A recent commentary about Ottawa’s proposed Clean Fuel Standard has received wide coverage in the region’s news media as awareness grows about the implications of the policy for Atlantic Canada.
Stephen MacMackin, chair of the Atlantica Centre for Energy, writes in the commentary that Ottawa is about to usher in a second carbon tax on all fossil fuels that will cost businesses and consumers in this region more than $1.4 billion in compliance costs.
He says few Atlantic Canadians seem aware of the planned regulations on fuel production or what they will mean in this region, especially during difficult economic times.
The issue is capturing the attention of news outlets in Atlantic Canada. MacMackin’s piece appeared in the provincial and metro editions of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, the St. John’s Telegram, the Cape Breton Post, the Charlotteown Guardian, the Journal Pioneer in Summerside, along with Brunswick News newspapers and Huddle in New Brunswick.
The Clean Fuel Standard requires energy producers, distributors and retailers to reduce carbon fuel content in their fuels with limits becoming increasingly stringent in future years. It was first announced in 2016 as part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
MacMackin’s commentary points out the costs will ultimately be borne by the consumer, including increasing natural gas prices, higher home heating bills, and more expensive gasoline and diesel at the pumps. Indeed, he says we can expect to pay more for almost anything that has to be shipped or processed in Canada, which today is just about everything.
MacMackin says that no other region in the nation stands to be as heavily impacted by the fuel standard as Atlantic Canada.