British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government will end the provincial carbon tax on consumers and shift the onus to “big polluters” if the federal government removes a legal requirement to keep the tax in place.
Eby says B.C. residents are struggling with affordability, but a re-elected NDP government would make “big polluters” pay a price for carbon to take action on climate change.
He says the federal government’s approach to the carbon tax has “badly damaged” what was a political consensus on the issue in the province.
Eby says the carbon tax has been “politicized,” and his government will scrap its long-standing version if the federal government removes a “legal backstop” requiring the province to keep it.
In 2008, under a B.C. Liberal government, B.C. became the first Canadian jurisdiction to introduce a carbon tax.
Eby says the “context and challenges” facing British Columbians have changed amid high interest rates, inflation and affordability issues, and a new approach would ensure “big polluters are paying their fair share.”
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad says Eby’s “reversal” on the tax is a “desperate attempt to salvage his sinking political ship.”
The province goes to the polls on Oct. 19.