Quebec Approves Carbon Tax on Fuels to Cut Greenhouse Gases
Quebec will become the first Canadian province to impose a carbon tax on energy producers. Bloomberg reports:
The provincial cabinet approved the tax in Quebec City yesterday, according to a statement on the Natural Resources Ministry Web site. Refiners including Valero Energy Corp.'s Ultramar unit and Royal Dutch Shell Plc's Canadian unit will start paying a tax of 0.8 cent a liter on gasoline and 0.9 cent on diesel on Oct. 1. Power producers such as state-owned Hydro- Quebec and gas companies will also be taxed.
"Everyone is talking about the environment; everyone wants to play their part," Natural Resources Minister Claude Bechard told reporters in Quebec City yesterday. "Well, the oil companies too have to play their part."
The province will direct proceeds from the tax to a "green fund" that will invest in commuter rail networks and other forms of mass transit.
Bechard said he expects that the companies will absorb the higher costs, though he "can't guarantee" that producers and refiners won't pass them on to consumers. The tax is based on the "polluter pays" principle. "That is not negotiable," the minister said.
Charles Komanoff of the Carbon Tax Center (and Streetsblog), while hailing the tax as a positive step, notes that it's extremely small, equating to little more than 1% of the tax level that CTC proposes the U.S. phase in over a ten-year period.
Photo: _EM/Flickr
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now
It's bad out there. How bad? Here is a citywide roundup from our staff ... and our friends on social media.
Friday’s Headlines: Crystal Hudson’s Idea of Leadership Edition
Today's headlines are long, but worth it!
Labor Gains: Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage
Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.
Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’
"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."
City Pays $150K to Settle Suit Over Cops Who Harassed Man Who Reported Police Parking Misconduct
Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.
