Saskatchewan and Alberta premiers say home heating oil carbon tax exemption unfair to rest of country
CBC
Two of Canada's Prairie premiers say Ottawa's decision to exempt the carbon tax on heating oil fails to address affordability needs in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday the carbon tax would be exempt for three years on home heating oil, a move that largely helps those in the Atlantic provinces where it's a main source for home heating.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith say the exemption should also be applied to natural gas, as the majority of people in their provinces use it to heat their homes.
Smith says she's disturbed by the measure, adding it further creates a divide in the country.
"Question for the Liberal Government: Are we not Canadians, too?" Smith posted late Thursday on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
She wrote Friday that the federal government "has decided that one part of Canada with one type of home heating is worthy of a carbon tax break, while those living elsewhere using another type of home heating do not."
Moe said the exemption shows the carbon tax is making life less affordable.
"Just axe the tax on everyone and everything," Moe said Thursday on X.
Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner said in a statement that, while he is happy for Canadians in the Atlantic provinces, he is extremely disappointed that Canadians in Alberta, Saskatchewan and other provinces who heat their homes with natural gas have been neglected.
"The federal government needs to step up and cancel the carbon tax or make this exception for every province and every fuel type," Horner said.
Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said in a statement it's unacceptable for Ottawa to not apply the carbon tax equitably.
"I am passionately committed to fighting climate change, reducing carbon emissions and seizing the economic opportunities that this brings," she said.
"Yesterday, the prime minister moved Canada much further away from those goals."
She said she's planning to introduce a motion in the legislature that calls on "federal actions" to be applied equally, regardless of where people live or how they heat their homes.
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