The federal Conservatives are promising to “axe” the carbon tax on home hearing fuel, but a Liberal MP from this province says climate change is real and action must be taken.

Joanne Thompson was responding to messages from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre questioning carbon taxes that come into effect this summer that will add to the cost of things like home heating fuel and gas.

Thompson says the point of the carbon tax is not to cause average Canadians to be unduly harmed, and rebates will be provided to residents.

She says the aim is to tax those who are the biggest carbon polluters to make the necessary changes.

The argument against taxing home heating fuels is that people on oil furnaces don’t have the same options to reduce their use. Thompson told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that people have to move away from home oil heat.

She says there are federal and provincial supports in place to help people transition from oil to methods such as heat pumps.

“Climate change action is needed now,” says Thompson. “We are running out of time.”