The provincial government is moving forward with its plan to reduce carbon pollution.
Environment Minister Shannon Phillips introduced Bill 20 in the Alberta Legislature Tuesday afternoon.
“Our plan to reduce carbon pollution will diversify the economy, create jobs, protect the health of Albertans and erase any doubt about Alberta’s environmental record. It’s the right thing to do today and for future generations.” says Phillips. “Climate change denial is wrong for our economy and it’s wrong for our Alberta’s future.”
Dawn Buschert works at Shirley’s Greenhouse in Didsbury and is worried about the financial impact of this tax.
“Our biggest bills are natural gas,” she says. “We have 36 thousand square feet and pay $100,000.00 per year on natural gas. If the carbon tax goes through our bill goes up $30,000.00 per year which is a huge chunk as an Alberta farmer.”
If passed, the proposed legislation would set in law Alberta’s carbon levy and carbon levy rebate and ensure revenue from the carbon levy is invested into actions that address climate change.
The $20.00 per tonne carbon tax levy will take effect January 1, 2017.
Phillips says six in 10 Albertans will receive a full cash refund.
“Single Albertans will receive $200.00 per year, couples $300.00 and parents will receive an additional $30.00 per child under the age of 18, for up to four children, " she says. “The money will stay the same providing an incentive for people to reduce their carbon emissions and keep more money in your pocket.”
Wildrose Leader Brian Jean says this carbon tax is coming at a time when families are hurting.
“An aggressive carbon tax that simply squeezes families and businesses for every spare penny will not help people pay their mortgages or get back to work,” says Jean. “Without acting in concert with competing economies here in North America, this tax will just make it more difficult for our economy to recover.”
Buschert agrees saying if the legislation passes and it impacts her business, Albertans may stop shopping local.
“Our pricing on our food would have to go up and we’ll have to pass that along to our customers who are already going to be strapped by that carbon tax and I don’t know if they can afford to pay the pricing when we can get food so cheap from California and Mexico.”
The legislation would also establish Energy Efficiency Alberta as the provincial agency that will develop and deliver provincial-scale energy efficiency and small scale renewable programs and services.
The province says the agency will design programs to help people better understand and manage their energy consumption and footprint, and reduce their overall energy costs.
