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The start of a new era

Two thousand and seventeen is going to be interesting. Right off the bat, Albertans across the province are coming to terms with carbon tax pricing and what that means for their households. Rolled out on Jan.

Two thousand and seventeen is going to be interesting.

Right off the bat, Albertans across the province are coming to terms with carbon tax pricing and what that means for their households.

Rolled out on Jan. 1, the New Democratic Party says the impacts to individual households will vary depending on their energy usage and driving patterns.

According to their website, the total cost to an individual, per year, will be $191.

For a couple, it will amount to $259 and for those with two children or more, $338.

Breaking down the math, that is approximately $15.92 for a single person or $21.58 for a couple, per month.

In addition, the NDP is forecasting indirect costs between $50-$70 for goods and other services originating within the province.

The good news is that there are rebates coming to offset this cost.

It is automatic and not something you need to apply for.

Depending on your level of income, they will be issued in one, two or four payments in January ($100-$199), January and July ($200-$399), or January, April, July and October ($400 or more) respectively.

Farmers using dyed diesel or other marked farm fuels are exempt from the levy and so are biofuels, including biomethane, biodiesel and ethanol.

While many argue that this is not the right time to saddle a fragile economy with a new tax, the editorial staff of the Barrhead Leader believes this will benefit our province in the long run.

Diversification is a good idea, especially considering the change in leadership for our partners in the south and the overall global market outlook.

Alberta has been a leader in industry and now we have a chance to do so in a different way.

We also have to remember that unlike the majority of our provincial counterparts, we do not have a provincial sales tax, payroll tax or health care premiums.

Instead of taking potshots at the government’s decisions, let’s find ways to make this work for us, rather than against.

After all, it is here whether we like it or not.

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