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Federal government issues ultimatum, sets Canadian political landscape on fire

A carbon tax is coming. Whether or not it is solely a provincial tax, or one tied into a federal one remains to be seen, but regardless, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued an ultimatum to the provinces Oct.

A carbon tax is coming.

Whether or not it is solely a provincial tax, or one tied into a federal one remains to be seen, but regardless, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued an ultimatum to the provinces Oct. 3 demanding they set minimum carbon pricing with regards to said tax within two years.

If Alberta and the rest of the country does not, he said the federal government will step it in and do it for us.

Member of Parliament Arnold Viersen decried the ultimatum as crippling to the economy and said it would make life for rural Albertans unaffordable.

Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken agreed, adding the implementation of such a tax is irresponsible and feels certain it will impose damaging policies that will disproportionately affect the West.

Premier Rachel Notley said the provincial government would not support it unless the federal government approved a pipeline.

Van Dijken worries that tying the approval of a pipeline to taxation sets a dangerous precedent and he is right to worry.

Mayor Gerry St. Pierre shared the MLA’s sentiment, adding in his opinion the two issues should be dealt with separately, with the imperative on a pipeline being built first and stresses it should not be used as a bargaining tool.

If a pipeline is approved now, with such a condition, one has to wonder what will happen in the future?

While everyone, including the editorial staff of the Barrhead Leader, agrees that advancing towards the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions should be at the forefront of any discussion, infrastructure needs to be in place beforehand and strong-arm tactics such as those used by Trudeau in forcing provinces to institute their own carbon pricing minimum verges on bullying.

It is still unclear whether this provincial tax will be a stand alone, or whether it will be part of, or in addition to a federal tax.

We acknowledge Canada’s desire to be a leader on the global stage with regards to carbon emission reductions, but with the economy in as fragile a state as it is, to be forced to do something with an or-else statement added to it, to be frank, is quite unsettling.

Viersen urges you to speak with him and voice your concerns, to add your voices to those of the County of Barrhead — who on behalf of all other municipalities is urging the provincial government to provide exemptions to them, in suggesting that such a tax is ill-advised at this time.

Hopefully cooler heads prevail and more discussion leads to at the very least, an extension of such legislation.

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