Critics slam Tories over rebate program
EDMONTON— If you have been holding off buying major appliances until this fall to take advantage of Alberta’s promised energy efficiency rebate program, you may have to wait a little longer.
Environment Minister Kyle Fawcett said Thursday he is “not 100 per cent” sure the rebate program will be announced this fall.
“I know what we were trying to do is bring forward the renewed climate change strategy by the end of this year. Whether that would mean there would be something implemented in the fall, we’re still working out those timelines.”
Fawcett said the deadline for updating the energy efficiency program is December, when the legislation setting out the province’s climate change goals and actions — including the tax on heavy greenhouse gas emitters — expires.
“What I can say is that will be a substantial part of the renewed climate change strategy,” Fawcett said.
“We’re going to be putting a much higher emphasis on those types of programs and more resources into those types of programs.”
The environment minister said he will have to consult with industry and Ottawa before a decision is made on whether to increase the $15 per tonne tax on excessive carbon dioxide emissions. Premier Jim Prentice has said he is not in favour of raising the carbon tax unless Ottawa and the United States adopt similar strategies, because he fears it will penalize Alberta industries.
Opposition critics said they aren’t surprised the PC government is set to break another promise.
NDP critic Rachel Notley said it’s more evidence the Tories can’t keep any promises relating to its environmental responsibilities.
“They have been promising an energy efficiency strategy since I was elected in 2008 and we are now on the fourth premier since that time ... We now know they can’t be trusted on this.” Notley said every other province in the country has an energy efficiency strategy, while Alberta, which doesn’t, has the highest per capita energy use.
Wildrose energy critic Jason Hale said he is not surprised the energy efficient strategy may be delayed since the PC government was preoccupied all summer with its leadership race.
“It leaves the industry with uncertainty. It leaves the Alberta public with uncertainty,” Hale said. “They have been told that there’s going to be a report and possibly some rebates or some sort of programs coming out for energy efficiency, and once again we’re left waiting on the government.”
Liberal Leader Raj Sherman said the government talks a lot about energy efficiency and environmental stewardship but has taken little action on either front, although it is crucial to improving the province’s reputation in North America and abroad.
An energy efficiency strategy that included a rebate program would also help financially strapped families coping with high electricity and natural gas bills, he said.
“We’re an energy province. We should have the lowest-cost energy,” he said. “If we’re actually more efficient using our appliances, reducing our household electricity, reducing our industrial electricity, we’ll have an oversupply and the cost of electricity will drop.”