The Canadian Taxpayers Federation remains opposed to the imposition of a federal carbon tax, even as the Prime Minister lays out the strategy for rebates. Justin Trudeau says 90 per cent of the tax collected will be returned to the people who paid it. The rest will go to organizations that can’t pass on the tax directly to consumers. The rebates only apply to the four provinces that refuse to impose a tax of their own: Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, and New Brunswick. Todd MacKay, Prairie Director of the CTF says, “A carbon tax will leave Saskatchewanians with less money, and make it harder to find jobs but it won’t help the environment.” He says it’s infuriating that the Prime Minister thinks he can buy support from people here with tax rebates paid for by their neighbours.The Federation says the tax will spike gasoline prices by 4.5 cents per litre starting next year and more than double that to 11 cents per litre in four years. The Federation references the University of Calgary’s Dr. Jack Mintz as saying, businesses are left to carry the burden and that means raising prices, laying off workers, or reducing wages or dividends.The Federation says British Columbia has experimented with a carbon tax for more than 10 years and yet the Sierra Club has determined that emissions have gone up four out of the last five years.
The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce feels business will be hurt by Ottawa’s carbon pricing plan.
C-E-O Steve McLellan says the carbon tax the Federal Government plans to implement in the new year with either cut into business profits or be passed on to consumers.
He says the chamber had hoped the Trudeau Government would hold off until after provincial court challenges are settled.
McLellan feels the uncertainty created by the growing provincial opposition to the plan and next year’s Federal Election is bad for business.
The chamber is calling on Ottawa and the provinces to consult with business leaders in order to come up with a carbon plan that works across the country.
McLellan says the chamber supports reducing greenhouse gasses through efficiency, innovation and greater reliance on renewable energy.
