MLA calls out premier on carbon tax
Kevin O'Reilly accuses Bob McLeod of breaking promise to consult with regular members before publicly opposing carbon tax
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, July 29, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife MLA is accusing Premier Bob McLeod of breaking his promise to engage regular members when it comes to the NWT's strategy on climate change.
Premier Bob McLeod, left, attends the closing news conference at the premier's summer meeting held last week in Whitehorse. Beside McLeod is Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Wade MacLauchlan, premier of Prince Edward Island. - photo courtesy of the Council of the Federation |
Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly said he was disappointed to hear the premier's stance against a carbon tax in the North, which he made at last week's Council of the Federation meeting in Whitehorse.
McLeod and his two territorial counterparts issued a statement at the premiers' conference confirming their united position against a carbon tax, saying essentially that the cost of living in the North is already too high.
A carbon tax is defined as a levy based on greenhouse gas emissions generated from burning fossil fuels. It puts a price on each tonne of greenhouse gas emitted.
O'Reilly, a well-known environmentalist and rookie politician, said his opinion on a carbon tax seems to
matter little because he has been completely left out of the climate change policy process.
"I asked the premier in the house what the position of the territorial government would be," said O'Reilly.
"He wouldn't tell us in the house. He did promise and committed to consulting with the regular MLAs and the public before taking a position and that doesn't seem to have happened ... I'm not sure how that jives with what the premier has already publicly indicated. I'm disappointed that the premier did not live up to his promises."
O'Reilly disagreed with the premier's stance that cost of living is already too high to make a carbon tax affordable in the NWT.
"At a time with fuel and oil prices so low, now is the time to seriously look at a carbon tax," O'Reilly said. "B.C. has found ways to mitigate impacts on low income individuals and families in rural and remote communities through the tax system - by offering tax credits and that's something we should be looking at."
For his part, the premier said he has not made a final decision on carbon taxes. He has merely stated that a carbon tax would not be viable in the NWT unless it alleviates or compensates for the high cost of living and doing business here.
"Canada's climate change goals must be met in a way that does not negatively impact Northern costs of living, undermine security or threaten emerging economies," stated the premiers' joint release.
 | Premier calls for flexibility | 
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In an interview with Yellowknifer, Premier Bob McLeod stood by the collective statement, saying there are other ways of fighting climate change besides instating a carbon tax.
"We have said all along that we in the North are most affected by climate change," said McLeod.
"We've been able to take steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions so that our 2015 emission levels have been reduced by 30 per cent without imposing a carbon tax ... It's important that there is some flexibility in the unique situations we face here in the North. Whatever the carbon pricing strategy - it must recognize that we have very high energy prices and we're still dependent on carbon-based fuels in Northern communities."
McLeod said other leaders must realize that with a population under 45,000, the territory's carbon footprint is relatively light compared to most of the southern provinces.
"It's a lot to ask of (NWT residents) to spend a lot more money to save the world," McLeod said, adding a federal carbon tax would be more palatable if the money raised helped the North adapt to the new fees.
For instance, he suggested communities with little or no economic development should be exempt from paying a carbon tax.
Meanwhile, the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines is applauding the Northern premier's stance on carbon pricing.
"Like our communities, our exploration and mining industry faces costly challenges including a heavy reliance on diesel energy for heat and power," stated chamber president Gary Vivian in a news release.
"This adds significantly to higher costs. Thus our concern with any new initiatives that propose to increase
operating costs that reduce our ability to compete globally for capital investment funding."
McLeod said the territorial government will continue to work with the feds on climate change issues and policy to make sure the NWT voice is heard before a national climate change policy is adopted - likely this fall.
