LETHBRIDGE, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Canadian governments to end all carbon taxes following news that Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. is pausing its planned $8.25-billion expansion of its Alberta mine, citing carbon taxes as a key factor. 

“Canada is years behind because carbon taxes and regulations have been weighing down our economy, so Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney need to get out of the way by scrapping all carbon taxes completely,” said Kris Sims, CTF Alberta Director. “Even a pause on a multi billion-dollar project costs Canadians jobs and it costs governments royalties that could slow soaring government debt. A cancellation of a project like this would be a serious blow.

“This is a wake-up call to Smith and Carney: It’s time to scrap carbon taxes completely.”

CNRL is pausing its “$8.25-billion expansion of its Jackpine oil-sands mine in northern Alberta, citing uncertainty over government policies as well as calling for the end of carbon pricing,” the Globe and Mail reported.

While the federal government cancelled the consumer carbon tax, it still imposes an industrial carbon tax on oil and gas, steel and fertilizer businesses, among others. 

The federal and Alberta governments released a memorandum of understanding in November. It includes an agreement that the industrial carbon tax “will ramp up to a minimum effective credit price of $130/tonne.”

“It means more than a six times increase in the industrial price on carbon,” Carney said.

Trade unions have also spoke out about how the industrial carbon tax could cost Canadians their jobs.

“This will bankrupt the steelmaking industry in Hamilton and play right into Donald Trump’s hands, moving that steel production into the states and all the jobs that come with it,” said Nathan Bergstrand, business manager for Canadian Piping Trades Local 67 in Hamilton.

A Leger poll shows nearly 70 per cent of Canadians believe businesses pass most or some of the cost of the industrial carbon tax on to consumers. Meanwhile, just 12 per cent believe businesses pay most of the cost.

“Carbon taxes make life more expensive, punish Canadian workers and businesses and they don’t work,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Carney needs to help make life more affordable and help Canadian businesses and their workers by scrapping all carbon taxes.”

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