Charles Sousa cool to carbon tax in upcoming budget
Finance Minister Charles Sousa says his spring budget will not contain a carbon tax.

thestar.com
Feb. 3, 2015
By Robert Benzie

Finance Minister Charles Sousa is throwing cold water on suggestions his spring budget will contain a carbon tax.

“There is no such thing. There is no discussion at this point in regards to what you’re asking about,” Sousa said Tuesday in response to media questions about such an environmental levy on gasoline or other greenhouse gas-emitting products.

“I don’t want to speculate about what may or may not be in the budget, but it’s important for us to look into the future,” the treasurer said, not ruling out some other form of carbon pricing.

“We recognize that we have a responsibility to future generations to improve our environment as well as improve our climate,” Sousa told reporters at pre-budget consultations at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Bloor St. E.

To that end, he noted that Premier Kathleen Wynne last fall signed a memorandum of understanding on cap and trade - a system of levies and credits for large emitters - with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

“We are looking at ways to reduce our emissions long term and we’re encouraged by the work and consultations that our colleague, Glen Murray, is doing,” Sousa said, referring the environment minister’s upcoming discussion paper on next steps for tackling climate change.

“We are going to continue maintaining a very dynamic commitment to climate.”

In a luncheon speech Tuesday, Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli urged the federal government to follow the lead of Ontario and Quebec.

“I’m pleased to see that premiers Wynne and Couillard have decided to move to the front of the line to initiate a Canadian policy on climate change and managing carbon,” Chiarelli said at the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

“This is a critical goal for Canada’s credibility, for our economy and for the future of our children and grandchildren. An unco-ordinated policy will hinder Canada’s competitiveness.”

Their comments came against the backdrop of a new Forum Research poll that found 65 per cent of those surveyed feel that putting a price on carbon will lead to higher prices for everyday necessities.

Eighteen per cent disagreed and 17 per cent didn’t know.

“It is a truism that, no matter how you present putting a price on carbon, something which has never been priced before, it will be perceived as a tax,” said Forum president Lorne Bozinoff.

“When the environmental and social trade-offs are explained, however, there is more acceptance of the idea,” said Bozinoff.

Still, 48 per cent said they disapproved of carbon pricing, 33 per cent approved and 20 per cent didn’t know.

Forum used interactive voice-response phone calls to poll 1,028 people across Ontario on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Results are considered accurate to within three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.