Carbon tax hike urged

A group of B.C.’s green businesses wants Premier Christy Clark to lift the freeze on the carbon tax and return to annual increases.

More than 130 businesses have signed a letter urging Clark to lift her government’s four-year freeze on the carbon tax at $30 per tonne and introduce annual increases of $10 per tonne, starting in July 2018.

The open letter comes in the final days of a provincewide climate consultation process aimed at setting government goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost the green economy.

Environment Minister Mary Polak said the carbon tax has proven to be effective at fighting pollution, but the government needs to examine the impact of raising the tax above $30 per tonne.