The question for Canadians living in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick when it comes to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax — the specifics of which he unveiled Tuesday — is a simple one.

Do you believe him?

Do you believe him when he says 70% of the people living in those provinces, which account for almost half the Canadian population, will be financially better off when he imposes his carbon tax on them starting next year?

(Meaning 30% will be worse off.)

Because that’s what Trudeau claimed Tuesday.

He said the average Ontario family of four will pay $244 more under his carbon tax in 2019, while receiving a rebate from the federal government of $307.

In Saskatchewan, he says, the average family will pay $403 in carbon taxes with a $609 rebate.

In Manitoba, $232 more with a $339 rebate and in New Brunswick, $202 more with a $256 rebate.

Do you also believe Trudeau when he says that every year after 2019, the average family will receive more in increasing rebates than in increasing carbon taxes?

While you’re thinking of your answer, consider this.

During the 2015 election, Trudeau predicted Canada would have three years of “modest” deficits under his leadership followed by a $1 billion surplus in 2019-20.

So far, Trudeau’s deficits have been double his predictions, with his government now predicting a $17.5 billion deficit in 2019-20, not a $1 billion surplus.

Trusting Trudeau on carbon taxes is key.

While the carbon tax he unveiled Tuesday, known as carbon fee and dividend, is the best form of a carbon tax, it all depends on whether you believe Trudeau will do what he says he will do.

Premier Doug Ford, who says he believes in man-made climate change but hasn’t unveiled his plan to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, is warning Ontarians not to believe Trudeau.

Ford was elected on a platform which included fighting Trudeau’s carbon tax in court and scrapping former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne’s cap-and-trade scheme.

That’s why Trudeau is imposing his carbon tax on Ontario and three other provinces that refused to price emissions.

Ford tweeted in response to Trudeau’s announcement, which the PM made in Ford’s riding:

“Never trust a politician who tells you they will save you money by hiking your taxes. Plain and simple, the Trudeau carbon tax will make life harder and more expensive in Ontario.”

Federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer also says Canadians can’t trust Trudeau, describing the PM’s carbon tax in a tweet as:

“An election gimmick to try to trick Canadians into paying higher taxes on the basic necessities (that) won’t fool anyone. Canadians have known all along that Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax was just a tax plan, dressed up as an emissions plan.”

Scheer also says he believes in man-made climate change, but, like Ford, hasn’t revealed his plan to reduce emissions.

I don’t have a dog in this hunt.

I supported former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown’s plan, which was to create a made-in-Ontario, 100% revenue-neutral, carbon tax, with the provincial auditor general verifying annually that all the money raised would be returned to Ontarians as tax cuts or dividend cheques.

I don’t trust Trudeau’s carbon tax, given his record, and if Ford and Scheer genuinely believe man-made climate change must be addressed, it’s not enough to attack Trudeau.

What’s their plan, assuming they have one?