'How far can P.E.I. go?': Economist questions carbon tax demand
Kevin Yarr | CBC News | Posted: October 7, 2016 2:07 PM | Last Updated: October 7, 2016
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given provinces until 2018 to adopt a carbon price scheme
Putting a price on carbon or establishing a cap and trade system, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is demanding for the provinces, is not necessarily a good idea for P.E.I., says the head of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.
APEC president Finn Poschmann told CBC's Island Morning the prime minister's plan does not take into account what provinces have already done — the Island has already made significant reductions in carbon emissions — and what more they can do.
"The question is how far can P.E.I. go? What can Islanders do next?" said Poschmann.
You're not going to be powering an Island potato harvester with a Prius car. - Finn Poschmann
"The Island depends heavily on the sea and the soil. And to be simple about it, you're not going to be powering an Island potato harvester with a Prius car."
Poschmann said if a carbon tax is introduced, a revenue neutral tax would be preferable.
Following Trudeau's announcement, Premier Wade MacLauchlan said the province will wait until after it releases a new energy strategy and climate change mitigation plan to come up with a carbon emission reduction strategy.
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