Clean Energy Canada | In the debate over carbon pricing, we mustn’t lose sight of the big picture
September 13, 2024

VICTORIA —Mark Zacharias, executive director at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the announcement by Premier David Eby about changes to the provincial consumer carbon price:

“B.C. was a leader in putting carbon pricing in place in 2008. It did so because carbon pricing was seen to be the most cost-effective and efficient way to drive down emissions, lessening the costly impacts of climate change while also encouraging households to adopt cleaner solutions.

“In 2024, ‘axe the tax’ has been popularized for political gain, and the facts around how carbon pricing actually works have been eclipsed. Also lost in this populist rhetoric are the other tools governments use to fight climate change.

“It’s worth noting that yesterday’s announcement from the B.C. government leaves the industrial carbon price intact, which does much of the heavy lifting to drive down carbon pollution. In addition, B.C. retains a suite of other policies and financial incentives that will help cut emissions across the economy and support British Columbians in adopting money-saving clean technologies, like EVs and heat pumps.

“This year, Canadians watched large parts of Jasper burn to the ground, while B.C.’s tree fruit and wine industries were devastated. The economic costs from the 2021 floods and heat dome that killed 619 people are estimated to be between $10 billion and $17 billion.

“The costs of climate change aren’t theoretical. Canadian citizens are already paying for them daily. Currently, across Canada, climate-related damages are estimated to cost the average Canadian $700 each year, disproportionately affecting low-income households.

“Fortunately, this federal government and the government of B.C. have many climate measures and incentives—most of which receive far less attention than the carbon price—working to shift our economy and our emissions in the right direction.

“If B.C. chooses to eliminate its consumer carbon price at a future date, we would emphasize the importance of finalizing the province’s forthcoming oil and gas emissions cap while looking to strengthen other climate measures in the province’s CleanBC plan to help fill this gap. 

“For those who feel understandably disappointed by these developments, we believe blame lies first and foremost with those politicians who misled Canadians about the carbon price for political gain. No party can claim to care about improving the lives of Canadians’ costs of living and fail to advance a clear, evidence-based plan for tackling the escalating costs Canadians are experiencing.”

KEY FACTS

• Carbon pricing has been a rounding error in the battle to calm inflation, responsible for just percentage points of total inflation, according to the Bank of Canada.
• A family that adopts a few common clean energy solutions—including EVs and heat pumps—could knock $800 off their monthly energy bills, compared to one that is largely reliant on fossil fuels.
• According to the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, for every $1 in insurable loss, $3 to $4 in uninsurable damage is borne by homeowners, businesses, and communities. 

RESOURCES

Report | A Clean Bill
Media Brief | What does net zero mean for household energy prices?