OTTAWA: Canada’s federal government on Monday made good on an ultimatum to impose a carbon tax on four provinces that haven’t fallen in line with its emissions reduction strategy.
A starting levy of Can$20 ($15) per ton of pollution imposed on Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan — all led by Conservatives — will add about 4.4 cents to the price of a liter of gasoline, and drive up other energy costs too.
Over the coming years it is scheduled to increase incrementally to Can$50.
Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, however, pledged to refund most of monies directly to taxpayers, with those who aggressively cut their emissions reaping the largest rebates.
Six other provinces are exempt because each has come up with their own carbon tax or cap and trade system to help Canada meet its Paris Agreement target of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
“Putting a price on pollution is the most affordable and effective way to cut pollution,” Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said on Twitter, enlisting support from former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Strange how today’s Conservatives, including (Andrew) Scheer and (Doug) Ford, oppose this practical, affordable, market-based solution,” she said.
Saskatchewan has gone to court to fight the levy, while Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford has railed against it daily over the past two weeks, saying it is a jobs-killer and could trigger a recession — claims disputed by economists.
“It will make everything more expensive,” Ford said in an online video showing him filling up a car at a gas station.
His government, after it was elected last June, pulled Ontario out of a California-led cap and trade system that would have met the federal standard.
Speaking to reporters, Conservative opposition leader Andrew Scheer said Canadians “can’t afford” the carbon tax, and vowed to repeal it if his party is elected next October.
He declined, however, to present an alternate plan to meet Canada’s international climate obligations until the election.
Canada imposes carbon tax on four provinces with no climate plans
Canada imposes carbon tax on four provinces with no climate plans
- Six other provinces are exempt because each has come up with their own carbon tax or cap and trade system to help Canada meet its Paris Agreement target of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent
EU sends emergency generators to Ukraine as France plans to coordinate aid
- The European Commission will send 447 emergency generators worth $4.3m to restore power
- “Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ... are designed to break Ukrainian spirit,” Lahbib said
PARIS: The European Union is deploying emergency generators to Ukraine, saying Russian bombings have left a million people without power and heating, while France plans to hold a call to rally international help for Ukrainians exposed to extreme cold.
Electrical engineers have been working around the clock in hazardous conditions for weeks since Russia escalated attacks on Ukraine’s grid during a cold snap that has reached temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 F).
The European Commission will send 447 emergency generators worth 3.7 million euros ($4.3 million) to restore power to hospitals, shelters and critical services affected by “relentless Russian strikes,” it said in a statement on Friday.
It added the generators will be mobilized from strategic reserves hosted in Poland and distributed in cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross to the most affected communities.
“Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ... are designed to break Ukrainian spirit,” European crisis chief Hadja Lahbib said in the statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared an energy emergency after the strikes over winter knocked out power generation and distribution facilities.
“We won’t let Russia freeze Ukraine. We bring light and warmth where Russia sends darkness,” Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova told a daily news briefing.
FRANCE TO HOLD CALL WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
Earlier on Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told BFM television that France would
hold a call
with G7 countries as well as Nordic and Baltic states later in the day to coordinate support for Ukraine’s energy grid.
“He continues to shell Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. We will continue to support Ukraine,” Barrot said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He said France would supply Ukraine with the equivalent of 13 extra megawatts of electricity and around 100 generators to replace destroyed infrastructure. Other countries would also pledge assistance during the virtual meeting, he said.
