Polluters should pay up, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insists. But pressure is mounting to scrap his signature climate policy, a federal levy on CO2 emissions, as ordinary Canadians see the law increase their own cost of living.
The levy, applied to a myriad of fossil fuels used by both industry and consumers, is scheduled to rise from Can$64 to Can$80 (US$48 to US$59) per metric tonne of carbon on April 1, in a bid to see Canadians slash their total carbon emissions by 40-45% ..
But it's adding to household costs at the same time that people are feeling the bite from inflation. Seven provinces have asked the government to pause or cancel the increase, which would add about three cents per liter (quarter gallon) to the price of gasoline.
Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey - a liberal from Trudeau's own party - was the latest this month to join his conservative peers in seeking a reprieve "at least until inflation stabilises". Saskatchewan, meanwhile, is refusing to collect and remit the tax to Ottawa. In some ways Trudeau has already caved to pressure, issuing in October a three-year exemption of the tax on home heating oil. The Atlantic region, where 24 Liberal House of Commons seats are at stake, benefits the most from the change.
Read more at economictimes.com