ARICHAT - As the new federal carbon pricing system enters its fourth week in Nova Scotia, a government-caucus MP is confident that his constituents will find a balance between higher gasoline prices and the rebates they will receive as a result of this new structure, despite comments to the contrary by Canada's Opposition Leader. 

Cape Breton-Canso Liberal MP Mike Kelloway made the comments during a July 19 interview with Telile Community Television general manager Becky Bourinot at the station's studio in Arichat. 

Arriving in Isle Madame shortly after making a federal funding announcement for four seniors' organizations in Richmond County, Kelloway described this move - and an upcoming multi-million-dollar contribution to the Samson Enterprises boatbuilding business in Arichat - as symbolism of his party's willingness to work cooperatively with others to help their communities grow. 

By contrast, Kelloway decried the approach taken by Conservative Leader Pierre Polievre in his attacks on federal carbon pricing and similar Liberal initiatives. 

"I think there's a definitive choice when it comes to the next election," Kelloway declared. "There's a right-wing approach which looks at cutting costs, pitting people against people and region against region. We see some of the nastiness in terms of [Polievre's] viewpoints on LGBTQIA+, we see the divisiveness around pitting region against region and trying to pit municipalities against each other.

"I like to think the best of people - that's my approach. But I have some concerns that this is seemingly looking like right-wing politics out of the United States. There are chapters that are written verbatim from the Trump playbook. And I don't think that's what Atlantic Canadians want."