Houston has picked the worst solution

Nova Scotians will soon be hit with an additional 10 cents at the gas pumps because the Houston government refused to negotiate a better deal.

Since 2019, Nova Scotians have benefited from a cap-and-trade program that has saved them money at the pumps, on their power bills, and home-heating costs. Now, the carbon price is increasing, and the Houston government is looking to replace cap-and-trade with a system that will do less for the environment, but cost you more.

When the Pan-canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change came into force five years ago, it gave provincial governments the flexibility to negotiate a deal that would best suit their province. Many Conservative governments took the opportunity to launch court cases against Ottawa, but the previous Liberal government in Nova Scotia chose to fight for something better.

Carbon pricing is an effective way to combat climate change, but it doesn’t always need to come at a significant cost to the consumer. Nova Scotians have paid their share of high power rates compared to the rest of the country, and the provincial government of the day leveraged this to negotiate a better deal for our province.

That previous government took the time to negotiate a fair deal — the cap-and-trade system — that would allow Nova Scotians to save 10 cents per litre on gas, while at the same time raising approximately $100 million for a dedicated green fund to fight climate change. The program worked so well, most people didn’t even know we had it.

Since coming into power over a year ago, the Houston government knew increasing price benchmarks would need to be negotiated for cap-and-trade at the end of this calendar year and that they would be tasked with finding an alternative for the future.

In accordance with the agreement of the Pan-canadian Framework, the Houston government was met with three options to implement in 2023: continue with cap-and-trade; implement a carbon tax; or a hybrid approach of a carbon levy combined with a performance-based emissions system.

Houston’s Progressive Conservatives have chosen the hybrid option by introducing performance standards for large emitters in the province. Because of their decision, Nova Scotians will be subject to the carbon levy and face the largest increase in gas, diesel, and home heating than anywhere else in the country.

Right now, we are at a crossroads between two generational crises of climate change and affordability. By choosing this plan, the Houston government has chosen to ignore both.