Scheer blasts feds’ plan for clean fuel standards for oil, diesel, more
Says Liberal proposal to reduce emissions would increase cost of gas for Canadians
OTTAWA—Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer is accusing the Liberal government of imposing a “secret fuel tax” through its proposed clean fuel standards and is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to abandon the measure because it will increase the cost of gas.
In an open letter to Trudeau Monday, Scheer predicted the proposed fuel standards for 2022 — regulations expected to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change by setting rules for cleaner gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other substances — would “undoubtedly” make gas more expensive for Canadians.
Scheer said a Conservative government would scrap the fuel standards along with the federal carbon price, which has already increased gas prices by 4.4 cents per litre in provinces where it was imposed this year, according to figures from Environment Canada.
The party has committed to re-do consultations with provinces and territories to come up with their own version of the fuel standard.
“Your secret fuel tax will undoubtedly increase the cost of gasoline by at least another four cents a litre, a fact you continue
to hide,” Scheer wrote in his letter to Trudeau.
“It is also an unprecedented tax that will apply to all fuel sources, including the fuel used for manufacturing and home heating, which will make Canadian businesses less competitive and gas more expensive.”
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna’s office did not say Monday how much the government expects the proposed fuel standards to increase the cost of gasoline.
A government cost-benefit analysis published in February does not specify an expected cents-per-litre impact, but predicts compliance costs will get
passed on .
The government’s standards — which Scheer’s letter dubs a “secret fuel tax” — were first announced in 2016 and have been subject to consultations with provinces, territories, industry, and environmental advocates that will continue through 2020 before final regulations are set in “early 2021,” according to Environment Canada.
The latest proposed standards, published June 28, suggest rules could be set so that fuel that is imported and used in Canada will need to become gradually less carbon-intensive in the coming years.
Under the international Paris
Agreement to fight climate change, Canada pledged to slash emissions to 30 per cent below the 2005 level by 2030.
Government projections released last December say Canada’s current policies put it on track to miss that target by 79 megatonnes.
The Conservatives propose regulations to force heavy emitters to fund unspecified amounts of money toward green tech research, as well as home retrofit subsidies that will cost $900 million per year.
They have not said how much they expect these measures would reduce Canada’s emissions to reach the 2030 target.