such a scheme were imposed.

Goodale responds

Goodale's office characterized Scheer's statement as "personal abuse" and challenged him to provide alternate economic or environmental solutions on the issue.

"Overblown rhetoric doesn't reduce carbon emissions or gain Canada the environmental credibility that's essential to get our resources to market," a statement, provided by Goodale's press secretary, said.

"We're proposing a responsible plan to deal with a serious issue that the previous government ignored for a decade," it said.

The statement also repeated Goodale's assertion that money generated by a tax on carbon emissions could be spent by the province.

"The government of Saskatchewan will control every penny of new revenue," he said.

• Goodale says carbon tax revenue will stay in Saskatchewan