Although the province's new carbon tax doesn't come into effect for another two months, the battle lines are already being drawn and the fight is already underway.
In particular, the debate over the potential impacts of the new tax on the agriculture industry heated up last week with the government saying it plans to protect farmers and the opposition saying more study is needed.
Whether the carbon tax fight will spread to other industries in the days ahead remains anyone's guess. What is certain is that the carbon tax plan will affect each and every Albertan starting on Jan. 1.
Last week government MLAs announced plans they say will support energy-intensive farm operations while at the same time help those operations reduce carbon output.
Those plans include spending $10 million collected from the new carbon tax on energy efficiency programs for farms and ranches.
“Alberta's agriculture sector has done a lot of important work to enhance environmental stewardship over the years,” said Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks.
“These programs demonstrate how we are continuing to support farmers in reducing the environmental footprint of their operations.”
For it's part, the official Opposition Wildrose says there are simply too many questions about the possible impacts of the tax on farms and ranches for the plan to move forward without further study.
“Right now, NDP and Liberal carbon taxes are set to have a major negative impact on farmers and ranchers here in Alberta and across Canada,” Wildrose MLA Dave Schneider told the Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future.
“Carbon taxes will have a major impact on people and businesses across rural Alberta and it's unbelievable that the NDP would not want to do the homework on the impact this policy will have on our province.
“No one across the industry are clamoring for new taxes, especially during a time of economic uncertainty.”
Schneider put a motion before the committee calling for a study on the impacts of the carbon tax. The committee defeated the motion.
With the supporters and opponents now fighting it out in the agriculture arena, the great Alberta carbon tax war is already well underway.
- Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor
