Federal threat to impose higher carbon tax on Manitoba ‘misguided’: minister
VANCOUVER — Manitoba’s sustainable development minister says a federal threat to impose a higher carbon tax on the province is misguided and reveals a breakdown of co-operative federalism.
Rochelle Squires said her government is standing firm on its promise to bring in a carbon tax of $25 a tonne next year and to keep it at that rate, citing other climate measures her province has brought in.
Ottawa has demanded provinces implement either a cap-and-trade system or a tax that would start at $10 a tonne in 2018 and ramp up to $50 a tonne by 2022.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously said his government will impose an increased carbon tax on Manitoba if the province doesn’t co-operate, and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna echoed his remarks Friday.