On Tuesday he all but called Mr. Trudeau a hypocrite, demanding that the Liberal leader live up to an election debate statement that it would be “nonsensical” for Ottawa to impose a climate change plan on the provinces. “It is real, and it is everywhere”, Trudeau said.
Advertisement
Trudeau said all members know “we are working very hard on that file with the Americans, it’s an issue that was neglected for many years by the previous government, and that’s why were working diligently to represent the interests of Canadians and the forestry industry across the country”.
Today, we introduce our plan for pricing carbon pollution to build a clean economy and protect Canadians’ health.
And Yukon environment minister Currie Dixon said the three northern territories all object to the plan as well. “This is not a theory – it’s basic math”.
OTTAWA-The federal government has unveiled a plan to price carbon pollution, vowing to implement a minimum price within two years.
Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan (which does not now have a carbon pricing system), accused Trudeau of announcing a carbon tax unilaterally.
A new public opinion survey suggests there’s a reservoir of good will for federal leadership, including majority backing for a minimum national price on Carbon dioxide emissions.
All proceeds from carbon pricing policies-even if they are directed by the federal government-will stay in the provinces and territories, according to Trudeau.
She says Alberta will not support the proposal without pipelines.
Saskatchewan province, which has been developing carbon capture technology on a massive scale, remained adamantly opposed to any carbon tax.
Saskatchewan is Canada’s second-largest oil producing province and the third-largest natural gas producing province.
Canada’s four most populated provinces have or are adopting carbon pricing, but may have to strengthen their rules under the new federal limits. The benchmark for pricing carbon emissions will be set at a level that would help Canada meet its greenhouse gas emission targets.
Provincial environment ministers meeting on Monday in Montreal with their federal counterpart Catherine McKenna to try to find consensus on climate action had mixed reactions to Mr Trudeau’s bombshell announcement.
Not long after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government wanted all of Canada’s provinces and territories to impose a carbon tax, Alberta’s premier hit back – saying Alberta needed a pipeline first. “It’s the kind of leadership Canadians want and expect from the federal government”.
Under the proposed system, provinces would be able to choose between a direct price on carbon via a carbon tax, or a carbon market via a cap-and-trade system.
Why put a price on carbon?
Canada accounts for 1.95 per cent of global emissions.
Advertisement
California and states in New England have adopted policies to cap emissions. Once the higher product cost is set because of the carbon tax, then they’ll add the GST on top of that.
