Honourable Premier, Minister Nixon, Minister Savage and Minister Fir;
I write to you today as a proud Albertan and to voice my support for a made-in-Alberta Climate Leadership Plan, which includes a carbon levy and price on carbon.
Since the creation of Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan, Albertans have come to rely on sound, evidence-based action on climate change. With the introduction of the provincial carbon levy, Albertans depend on a system that keeps revenue in Alberta, benefiting Albertans. Alberta families rely on the various positive programs, rebates and tax reductions that the carbon levy affords them. Alberta cities and towns depend on the many funding commitments that were promised to them, including Green Transit and Edmonton SE Valley LRT Line. To eliminate the existing program without an immediate alternative is not only irresponsible but unconscionable. Doing so will hurt Alberta families.
There is no denying that Albertans expect a marriage of both strong environmental action and sound economic practices. Industry titans such as Suncor, Husky Energy and Cenovus are in favour of a carbon levy system, and to blindly reject a made-in-Alberta solution, based on partisan beliefs, is not a sound practice that favours what is best for Alberta.
Albertans demand an evidence-based approach to helping solve the global climate crisis and action must start at home. I urge you to delay your plans to proceed with the ‘Carbon Tax Repeal Act’ until the government has had an opportunity to study the factual basis and statistics of the current system, and study the impact that the impending federal system would have on Albertans.
Yours sincerely,
Joshua Wafler-Thomas, St. Albert
