Alberta’s NDP government needs to do more to lessen the blow its carbon levy will have on families, businesses and municipalities.
Action needs to be taken to address climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, and targeting the pocket book is generally a good way to encourage people to change their behaviour. However, the levy will have far-reaching trickle-down effect on the provincial economy at a precarious time.
The levy will see Albertans pay more for gasoline, diesel and natural gas and the impact won’t just be seen at the pumps. It will be felt at the cash register, the grocery aisle and on property taxes. This last one will be a real dinger.
Foothills municipalities and school boards all say they will end up paying more for fuel and operating costs for everything from vehicle fleets and school buses, to electrical bills.
The Town of Okotoks could be looking at an additional $40,000 for fuel costs. The Foothills School Division expects the tax to cost it $55,000 in the first eight months of 2017.
There are some steps they can take to try to limit the carbon levy’s impact, but it’s unavoidable in many areas.
In the end, taxpayers could end up footing the bill and these higher costs will end up working their way through the entire economy.
When it was first proposed, the NDP said it was going to be revenue neutral. In the end it will cost Albertans and rebates going to some low and middle-income earners won’t come close to covering the cost of the carbon levy.
The provincial government should find other ways to offset the impact the levy will certainly have.
