The carbon tax is one of the pillars of Alberta's new climate change strategy, unveiled Sunday by Premier Rachel Notley and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips.
The suite of policies was developed with the help of an advisory panel that Notley struck soon after being elected in May, in a stunning election that saw the left-leaning NDP oust the Progressive Conservative party that had ruled the province for over 40 years. The Prime Minister is facing pressure from environmentalists to set national standards, but may also risk push back from the premiers if he does so. The system will also replace the existing specified gas emitters regulations that seek intensity-based emissions reductions with an option for companies that exceed to pay into a technology fund. That levy was at $15 a tonne, and McInerney notes the new system will cover the "entire Alberta economy" rather than just the largest emitters.
Jean rejects Notley's assertion that Alberta needs to do better to counter perceptions by U.S. President Barack Obama and others that this province has the "world's dirtiest oil". He has repeatedly stressed that any climate strategy must not knee cap the economies of resource-producing western provinces.
Notley mentioned her government's campaign promise to diversify the economy, but that there is no question the oil and gas industry is top of mind.
The Alberta government estimates the phased-in carbon tax will amount to roughly $470 in increased heating, electricity and transportation costs for an average household in 2018, assuming that household consumes the same amount of fossil fuels as it did in 2015.
Earlier Monday as they arrived for the meeting, premiers expressed optimism that the advent of new leadership in Ottawa and Alberta will allow Canada to shed its global reputation as an environmental pariah during the Paris summit.
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They are pledging to make a change to alternative sources of energy, where two-thirds of the province's power would eventually be provided by renewable energy sources such as wind power and natural gas.
CanWEA says that although Alberta's new renewable energy targets are ambitious, they are achievable and can be met while maintaining a reliable electricity grid.
The provincial government is promising its new carbon tax won't hurt low-income Albertans, but details on how it intends to prevent their financial pain are still a work in progress.
In a prepared statement, she said that Canada would build on Alberta's initiative to phase out coal and explore ways to help accelerate the reduction of coal power across the country.
Environmental groups, including the Pembina Institute, Forest Ethics and Environmental Defence Canada, also endorsed the plan, the province said.
Stephen Kretzmann, executive director of Oil Change International, agreed that "slowing-and stopping-the growth in the tar sands must be the first step" for Canada to live up to its obligation in tackling global climate change.
