Smith defends provincial gas tax hike, hints legal challenge on carbon tax could be coming

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Showing earlier than a Home of Commons committee, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended her authorities’s plan to hike the provincial gas tax whereas additionally calling on Ottawa to pause the approaching improve within the carbon tax, one thing she later mentioned the province may problem in courtroom.

Smith appeared by video hyperlink early Thursday and addressed the standing committee on authorities operations and estimates.

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In her opening assertion, she requested members to “heed the calls” to droop the rise within the carbon tax, which is scheduled to extend to $80 per tonne from $65 per tonne on April 1, prompting a possible improve in gas costs.

“The one factor the federal carbon tax is attaining is increased prices,” Smith mentioned.

“It begs the query how far will the federal authorities go to make life much more tough and costly when so many Canadians are already struggling?”

‘No rebate’

Alberta Conservative MPs Jasraj Singh Hallan and Laila Goodridge — herself a former United Conservative Get together MLA — lobbed softball inquiries to the premier in regards to the carbon tax and Alberta’s relationship with the federal authorities.

Issues turned feistier when Ontario Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk requested her about her look on stage alongside federal Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre at an “axe the tax” rally in Edmonton Wednesday evening.

He requested if she was there additionally protesting the looming four-cent hike within the provincial fuel tax that can also be slated to kick in Monday and can improve the provincial tax to 13 cents per litre.

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“The federal authorities costs 35 cents in gasoline taxes. We cost 13 cents,” she mentioned, having earlier famous the province suspended the fuel tax on New 12 months’s Day 2023.

Alberta’s gas tax will stay at 13 cents per litre no less than till June 30. The tax price is adjusted quarterly based mostly on a scale decided by the common value of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI).

The value of WTI sat at US$83 as of mid-day Thursday, which if it holds as a mean could be above the US$80 threshold to decrease the tax once more to 9 cents per litre the subsequent time it’s adjusted.

Later within the listening to, Ontario Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi contrasted the province’s gas tax hike with the rebate acquired from the federal carbon tax.

“There shall be no rebate for Alberta households for the rise they are going to be see on April 1,” he mentioned.

“Albertans will get it eliminated fully if fuel costs stay excessive,” Smith replied, including, “I’d like to see the federal authorities do the identical.”

On Wednesday, Opposition Chief Rachel Notley known as on Smith to halt the gas tax hike, noting Alberta is the one province to see two fuel tax will increase.

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“As an alternative of complaining and taking part in partisan politics a few tax for which individuals get a rebate, the premier ought to concentrate on the tax over which she has full management for which they don’t get a rebate.”

Carbon tax problem to return?

Smith additionally mentioned throughout Thursday’s listening to that the Alberta authorities is at the moment pursuing “about 14” totally different authorized actions towards the federal authorities.

Justice Minister Mickey Amery advised reporters these embody lively litigation involving plastics and the Influence Evaluation Act in addition to six judicial opinions concerning a federal firearms ban and likewise 4 different opinions concerning the Emergencies Act.

At an unrelated information convention later Thursday, Smith went on to say future litigation may additionally embody a problem to the carbon tax itself.

“We’re looking for recommendation on whether or not we are able to additionally problem the carbon tax now that it’s, I feel, violating the spirit of what was determined within the unique Supreme Courtroom motion, which was to use a tax equally throughout the nation to all customers in all provinces,” she mentioned, referencing the October pause on the tax for residence heating oil, a gas used predominantly in Atlantic Canada.

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Opposition justice critic Irfan Sabir mentioned the federal government’s authorized challenges play higher with its base supporters than within the courts and characterised the lawsuits as a “distraction.”

“All of those lawsuits might assist the premier’s political base however it’s not serving to us with the price of dwelling. It’s not serving to us with the well being care disaster. It’s not serving to us with faculties in our communities,” Sabir mentioned.

mblack@postmedia.com

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