
Ottawa could give revenues from a federally imposed carbon tax directly back to Ontario residents instead of the provincial government if whoever is elected in the spring election rejects a carbon-pricing system, the federal environment minister said Wednesday.
Catherine McKenna, who was in Toronto announcing funding for a green home-retrofit program, issued the warning in response to a question about Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford’s plans to scrap Ontario’s cap-and-trade system and reject a carbon tax.
“Let’s be clear. Pollution isn’t free,” Ms. McKenna said. “If the federal government has to step in, the revenues will go back to the province but we will determine how they go back and we could give them back to people and businesses so they would not go to the government.”
Ottawa is allowing every province to create its own carbon-pricing system to meet federal requirements, but if those plans don’t jibe with what it wants, legislation creates a system known as the federal backstop that will be imposed instead.
“Our climate plan has many elements to it,” Ms. McKenna said. “But it also requires that you put a price on what you don’t want, which is pollution.”
Ms. McKenna’s jabs at Mr. Ford’s plans came as she announced $100-million in federal funds to enhance an Ontario program that offers rebates to make homes more energy efficient, bolstering the provincial Liberals’ efforts to tackle climate change.
“We’re creating good jobs through this program,” Ms. McKenna said. “We’re saving folks money and we’re doing the right thing for our planet.”
Ms. Wynne, who appeared alongside the federal minister, touted the announcement as an example of how her government’s cap-and-trade proceeds, combined with the new federal cash, are being spent.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...uld-go-straight-to-ontario-residents-mckenna/