Carbon price increase is ‘inhumane,’ Alberta premier tells committee

Premiers Danielle Smith and Blaine Higgs made their cases against the carbon price at a House of Commons committee ahead of the April 1 increase.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the upcoming federal carbon price increase is “inhumane.”

“The carbon tax increase on natural gas is going up $4.09, which is more than double the base price of natural gas, which I believe is $1.72 a gigajoule. The so-called solution of the federal government is to increase the carbon tax on something that is life or death for Albertans in the extreme cold of winter,” Smith told the House of Commons operations committee.

“I will say that is inhumane. It begs the question, how far will this government go to make life even more difficult and expensive?”

In January, a polar vortex brought -40 C temperatures to Alberta, with wind chill making it feel like -50 C.

Smith went on to call for a similar carbon price pause for all home heating methods, as was put in place by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in October for home heating oil. It’s a move critics say disproportionately benefits Atlantic Canada.

Both Smith and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs appeared before the committee at the invitation of Conservative chair Kelly McCauley, saying that because the carbon price deals with a fiscal policy, it’s appropriate to have this discussion in the estimates study.

On April 1, the carbon price will increase from $65 per tonne to $80. This means the federal fuel price of gasoline will climb from $0.14 to almost $0.18 per litre.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe appeared at the committee on Wednesday.