Premier R.J. Simpson wants the NWT to get an exemption on paying the carbon tax. Conservative MP Bob Zimmer also thinks so.

Zimmer, the Shadow Minister for Northern Affairs and Arctic Sovereignty, tried to have an emergency debate in the House of Commons to talk about it on Monday in a request to Speaker Greg Fergus, but it didnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen.

In an interview with SA国际影视传媒, Zimmer said the clock ran out.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a procedural situation,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he way it goes, you make a request and you get one minute to make your case, but I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 able to because time ran out.SA国际影视传媒�

In an earlier interview with SA国际影视传媒, Simpson said the carbon tax was SA国际影视传媒渦nfair to the NorthSA国际影视传媒�.

SA国际影视传媒淭he rest of Canada was allowed to build its infrastructure without a carbon tax and we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have that benefit, but now weSA国际影视传媒檙e expected to do so under a different set of rules,SA国际影视传媒� he said on Dec. 7.

The carbon tax is designed to wean people off of fossil fuels, but several MLAs in the 19th Legislative Assembly, most notably former Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson, said the tax is doing more harm than good. More than one MLA in the previous assembly stated that the NWT just doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have enough green energy for residents to make the transition.

SA国际影视传媒淭he NWT wanted to do it their own way and control the rebate (on home heating fuel) residents got, but the federal government basically said they had to cut it or take on our plan,SA国际影视传媒� said Zimmer. SA国际影视传媒淥ther parts of the country have been exempted, but the North canSA国际影视传媒檛 get one and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not fair. The NWT wanted to be in charge and theySA国际影视传媒檝e been told SA国际影视传媒楽orry, no more rebate for youSA国际影视传媒�.SA国际影视传媒�

One of the ideas that has been thrown around by the federal government as a way to help is the use of heat pumps, which are powered by electricity.

Zimmer said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a great idea in theory, but theySA国际影视传媒檙e mostly untested in the North.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll theySA国际影视传媒檝e done is promise heat pumps, but the price to buy and install those is horrendous,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey also donSA国际影视传媒檛 work in the dead cold of winter.SA国际影视传媒�

Zimmer is confident, though, that more public pressure will see things change.

SA国际影视传媒淛ackie and I have been fighting for an exemption and it needs to happen,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he prime minister exempted other parts of the country, but heSA国际影视传媒檚 saying there will be no more exemptions. The tax is punitive and we need to keep telling him that.SA国际影视传媒�

A spokesperson for NWT MP Michael McLeod said he wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to make comment for this story as of press time.