Because of the Houston government's decision, "Nova Scotians will be subject to the carbon levy and face the largest increase in gas, diesel, and home heating than anywhere else in the country," writes Iain Rankin. - Stock ImageIain Rankin is the Liberal MLA for Timberlea-Prospect and shadow minister for Environment and Climate Change. He is a former premier of Nova Scotia and a former minister of Environment.
When the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change came into force five years ago, it gave provincial governments the flexibility to negotiate a deal that would best suit their province. Many Conservative governments took the opportunity to launch court cases against Ottawa, but the previous Liberal government in Nova Scotia chose to fight for something better.
Since coming into power over a year ago, the Houston government knew increasing price benchmarks would need to be negotiated for cap-and-trade at the end of this calendar year and that they would be tasked with finding an alternative for the future.
So cute. …”while at the same time raising approximately $100 million for a dedicated green fund to fight climate change. The program worked so well, most people didn’t even know we had it.”