Trudeau announces 'pan-Canadian framework' on climate — but Sask., Manitoba hold off
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and most of the premiers signed a historic pan-Canadian framework Friday to fight climate change and meet the country's 2030 emissions reduction targets, but a day of tense talks failed to convince two provinces to get onside.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba both said they would not be able to sign the agreement Friday.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has steadfastly opposed any sort of carbon pricing and didn't waver, saying it would be foolish to impose a levy with the imminent arrival of president-elect Donald Trump to the White House.
Trump has vowed to scrap many of the green-friendly regulations implemented by President Barack Obama, and this week appointed a climate change sceptic to head the country's Environmental Protection Agency, Wall noted. He said it's unlikely Canada will be able to convert Trump into a climate change warrior.
"I'm just saying, let's not be naive as Canadians. This is our number one not just trading partner but competitor for investments in energy ... and we need to be competitive with them. And that's some of the concerns we have," Wall said.
Trudeau quickly shot back at Wall.
"I think all Canadians know that Canadian climate policy will be set by Canadians, not by whomever happens to be the president of the United States."
Pallister holds out for health care deal
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister was the other holdout. Throughout the day, Pallister pivoted to talk of more health care funding when asked about his willingness to sign the climate deal.
In the end, Pallister said his number one priority is pushing the federal government off its commitment to cut the health escalator from six per cent to three per cent a year, citing his province's dire need for an influx of cash as it struggles with an ageing population and the health needs of a large Indigenous population.
The first ministers discussed health dollars over dinner at Trudeau's residence Friday evening. The Prime Minister's Office told CBC News that the two sides are unlikely to reach a consensus on that file at this point.
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, who initially balked at the deal, said B.C. would sign on after receiving assurances the plan would ensure the provinces' various carbon-pricing plans were equitable.
"British Columbia's carbon tax will go up when the rest of the country has caught up to us," said Clark. "There was an issue of fundamental fairness that we needed to see resolved in the agreement, from B.C.'s perspective."
Clark said the plan includes a mechanism that will allow B.C. to ensure it is not paying a higher carbon price than other provinces.
Trudeau said Friday the federal government will impose a carbon price on the two non-signatory jurisdictions, despite their objections.
The price starts at a minimum of $10 per tonne of GHG emissions in 2018, rising by $10 each year to $50 per tonne by 2022. All of the money raised will be returned to the respective provinces, who can, in turn, distribute those funds to their citizens in the form of tax cuts.
The final agreement also includes a long list of already announced measures to battle climate change, including new building codes to boost energy efficiency, more charging stations for electric cars, and expanding clean electricity sources and upgrading power grids.
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'We'll probably see them in court'
Before Friday's meeting even began, Wall blasted the federal government's approach, which he said "unilaterally" laid down a carbon price scheme without the benefits of "due diligence" or an impact assessment.
"We're about to undertake the biggest change to how Canadians tax their economy and Canadian families and there has been no economic impact assessment. I'm really worried about the competitiveness of the country," he said. "We will not be signing the framework today, for those and other reasons."
Trudeau announces 'pan-Canadian framework' on climate — but Sask., Manitoba hold off - Politics - CBC News
"All of the money raised will be returned to the respective provinces, who can, in turn, distribute those funds to their citizens in the form of tax cuts."
So, the Feds are going to collect the money the send
all of it back to the provinces.....sure they are.........I've got an idea. Why not just have the provinces set aside a special account for carbon taxes and cut out the middleman.