This letter is in response to the Don Brunell commentary “A Better Version of Governor’s Carbon Tax Proposal Isn’t Working in B.C. “ published in The Chronicle Feb. 5.
Acting on the climate challenge goes hand-in-hand with strong economic performance, and helps to future-proof the economy in the longer-term. Data soundly refute the misconception that a price on carbon pollution hurts economic competitiveness and growth.
North of the border, pricing carbon pollution is already mainstream economic policy. Carbon pricing systems now cover 86 percent of Canada’s population.
In 2017, the four provinces with an effective carbon price outperformed the rest of Canada, and the country led the G7 in economic growth.
British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Québec saw 3.2 percent, 4.1 percent, 2.9 percent, and 2.8 percent in real GDP growth, respectively, according to preliminary numbers from RBC Economics Research.
This year, we can look forward to carbon pricing coming to all regions of Canada. B.C.’s carbon tax is scheduled to increase to C$35 per tonne in April.
Maximilian Kniewasser
Director, B.C. Climate Policy Program, Pembina Institute
Vancouver
