Arctic warming . . . and carbon pricing
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 5:34 pmArctic warming: Two of three territorial leaders open to carbon price
[ https://ipolitics.ca/2016/10/06/arctic- ... bon-price/ ]
McLeod, Taptuna sounding open-minded; Pasloski not so much
Canadian Press Published Thursday, October 6th, 2016
The Arctic may be warming to the federal government’s plan to implement a national carbon tax.
All three territorial leaders were firmly opposed to any talk of a price on carbon just months ago at a first ministers meeting in Yukon, but at least two territories now seem willing to listen to what Ottawa has to say.
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Northern leaders have long been concerned about the impact of a carbon tax on their jurisdictions. They say it would increase the cost of living in what are already the most expensive places to live in Canada. Not only does most of their food have to be shipped using fossil fuels, northerners can’t reduce their carbon footprint through services such as public transit.
As well, although some communities have made recent moves toward renewable power, almost all northern towns are powered by aging diesel generators.
If Ottawa wants to help the territories reduce emissions, helping them update that infrastructure would be a good place to start, Taptuna said.
“We need assistance in modifying our generating plants. Some of them are 50 years old and quite inefficient.”
Taptuna points out that while the North is most affected by climate change, it generates .01 per cent of Canada’s carbon dioxide emissions.
A spokeswoman for McKenna said the minister has worked hard to listen to northern concerns.
“There have been so many discussions and so many meetings and so many phone calls,” said Caitlin Workman. “Everybody understands each other a bit better.
“We’re committed to work with the territories to find something that works for them. Part of that is the federal government’s commitment to helping northern communities get off diesel.”
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– With files from Bruce Cheadle in Ottawa.
[ https://ipolitics.ca/2016/10/06/arctic- ... bon-price/ ]
McLeod, Taptuna sounding open-minded; Pasloski not so much
Canadian Press Published Thursday, October 6th, 2016
The Arctic may be warming to the federal government’s plan to implement a national carbon tax.
All three territorial leaders were firmly opposed to any talk of a price on carbon just months ago at a first ministers meeting in Yukon, but at least two territories now seem willing to listen to what Ottawa has to say.
- - - SNIP - - -
Northern leaders have long been concerned about the impact of a carbon tax on their jurisdictions. They say it would increase the cost of living in what are already the most expensive places to live in Canada. Not only does most of their food have to be shipped using fossil fuels, northerners can’t reduce their carbon footprint through services such as public transit.
As well, although some communities have made recent moves toward renewable power, almost all northern towns are powered by aging diesel generators.
If Ottawa wants to help the territories reduce emissions, helping them update that infrastructure would be a good place to start, Taptuna said.
“We need assistance in modifying our generating plants. Some of them are 50 years old and quite inefficient.”
Taptuna points out that while the North is most affected by climate change, it generates .01 per cent of Canada’s carbon dioxide emissions.
A spokeswoman for McKenna said the minister has worked hard to listen to northern concerns.
“There have been so many discussions and so many meetings and so many phone calls,” said Caitlin Workman. “Everybody understands each other a bit better.
“We’re committed to work with the territories to find something that works for them. Part of that is the federal government’s commitment to helping northern communities get off diesel.”
- -
– With files from Bruce Cheadle in Ottawa.