‘Still Better Than a Carbon Tax’ is Nova Scotia alternative to Ottawa’s climate plan

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s premier has responded to a challenge from the prime minister to submit an alternative to the federal carbon pricing program.

Tim Houston’s “Still Better Than a Carbon Tax Plan” summarizes the steps his government has taken so far to battle climate change.

The document includes his government’s previously released plans for coastal protection, climate change, clean electricity and green hydrogen.

He submitted the plan to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a letter dated March 28 in which Houston said the province didn’t think a carbon tax was the best mechanism to address climate change in Nova Scotia.

The prime minister told reporters Tuesday in the Halifax area that he hadn’t see the details of Houston’s plan.

Trudeau said he was open to talking with Houston but added that Nova Scotia’s earlier climate change plans had not met federal requirements, which include a price on carbon.

Ottawa’s increase of $15 per tonne of carbon went into effect Monday, but Trudeau said that increase would also mean larger quarterly rebate cheques, which families are next set to receive on April 15 to help offset the higher cost of fuel.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press