Oil-Rich Alberta Unveils Carbon Tax, Emissions Cap

“There are really not that many Albertans who will be hit hard in their pocketbook because we’re talking about recycling to most households”, Notley said during a telephone call with media from Ottawa Tuesday morning.

Before Trudeau and the premiers went behind closed doors, they were treated to a presentation from climate scientists, meant to persuade Canadians of the seriousness of the climate change crisis and to demonstrate that the Trudeau government is determined to craft public policy based on evidence, not politics.

She did note that Calgary is feeling the brunt of the current economic downturn, possibly sooner than most communities.

Jean says the only good news is the panel didn’t follow the lead of the federal NDP, which he says demanded the oil sands be shut down completely.

“This is a game changer for Alberta and Canada”, she said.

The Official Opposition leader says the Notley NDP misled Alberta voters about tax increases in the May provincial election. Alberta also will end coal-fired generation of electricity and mandate that renewable forms of energy account for 30% of electrical production by 2030.

Alberta’s energy sector also has been hammered by slumping global oil prices that have prompted thousands of layoffs in recent months.

Moreover, having Alberta, the primary oil-producing province, on side in the fight against climate change “is going to tell the world that we really are doing a lot”, Clark added. “I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to have a successful discussion, and I’ll be working with the industry to see how we can continue to make our case”.

It’s expected to bring in $3 billion a year when fully implemented in 2018. It was also proposing new incentives to increase renewable energy sources.

Notley noted the importance of the energy industry to the economy, but she said previous inaction on climate change played a role in President Barack Obama’s decision to reject the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Now coal represents about 40 per cent of Alberta’s electricity.

Today’s plan will build on Alberta’s oil and natural gas industry’s ongoing commitment to environmental performance and emissions reductions.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, leader of the province’s New Democratic Party that came to power in May, announced Sunday the plan for a C$20 ($14.97) tax per metric ton of carbon emitted, starting in 2017, the Globe and Mail reported. Currently, only large industries pay a tax for carbon emissions.

Arriving for their first formal meeting with a prime minister in almost seven years, premiers are praising Justin Trudeau’s willingness to take national leadership on the climate change file.

“The government recognizes the importance of technological innovation as part of the Climate Leadership Plan”.

The plan imposes a 100-megaton limit on carbon from oil sands projects; plus its share of a strategy to reduce Alberta’s methane emissions by 45 percent from 2014 levels by 2025.

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.