Is this the right time to put a price on carbon?
Prime Minister Trudeau shocked the premiers this week by announcing a price on carbon ...something no prime minister has dared in the 20 years since Kyoto. Some say it's the National Energy Program all over again. Others say it's about time. What do you think?
More from this episode:
- 'Where can we work?': Calgary caller says there is 'no hope' for oil workers
- Not enough transportation options in the North to cut emissions: resident
GUESTS | LIVE CHAT | LINKS & ARTICLES | DOWNLOAD THE MP3 | SHORT PODCAST
This week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood up in the House of Commons and said it's time to take action on climate change, by putting a price on carbon emissions, whether the provinces like it or not.
The tough-talking prime minister promised to impose a national minimum carbon price by 2018, and that levy will keep growing. The news drove three environment ministers to storm out of federal-provincial climate talks and the dust hasn't settled yet.
Saskatchewan's premier called the plan "a betrayal" and is looking into a legal challenge. Alberta's premier said her province won't co-operate unless Ottawa approves a pipeline that can bring bitumen to ocean ports… Nova Scotia's premier said his province has already met federal emissions targets and doesn't need a carbon tax.
Some say it's the National Energy Program all over again. Others say it's not enough… that the proposed price on carbon needs to be much higher, if Canada is going to keep its commitment in the Paris Climate Accord and to slow the rise in global temperatures.
Our question: "Is this the right time to put a price on carbon?"
Guests
Jonathan Wilkinson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Liberal MP for Vancouver North.
Twitter: @JonathanWNV
Ed Fast, Official Opposition critic for Environment and Climate Change and Conservative MP for Abbotsford, B.C., and former Minister for International Trade
Twitter: @HonEdFast
Tom Mulcair, Leader of the New Democratic Party
Twitter: @ThomasMulcair
Mark Jaccard, Energy Economist and professor of sustainable energy in the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser Univ.
Twitter: @MarkJaccard
Links & Articles
CBC.ca
- Justin Trudeau gives provinces until 2018 to adopt carbon price plan
- Here's where the provinces stand on carbon prices
- Sask., N.S. and N.L. ministers walk out of climate talks after Trudeau announces carbon price
- In theory, carbon has a price. We just aren't paying it
- No support for national carbon plan until pipeline progress made, Notley warns PM
- Poll suggests Albertans feeling aggrieved, anxious and left out
- Carbon pricing scheme to reflect North's 'specific challenges
- Quebec cap-and-trade system in line with Ottawa's new plan, says Couillard
- Nova Scotia walks out of national carbon pricing meeting after Trudeau ultimatum
- N.L. Environment Minister Trimper walks out of meeting over carbon tax
- Will carbon tax really 'siphon' $2.5 billion from Saskatchewan?
- What a carbon price means for consumers
National Post
- Liberal carbon plan likely to withstand any constitutional challenge by provinces, by John Ivison
- 'The level of disrespect shown by the Prime Minister and his government today is stunning': Brad Wall
- Carbon pricing is cheapest way to reduce emissions but political cost is high, by Andrew Coyne
- Alberta on track to having Canada's most aggressive carbon pricing system by 2020, eclipsing even B.C.
Globe and Mail
- Carbon price vs. regulations: The better choice is clear
- Liberal government's carbon tax plan provokes anger from provinces
- Ministers face a fundamental dilemma in adopting a national carbon price
- Trudeau flexes his muscle with provinces
- Premiers draw battle lines as Trudeau seeks support for carbon-pricing plan
- Ecofiscal commission says it's time to drop biofuels subsidies
- The challenges ahead for Liberals' carbon plan
Ecofiscal Commission Reports
The Telegram
Winnipeg Free Press
Edmonton Journal
Saskatoon Star Phoenix
Regina Leader-Post
- Botched launch for weak climate policy
- Carbon pricing another obstacle in Saskatchewan's relationship with federal government
Toronto Star
- 5 things to know about Canada's carbon pricing plans
- Justin Trudeau defends carbon tax strategy
- National carbon price is a small but important step: Editorial