Nova
Scotia Premier Tim Houston, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs,
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and Prince Edward Island
Premier Dennis King, left to right, are shown in a 2022 news conference
after a meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers in Halifax. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
The
four premiers from Atlantic Canada are asking the federal government to
delay implementation of its new clean fuel regulations.
The
provincial leaders, including P.E.I. Premier Dennis King, said in a news
release Thursday that they want a pause until a plan can be developed
to address what they call "the disproportionate impact of the
regulations on Atlantic Canadians," where many goods needed by consumers
and businesses have to be trucked in.
The Council of Atlantic
Premiers met virtually Wednesday with Steven Guilbeault, the federal
minister of environment and climate change, to discuss the issue.
King, who currently chairs the council, had voiced his concerns
about the timing of the new regulations this week in the Prince Edward
Island legislature. He said inflation is hitting Atlantic Canadians
hard, and the prospect of two federal initiatives raising the price of
gasoline this year is not a pleasant one.
Both the Clean Fuel Regulations and the carbon tax increase are scheduled to come into effect on July 1.
The
premiers are concerned about the impact of the regulations on fuel
prices and fuel supplies. They also worry it will increase the costs of
other goods imported to the region.
"Atlantic premiers are
encouraged by the minister's commitment to work with them to address
concerns expressed by producers and consumers in the region," they said
in a release Thursday.
A spokesperson for Guilbeault sent a statement reacting to the premiers' call later in the day.
It
said in part that refineries handling petroleum products in Atlantic
Canada will face "very small, incremental costs" as a result of the new
regulations, and should be able to cover those costs out of their profit
margins while making changes to reduce their environmental footprint.
"Between
2019 and 2022, the margins of refineries in Atlantic Canada went from
just over 10 cents per litre to almost 50 cents per litre," the
statement said.
"There is simply no reason that they need to push costs onto consumers on July 1."
Ìts an unfortunate and infuriating fact that
people on the east coast are some of the most completely misinformed
voters in the country...
William Wishart
Reply to Steve Saunders
I am from the east cost and sadly I must agree with you.
Steve Saunders
Reply to William Wishart
Me too... I can't believe how many people I
know that vote one way and one way only simply because that's how their
father and grandfather used to vote...
David Amos
Reply to Bryan James
Welcome to the circus
Byron Prior
Reply to David Amos
Patrick Doran has been banned from the internet by the courts. Any idea what he did?
David Amos Reply to Byron Prior
Your words not mine
"Reply to @Barry Winters: I’d just like to thank the
Radar Group for having my back here. I truly appreciate it. "
Byron Prior
Reply to David Amos
So what happened to Patrick?
David Amos Reply to Byron Prior
So what happened to Byron?
John Johnston
Fuel tax is burdensome enough as it is. Time to think of other ways to deal with these issues.
David Sampson
Reply to John Johnston
When you do please share but until then putting a price on pollution has proven to be the best option.
John Johnston
Reply to David Sampson
I pay enough taxes thank you. Maybe put some more
resources into technology. Taxing is the easy, short gain. Tax the
billionaires for a change. I'm tapped out.
David Sampson
Reply to John Johnston
No one likes to be taxed but putting a price on pollution is just smart so suck it up
David Amos Reply to David Sampson
Oh My I bet I know who you work for
David Sampson
Reply to David Amos
As a Progressive Conservative ( remember us, the intelligent wing of the conservative movement ) I work for no one!
Chris Besters
Well if this was SK or Ab this would be a different article....
Christopher Jansen
Reply to Chris Besters
It would be heresy.
David Amos Reply to Chris Besters
C'est Vrai
Dave Edwards
Wait for it.
This will either be Alberta or Mr. Poilievre's fault.
David Amos Reply to Dave Edwards
Surely you jest
Kath Ayres
Perhaps to offset the potential increase in
expense to the Maritimes, the federal government could provide more
subsidies to support green energy initiatives.
William Wishart
Reply to Kath Ayres
Please do not give them any ideas.
Philip Little
Reply to Kath Ayres
It's the Atlantic Provinces, not the Maritimes, gees.
David Amos Reply to Philip Little
I am a Proud Maritimer and that is what we call where we live
Christopher Jansen
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Jimmy Cocerell
Reply to Christopher Jansen
I'm all for de-Confederation...
Kath Ayres
Reply to Christopher Jansen
I suppose you think the provinces in line with the U.S. midwest are more valuable?
Chris Besters
Reply to Christopher Jansen
So now we demonize western canada and eastern canada..... Nice.
Christopher Jansen
Reply to Kath Ayres
I think the provinces that bring something to the table are more valuable, because they are by definition.
Werner Braun
Reply to Christopher Jansen
Ontario and especially Toronto are such pain in the neck for the rest of Canada
Christopher Jansen
Reply toChris Besters
You reap what you sow.
Christopher Jansen
Reply toWerner Braun
They're entitlement knows no bounds, that's for sure. Same with Montreal and Vancouver.
Christopher Jansen
Reply to Jimmy Cocerell
Same
David Amos Reply to Jimmy Cocerell
Me Too
Don Corey
Yet another Trudeau carbon tax that consumers will pay
for, regardless of what Stevie Greenpeace says. The tax should be
scrapped, not just delayed (which will never happen either).
The sooner this government gets turfed, the sooner our
country can start on the road back to less government, more action, less
taxation and restoring our national pride.
james bolt
Reply to Don Corey
Everyone has a carbon tax
Marie Gauthier
Reply to james bolt
You mean all provinces, right?
Because all countries don't.
james bolt
Reply to Marie Gauthier
Pretty much all jurisdictions everywhere
Marie Gauthier
Reply to james bolt
In Canada.
Not elsewhere.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Don Corey
Methinks we are gonna be stuck with Trudeau The Younger
for a long time because the right wing wackos can't get their act
together N'esy Pas?
"Reply to @Barry Winters: I’d just like to thank the Radar Group for having my back here. I truly appreciate it. "