DIDSBURY - I could say that the new carbon tax is divisive, but that would infer that there are people for it - other than Rachel Notley and her supporters. And based on the negative response to the tax, the number of Notley supporters in the province is steadily dwindling.
The carbon tax came into effect on Jan. 1 and is part of the government's Climate Leadership Implementation Act, which sets out initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ostensibly help combat climate change.
The carbon tax applies a levy to all sales and imports of fuel based on $20 per tonne of CO2.
Many Albertans believe that the carbon tax will hit them right where it hurts - in the pocketbook. Let's face it, no one likes taxes.
Quite often they seem like a cash grab. And when the economy is as bad as it has been in Alberta and jobs are scarce - higher bills are the last thing people need. Gasoline and natural gas are not exactly unnecessary items people can go without - not if they want to get anywhere and have the nerve to want to heat their homes.
The government has stated that 60 per cent of Alberta households will receive a rebate that would cover the average cost of the carbon tax, but that would be based on the 2015 tax return and wouldn't help right away.
One can't help but wonder why bother in the first place. Will people really think twice about driving their SUV or turning up their furnace when it's -30 out?
It's tough and maybe even a little ironic to ask Albertans to reduce emissions when so much of the province is built on the oil and gas industry.
Much of the province is reliant on an increase in oil and gas usage and prices, which would seem to fly right in the face of conservation. Besides, how many people need to cut their usage to make a big enough difference to make a dent in climate change?
- Lindsay is the Mountain View Gazette reporter
