Nova Scotia’s premier has responded to the premier’s request for an alternative to the federal carbon pricing program.
Tim Houston’s “Still Better than a Carbon Tax Plan” summarizes the steps his government has taken to combat climate change.
The document includes the government’s previously announced plans for coastal protection, climate change, clean electricity and green hydrogen.
He submitted the plan to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a letter dated March 28. In it, Houston said the province doesn’t agree that a carbon tax is Nova Scotia’s best mechanism to address climate change.
The premier told reporters in the Halifax area on Tuesday that he had not yet seen the details of Houston’s plan.
The carbon tax hike has sparked protests across Canada, and the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has called for an emergency meeting to discuss the increase.
Trudeau said he was open to talks with Houston, but added that Nova Scotia’s initial climate plan does not meet federal requirements, including a carbon price.
“Other provinces can set pollution prices that meet federal levels,” Trudeau said. “We are always there to work with them.
“I’ve worked with Premier Houston in the past and he’s done a lot of things to get us to that level, but there has to be equity across the country.”
carbon tax increase
Ottawa’s $15 per tonne of carbon dioxide price increase went into effect on Monday, but Trudeau said the increase would also mean an increase in quarterly rebate checks, meaning each household would receive the next four to cover higher fuel costs. He said he plans to receive it on the 15th of May.
Nova Scotia’s quarterly rebate was $103 per person, or $206 for a family of four.
Monday’s increase increased gasoline prices by 3.3 cents per liter. Since its introduction in 2019, the tax has added 17.6 cents per liter to the price of gasoline.
In a letter to Trudeau, Houston said the province opposes taxing Nova Scotians who have little ability to change their spending habits and must drive in a “rural province.” Ta.
He said at a time when affordability is a major issue, “the last thing Nova Scotians need is another tax bill,” and that the province is working through environmental goals and the Climate Change Reduction Act. “We have the most aggressive climate change goals in the country,” he wrote. .
Opposition leaders have been highly critical of the state’s plan and do not expect it to be approved by the federal government.
“This is not a new plan,” Liberal Leader Zac Churchill said. “This is not a credible alternative. It doesn’t have pollution pricing. If we’re going to comply with federal law, we need pollution pricing.”
NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Nova Scotia’s plan is a communications exercise that doesn’t address the major climate change issues facing the province.
“Like other states, they are doing their homework to submit to us a plan that will give some relief to consumers and ensure that we don’t have the same fires, floods and storms that we had last year,” Chender said. No,” he said.
