Nova Scotia Buzz
Tensions are on the rise over the forthcoming Clean Fuel Regulations as the Council of Atlantic Premiers demands a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Atlantic Premiers claim the new regulations, slated to take effect on July 1st, unfairly burden Atlantic Canadians by disproportionately increasing costs for fuel and other essential goods and services.
The Province of Nova Scotia says gas, diesel and home heating fuel costs will go up July 1 by about 14 to 17 cents a litre because of the federal fuel charge, also known as the carbon tax.
The Atlantic Canadian Premiers are demanding a pause to the implementation of the Clean Fuel Regulations until further analysis of the disproportionate impact on Atlantic Canadians is complete.
The Council had a follow-up meeting on Wednesday with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change for the Government of Canada. During this discussion, the Atlantic Premiers say they reiterated their commitment to climate change and showcased various programs and policy initiatives they had implemented in collaboration with the federal government to reduce carbon emissions.
Despite their commitment to climate action, the Premiers say they voiced concerns over the Minister’s refusal to share information that could mitigate the impact of the regulations on their provinces. They expressed frustration after weeks of waiting for Minister Guilbeault to present solutions to reduce the impact of the Clean Fuel Regulations.
“Minister Guilbeault continues to state that the numbers his department has are different from those released by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office, but refuses to share that information with the four Atlantic provinces, despite repeated requests.” said the Council of Atlantic Premiers in a release.
The Atlantic Premiers highlighted that Minister Guilbeault confirmed in previous discussions that the regulations would disproportionately impact Atlantic Canadians. This admission, coupled with the decision to move forward, was described as both “unfair” and “offensive” by the Atlantic Premiers, emphasizing the uneven impact the regulations have on different jurisdictions.
In response to the Council’s request for an immediate pause on these regulations, Minister Guilbeault indicated the decision would require a conversation with Prime Minister Trudeau. Consequently, the Premiers have formally requested a meeting with the Prime Minister.
