Serge Rousselle vows carbon pricing system will be 'revenue neutral'

Environment Minister Serge Rousselle is promising that any move made by the New Brunswick government to meet federal demands on a carbon pricing system will be "revenue neutral."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau surprised people this week when he suddenly ordered provinces to adopt a carbon pricing system by 2018. 

Rousselle told Information Morning Fredericton on Wednesday that it is too early to discuss what the New Brunswick strategy will be.

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But he said taxpayers shouldn't worry about being forced to dig into their wallets to pay for a new system as the money will be put back into the province. 

"Any price on carbon brought forward by our government will be revenue neutral," said Rousselle. 

"And we learned from the Trudeau government that all the money received from this province will be sent back."

Some groups such as the Canadian Taxpayers Federation say the carbon pricing system will end up costing families an extra $524 in 2018 and $2,500 a year in taxes by 2022.

Trudeau surprised people this week when he suddenly ordered provinces to adopt a carbon pricing system by 2018. 

The prime minister said provinces can craft a cap-and-trade system or put a direct price on carbon pollution. But he told the House of Commons that the policies must meet the federal benchmark or "floor price."​

Trudeau said the carbon tax should be $10 a tonne in 2018 and would increase to $50 a tonne by 2020.

Waiting for upcoming committee report

Rousselle said the provincial government will weigh what the upcoming report from the select committee on climate change along with what Trudeau has said as they try to reduce carbon. 

"With all that information, the government will make sure to strengthen our climate change plan to make sure we do respect the environment but at the same time we do respect the economy of this province," Rousselle said.​

Rousselle pointed to British Columbia, who implemented a tax on all fuel use and carbon emissions in 2008. There they pay $30 a tonne. 

"If you look since they imposed that tax, the economy of British Columbia is certainly leading the country right now since then," said Rousselle. 

A $50 carbon tax would cause the pump prices to rise by 11 cents a litre.

Rousselle said that because that money would be going back to the province, they would try to find a way to make it more affordable for people.