Politicians face carbon conundrum
In a role reversal, the province’s transportation minister was forced to defend using tax dollars to fund cycling paths while the Green Opposition claimed this was not permitted under current legislation.
During question period on Wednesday, Green MLA Lynne Lund suggested a Progressive Conservative plan to redirect funds collected from carbon taxation to improving cycling and walking trails might be in contravention of provincial legislation.
The funds had previously been used to allow free driver’s licence renewal for Islanders.
Lund raised the issue in a question directed at Transportation Minister Steven Myers.
“It’s no secret that I disagree with using carbon tax funding to reimburse the cost of driver’s licences, and I wholly support the idea of an active transportation fund,” Lund said.
“I am concerned, however, that this latest announcement is out of step with our law.”
Lund was referring to the Climate Leadership Act, passed by the previous Liberal government.
The bone of contention was a clause in the act that said revenue from carbon taxation could only be used “to provide rebates or adjustments” for consumers, businesses and municipalities, “including adjustments in the form of credits, rate reductions or fee reductions”.
Lund said this act did not allow the province to use carbon tax revenue for program spending.
Green members Peter Bevan-Baker and Hannah Bell had voted against the Climate Leadership Act under the previous government. The Green election platform called for carbon tax revenues to be returned to taxpayers.
In response, Myers said providing free driver’s licences to Islanders did little to reduce carbon emissions. He also said he had heard from Islanders who wanted improvements made to cycling paths.
“We have a limited amount of budget and a lot of roads we have to keep paved here in Prince Edward Island. So we looked at that file as our option. And one way or another, we’re going to have an active transportation fund whether you support it or not,” Myers said.