Houston Wants Exemption For N.S. From Federal Carbon Tax
HALIFAX — Premier Tim Houston doesn’t want Nova Scotia to take part in the federal government’s carbon tax. Instead, Nova Scotia submitted its own plan to reduce emissions during a meeting with the federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault on Thursday.
“He took it with him,” Houston said jokingly at a media conference on Friday when asked about Guilbeault’s response to the plan.
The carbon tax would have a major impact on gas and power costs by 2030 but reports suggest it would generate as much as $1 billion annually to offset costs. The province claims a carbon tax would add more than $2,000 in annual costs to the average Nova Scotian’s household in 2025 and more than $3,000 in 2030.
Houston wants to see if his government’s plan to reduce greenhouse gases will work first.
“We’ve put forward a better plan. It is more effective; it is more efficient, and it is more affordable for Nova Scotians. All three of those points are equally important,” he said.
Nova Scotia has been operating under its own system to tax polluters. It was introduced by the previous Liberal government but now a new agreement is needed with the feds. Houston’s plan would reduce emissions by 17 percent, exceeding the carbon tax reductions of two percent.
“Our made-in-Nova Scotia plan has some of the most aggressive benchmarks in the country and will show results,” Premier Houston said. “We’re asking the federal government to hold us accountable for our goals and timelines. If we can’t meet them, then I will accept that a carbon tax is necessary.”
Under the Nova Scotia government’s plan, costs would be less than $500 per household in 2030.
Opposition claims little substance to Houston’s carbon plan
Iain Rankin, the former premier and current environment critic for the provincial Liberal party, says Houston’s plan isn’t going to work. He expects the federal government will not accept it because it doesn’t give enough information about how the province would meet the new goals being suggested.
“I wouldn’t dignify it by saying it’s a plan. I was hoping to have something to critique but this was nothing more than a slide show that goes over the targets that have been in place for some time,” Rankin said while speaking to media following Premier Houston’s announcement.
Rankin believes Houston’s plan is just a way to appear like the government is fighting the carbon tax for the sake of scoring political points.
“They’re basically shielding themselves from the politics of the carbon tax; the Premier admitted that the federal government can impose the carbon tax and he’s trying to escape the political ramifications.”.
With Premier Houston’s plan being sparse on details, Rankin is advising Nova Scotians to be prepared for gas prices to include the carbon tax, as he feels the federal government will not give it the necessary approvals.
Steve MacArthur is the news director with CKHZ 103.5 in Halifax, a Huddle content partner.