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Premier Rachel Notley Defends Carbon Tax

Apr 18, 2016 | 4:58 PM

ALBERTA – Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s government is defending its new carbon levy.

The government says the added cost of the tax to the average Alberta family will be 338 dollars next year and 508 dollars the year after that to pay for higher gas prices and home heating bills.

Those costs will be fully rebated to middle and lower-income families equivalent to 60 per cent of all Alberta households.

But the Wildrose and P-C parties say the N-D-P is turning a blind eye to the reality that businesses and municipalities may have to download the cost onto Albertans.

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean notes the City of Calgary is estimating the tax will cost it 6.5 million dollars.

But Environment Minister Shannon Phillips says municipalities need to know that while they may pay more, they will be getting that money right back in the form of money for green initiatives like public transit.