N.B. to develop carbon plan

New Brunswick’s new Tory premier says his government will develop a plan to reduce carbon emissions, but won’t give up on being part of a court challenge of the federal carbon tax.

Blaine Higgs, who was sworn in as premier last week, was briefed by federal officials on Wednesday.

“One of the most concerning aspects is, if the federal system is implemented in New Brunswick, we will pay a significant differential over provinces like Nova Scotia and P.E.I. on gas tax,” Higgs said Friday.

“Should the federal plan come into effect, as now proposed on Jan. 1, we would see an incremental increase of four cents a litre, and over the four year program we would see 12 cents a litre.”

Ottawa asked all provinces to put a minimum price on emissions of $20 a tonne by Jan. 1.

The tax will be imposed in April on New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario - the provinces which have not signed on to the federal plan or come up with their own plan to curb carbon.

Higgs said New Brunswick will join other provinces in a court challenge of the tax.

He said in the meantime, his government will develop a carbon plan as a backup, but doesn’t believe a plan that’s right for New Brunswick will meet the federal requirements.

That plan would have to be developed and submitted to Ottawa by Jan. 1.

“Any acceptance of the plan we submit to the federal government will not be conditional on giving up any legal fight,” Higgs said.

He said there’s no consistent baseline, and as a result it will be easier for some provinces like Nova Scotia - where there are five coal-fired plants - to meet the federal goals.

“We’ve had major emissions reductions in our province that met our standards. But we don’t have five coal plants. We don’t have easy pickings. We have industries that are meeting environmental standards and are top of the class in the industry,” he said.