Alberta premier urges Trudeau to heed growing concerns from premiers on carbon levy

March 13, 2024 Canuck

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to heed the growing calls from premiers to dump the planned hike to the consumer carbon charge on April 1.

The comments came in introductory remarks as the two leaders met in Calgary on Wednesday morning in their first face-to-face meeting since last summer.

As the two smiled and shook hands for the cameras, Smith thanked Trudeau’s government for pushing through the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to the B.C. coast.

But she said they still have areas of contention.

“An area where we don’t quite see eye-to-eye [is] the carbon tax,” said Smith.

“Seven premiers have suggested that we need a pause on April 1, so I’m very hopeful that we can maybe come to some solution on that [and] address issues of affordability.”

Trudeau responded by reminding Canadians that as the levy rises, so do rebates.

“As of the beginning of April, the average family of four in Alberta will get $1,800 a year with the Canada Carbon Rebate,” he said.

“That’s money in people’s pockets even as we fight climate change.”

Trudeau added work is getting done on affordability, such as through the federal-provincial deals on child-care subsidies and pharmacare.

The federal carbon price is set to rise by $15 a tonne to $80 next month.

Some premiers have said this is concerning, given Canadians are already dealing with ever-rising costs for day-to-day living.

The prime minister also announced in Calgary that 1.3 million seniors are now registered for the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

He is scheduled to meet with seniors in Calgary later this afternoon.

After the meeting with Smith, Trudeau said he was pleased to talk with the premier about addressing challenges with child care, pharmacare, clean electricity, investing in renewables and partnering on big projects.

Smith’s United Conservative government has taken issue with Ottawa on a range of issues, including several of those ones.

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