Former federal environment minister Catherine McKenna isn’t pulling any punches in her assessment of a failed Conservative-led non-confidence vote in the House of Commons over the pending increase in the carbon tax.

The federal tax increases by 23 per cent on April 1, prompting the Conservatives to launch a political campaign to “axe the tax” and “spike the hike.”

McKenna, who did not seek re-election in the last federal election in order to focus on her family and fight climate change outside the political realm, posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday calling the Conservative effort “a lame stunt.”

She told the Tim Powers Show on VOCM that climate change is real, and the cost of climate inaction is higher than climate action. She says former prime minister Brian Mulroney provided her with support and advice before government came up with its carbon pricing plan.

“One, you have got to push back on folks who deny the science…and remember he helped tackle the hole in the ozone layer,” says McKenna. “Two, he said you need to push back on industry and lobbyists who don’t want to take action because it’s not in their economic interests.” McKenna says Mulroney also advised that changes be made “in a smart economic way that is going to protect the environment” and “you have to stand firm.”