By Canadian Press

Trudeau’s carbon price plan praised, denounced: selection of quotes

Oct 3, 2016 | 4:00 PM

OTTAWA — Some of what was said Monday after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s surprise announcement that the federal government will impose a floor price on carbon, starting at $10 per tonne in 2018 and rising to $50 per tonne in 2022.

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“If you live in Canada’s north or in our coastal communities or, really … in any community that is subject to extreme weather conditions and the resulting floods, droughts and wildfires, then the effects of climate change itself cannot be denied. There is no hiding from climate change. It is real and it is everywhere.” — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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“I cannot believe that while the country’s environment ministers were meeting on a so-called collaborative climate change plan, the prime minister stood in the House of Commons and announced a carbon tax unilaterally. This meeting is not worth the CO2 emissions it took for environment ministers to get there. The level of disrespect shown by the prime minister and his government today is stunning.” — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.

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“The bottom line is that the Saskatchewan economy — already hurting from the downturn in commodity prices — will be one of the hardest hit by a new federal carbon tax because of our trade-exposed resource industries. The carbon tax will siphon over $2.5 billion from Saskatchewan’s economy when fully implemented.” — Wall.

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“Alberta will not be supporting this proposal absent serious concurrent progress on energy infrastructure, to ensure we have the economic means to fund these policies … Albertans have contributed very generously for many years to national initiatives designed to help other regions address economic challenges. What we are asking for now is that our landlock be broken, in one direction or another, so that we can get back on our feet.” — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

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“In the last decade, our province has eliminated coal-fired electricity generation and is now establishing a carbon market that puts a hard and declining cap on the amount of greenhouse gas pollution emitted each year. Ontario has established a cap-and-trade system, as it is best suited in our economy to minimize household costs and economic impacts while also driving innovation.” — Ontario Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray.

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“As usual, his talking points are full of lofty goals and warm and fuzzy platitudes. Then he lowered the boom. He took a sledgehammer and told the provinces that if they do not do it his way, if they do not accept a carbon tax or carbon pricing model, he is going to do it for them.” — Conservative environment critic Ed Fast.

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“Canadian families are struggling to make ends meet. The last thing they need is a massive carbon tax forced down their throats.” — Ed Fast.

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“The prime minister has announced a price on carbon so low it cannot possibly guarantee any reductions in greenhouse gases.” — NDP environment critic Linda Duncan.

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“I commend the Trudeau administration for being first to implement a national carbon pricing plan but $10 per tonne is too low to be taken seriously.” — Green party Leader Elizabeth May.

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“An incentive to cut carbon pollution that will grow over time is a big positive for the country from coast to coast to coast.” — Matt Horne, Pembina Institute.

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“A price on carbon pollution across Canada is a huge step forward and an essential component of a credible climate plan. It’s the kind of leadership Canadians want and expect from the federal government.” — Merran Smith, Clean Energy Canada.

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“Canadians should hang onto their wallets. The federal government has now committed to imposing a wide-ranging tax which will rise over time, taking $38 billion out of Canadians’ pockets annually by 2022 — all in pursuit of an emissions target that, even if it is met, will have no substantive impact on global climate change.” — Aaron Wudrick, Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The Canadian Press

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