“I can assure you that it is not my intention or the intention of my government to put a carbon tax on Nova Scotians.” says Premier Stephen McNeil.
The premier was responding to yesterday’s announcement of a carbon tax by the federal government.
It’s time to act – watch my speech in the House introducing our plan for pricing carbon pollution.https://t.co/10GY169zca
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 3, 2016
McNeil insists Nova Scotia is leading the way when it comes to reducing GHGs.
“Other provinces have tried different ways – there’s a carbon tax in British Columbia there’s cap and trade in central Canada, but no Canadian province has been able to acheive what Nova Scotians have been able to acheive when it comes to our reduction of greenhouse gasses.”
The premier says increasing gas tax will hurt rural Nova Scotians and not reduce GHGs in a significant way.
He says Ottawa needs to acknowledge Nova Scotia has taken a different path to reducing greenhouse gasses.
“Nova Scotians have found a way to achieve the reduction in greenhouse gasses and I believe it’s one that we’ve already begun to pay for through our power rates. And one that is giving us a positive result and I believe, helping Canada achieve its overall reduction in greenhouse gasses.”
After the announcement, Nova Scotia’s environment minister abruptly left a meeting with her federal counterparts.
McNeil says discussions were over and it was time to return and figure out how to proceed.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation commends McNeil for standing up to the federal government.
Kevin Lacey says Nova Scotia is already one of the highest taxed provinces in Canada.
But, he admits Justin Trudeau’s government has the final say.
“Nova Scotians have already paid the price to reduce the emissions through job losses and high electricity bills. We shouldn’t have to pay again with this carbon tax they want to impose on us in Ottawa.”
Lacey says a carbon tax would cost the average family $2,500 a year.
