Alberta looking at boosting fines on polluters
Posted Apr 4, 2013 7:36 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ottawa and energy industry officials are surprised to hear Alberta is talking about hiking its carbon levy.
The Globe and Mail reports during a recent meeting in Calgary, Alberta’s environment minister, Diana McQueen, told her federal counterpart Peter Kent and industry officials, the province is considering hiking its carbon levy by 40 per cent from $15 per tonne to $40.
If approved, the increase would eat into the profits of oilsands producers by less than $2 a barrel.
Peter Linder with Emerging Equities tells 660News the increase would not kill industry activity and would likely buy the province some good public relations, as lobbying efforts continue to get the Keystone XL Pipeline Project approved in the U.S.
The Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada, John Bennett, says even if Alberta increases its carbon levy by 40 per cent, Canada still won’t meet already established emission reduction targets.
Word of the possible higher carbon levies come ahead of next week’s trip to Washington by Alberta Premier Alison Redford.
