The federal carbon tax shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be applicable to Nunavut hunters, fishers and private home owners, Sen. Dennis Patterson told Finance Minister Bill Morneau in the Senate on May 14.
While Ottawa has granted exemptions for airline fuel for flights within the territory and for fuel that generates the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 electricity, harvesters should also be able to avoid the tax, Patterson contended.
SA国际影视传媒淗unters and fishersSA国际影视传媒� depend on gasoline to provide precious country food for our citizens,SA国际影视传媒� said NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 senator. SA国际影视传媒淧lease also consider exempting home heating fuel and gasoline for hunters. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 use dog teams anymore or build iglusSA国际影视传媒� ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not fair to burden our struggling citizens with higher costs of living for hunting and fishing, and diesel for heating their homes when they have no alternative energy optionsSA国际影视传媒� We still have no alternate energy; we have no wind, no solar and no hydro anywhere in Nunavut, despite your governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 infrastructure and green funds.SA国际影视传媒�
Patterson also pointed out that flights from the south carrying food and other goods will be subject to the tax, which will mean higher costs for consumers at retail stores.
NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 carbon tax is set to take effect on July 1.
The cost per Nunavut household will vary but, according to an analysis by the territorial Department of Finance, the average household will pay $305 in carbon tax yearly based on 2018 emission levels. Because the carbon tax is set to rise in future years, the impact per average household is anticipated to be a little more than three times higher by 2022, the GN analysis states.
The federal government will start out with a $20 per tonne charge on carbon emissions but it will rise by $10 per tonne annually until 2022, when it will hit $50 per tonne.
However, in responding to Patterson, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau echoed the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 repeated message that rebates will return 90 per cent of carbon taxes to families and individuals.
The other 10 per cent will go to municipalities, schools, health centres and small businesses.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 heavier polluters, in the commercial and industrial sectors, that wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be eligible to recoup so much of the tax paid.
SA国际影视传媒淲e see that we have a responsibility to deal with climate change. We see that the environmental challenges that weSA国际影视传媒檙e facing are real,SA国际影视传媒� Morneau said in the Senate. SA国际影视传媒淚 can tell you that in my role as minister of Finance, ISA国际影视传媒檝e had to deal with problems and emergencies. Every year that ISA国际影视传媒檝e been in this job, ISA国际影视传媒檝e been writing cheques for climate emergencies across the country.SA国际影视传媒�
