Not to the Wall: Notley won’t team up to fight federal carbon tax
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says she’s not interested in presenting a united front with some other provincial leaders against Ottawa’s carbon pricing plan.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil have been vocal critics of the Liberal government’s intent to charge $10 per tonne of carbon starting in 2018. Notley has said Alberta won’t go along with the plan unless the federal government makes progress on new oil pipelines to Canada’s coasts.
But after a speech to Alberta municipalities Thursday, Notley said she isn’t interested in banding together with Wall and McNeil to battle the plan. Unlike some of her counterparts, Notley said Alberta supports the idea of a national price on carbon in principle.
“We’re always open to engaging in conversations with all of our colleagues across the country. But to suggest that there should be no carbon price in Canada, that’s probably not a starting point that’s helpful for me to utilize.”