Trudeau takes 'escape hatch' at climate meeting with premiers: The Strategists

After flip-flopping on who should take the lead on carbon pricing, Justin Trudeauopted for the easy way out at Thursday's first minister meeting, according tosome political strategists.

Following a lengthy, closed-door meeting with the premiers lasting roughly five hours, the prime minister emerged to declare thatall parties had reached a consensus on carbon pricing in principle, but offered no details on what that might actually look like.

"He just moved the goal posts and declared victory," saidCorey Hogan, one of The Strategists.

In January 2015,Trudeausaid theprovinces should be free toset their own carbon pricing rules. During the October election campaign, he promised to put a price on carbona commitment he reaffirmed in February.

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"You don't know which one to listen to because they keep changing time and time again," saidStephenCarter.

Political panelistZain Velji said Thursday's agreementboiled down to a"unanimous decisionto have a plan, to eventually have a solution, to have a plan, to make a decision."

"It means nothing. It ultimately doesn't. It's the only way he could've gotten out of it today," Velji said.

"Most premiers walk away today with an escape hatch going back to their provinces and saying, 'Hey listen, we've agreed on something,'... and the prime minister also took that same escape hatch."

Hogan saidTrudeau's"play nice" approach is beginning to wear thin, and thatthe prime minister will need to take a tougher approach with the premiers on this contentious issue if he hopes to achieve anything tangible.