Tories push Liberals on details of carbon tax

P.E.I.'s Opposition wants to know what the details will be when the province enacts a carbon tax.

Ottawa has told the provinces that they must put a price on carbon emissions by 2018.

In the legislature Thursday, Progressive Conservative MLA Sidney MacEwen repeatedly questioned Environment Minister Robert Mitchell about whether he had considered the idea of putting a price on carbon at the source of production, rather than the end user.

He also asked whether the carbon tax would be revenue-neutral.

"And by that I mean will this new tax revenue be offset by matching tax cuts elsewhere for Island taxpayers, farms and businesses," he said.

Negotiations ongoing

Mitchell said negotiations are still ongoing between the 13 provinces and territories and that they are looking at every possibility.

"Everybody wants the outcome to be effective but at the same time work for the provinces they represent," he said.

Mitchell said the Liberals will ensure that any carbon pricing mechanism "does not disadvantage P.E.I." He said they must work to support vulnerable and low-income people, and that money should go back into programs that will help Islanders reduce their carbon footprint.

'They're asking legitimate questions'

MacEwen, who is the MLA for Morell-Mermaid, said the government's "non-answer" was worrying to Islanders.

"They're asking legitimate questions like, 'Who will get taxed? What will get taxed? How often will the tax be adjusted? Will the tax ever go back down?'"

Mitchell said Islanders are appreciative that the government is taking the time to get it right.

"We have time, everything's on the table, and we're going to work in a very positive way that makes it very effective for Islanders when we're battling this very important issue," he said.   

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