Katie May
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 02, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The GNWT estimates each resident contributes around 40 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, almost double the annual national average of 22 tonnes per person.

NWT environmental group Ecology North asserts that charging a carbon tax may be the only way to get Northerners to conserve more fuel and reduce greenhouse gases.

The Chamber of Mines, on the other hand, argues that such a tax will harm the industry and cut short job opportunities.

Doug Ritchie, Yellowknife-based programs director for Ecology North, said Northern premiers "should be applauding" Liberal leader Stephane Dion's plan for a fossil fuels tax, which would set an extra tax for emissions such as home heating, not including automotive fuel.

"It's a little bit disappointing that when the premiers started basically criticizing the green shift of the Liberals, it doesn't appear as though they read the plan," Ritchie said two days after the premiers' conference.

The plan would also include income tax cuts and Northern residency allowances.

"It should not, for the average NWT resident, raise the cost of living," Ritchie added. "The Liberals did their homework in terms of making sure that Northerners would not be unfairly impacted ... We have to put a price on carbon throughout the economy, that's a critical thing. The goal of the carbon tax is not to have people pay more taxes. It's to get them to use less."

Mike Vaydik, general manager of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, said he understands the premiers' anti-tax stance because any extra cost would impact mine operations and employees' lives.

"Any sort of additional cost shortens the life of the mine ... it comes right off the bottom line," Vaydik said. "I can't see how any Northerner would be for it. The cost of living affects us all."

Jon Jaque, president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday he didn't have enough information on the issue to offer comment.

As for the premiers' proposed fuel GST cut, which they need federal help to implement, Ritchie said that sends the wrong message to consumers.

"The GNWT (needs) to explore new ways to reduce fossil fuel use faster and not, essentially, reward people for using fossil fuel."