The CAQ's new environment minister was quick to respond Tuesday to Ottawa's announcement of a carbon tax rebate that leaves out Quebecers.
The Trudeau government is promising families compensation – but only for those in provinces that have signed on to the federal plan to reduce climate change, namely Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick.
Quebec has an existing carbon pricing plan -- a cap-and-trade system that came into effect in 2013 -- which means Quebecers won't receive the carbon tax rebates.
Sworn in less than a week ago, Quebec’s Environment Minister MarieChantal Chasse appeared careful not to criticize the Trudeau government’s program as she fielded questions about whether Quebec is getting unfair treatment.
“I'm very happy that they respect the program that we have put in place since 2013. I appreciate the fact that they recognize the efficiency of our program,” said Chasse.
Meanwhile, as Quebec solidaire unveiled its shadow cabinet, the party’s environment critic Ruba Ghazal reacted.
“We will be a real opposition about this issue because climate change and the environment is our priority for Quebec solidaire and we will work to make it the government's priority also,” she said.
Under the province's system, industrial, electricity and fossil fuel companies which emit more than 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent chemicals must take part in the cap-and-trade market. Companies see slight annual reductions in their cap-and-trade allowances, which pushes the province as a whole toward its emissions reduction targets.
Revenues from the system are put toward various measures to help the province reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change.
The province aims to have its total emissions 20 per cent below where they were in 1990 by 2020, and 37.5 per cent below the 1990 level by 2030.
- With a report from Ryan Flanagan of CTVNews.ca
