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Canada: Premiers of five provinces request a meeting with Trudeau regarding the carbon tax

Canada: Premiers of five provinces request a meeting with Trudeau regarding the carbon tax

By Omayma othmani

Published: November 12, 2023

Prime ministers of five provinces are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet with them to discuss their request for carbon price exemptions not only on home heating oil but on all forms of home heating.

The open letter shared on Saturday was signed by the premiers of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

In the open letter, the premiers wrote that although they were pleased that Atlantic Canada received an exemption from the carbon price on home heating oil, which is used by about 30 percent of the population, they believe similar exemptions are needed.

"Many Canadian households do not use home heating oil and instead use all forms of heating to warm their homes. The letter said: "Winter is coming and these people also deserve a break." "It is crucial that federal policies and programs be accessible to all Canadians in a fair and equitable manner."

The premiers added that they feel this decision “has caused divisions across the country” by “singling out Atlantic Canadians” for this relief.

The letter also called on the federal government to remove the federal carbon price on “all forms of home heating,” concluding with a request to meet and discuss this issue.

This comes two weeks after the controversy following the announcement of a temporary halt to the carbon price for those using home heating oil, which is the most used in Atlantic Canada.

Trudeau rejected the idea of extending the pause to include other forms of heating, noting at the end of October that "there will be no more upcoming cuts."

Also, at a meeting of Canadian premiers earlier this week, they made a similar statement expressing their feeling that the change was unfair.

Both the federal Conservative Party and the federal New Democratic Party also expressed their opposition to exempting home heating oil.

The carbon price is one of the climate policy measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by making fossil fuel burning more expensive.

Although it has been controversial since first proposed, tension around this policy has increased in recent months as inflation continues to rise and the growing cost of living crisis puts pressure on Canadians.

Canadians receive rebates on their tax returns to compensate for the carbon price, known as the "Climate Action Incentive," with amounts varying depending on where you live. According to Canada’s parliamentary budget officer, 80 percent of households will receive from the rebate more than they pay in carbon pricing.

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