Courtesy GNB
New Brunswickers should see a drop at the gas pumps next spring thanks to a new carbon plan reached between Ottawa and the Higgs government.
The agreement will see the federal backstop and the provincial gas tax each removed from the pumps and replaced by New Brunswick’s own carbon levy.
The province has been negotiating with the Trudeau government since the federal election.
Environment minister Jeff Carr says while the consumer portion has been settled, it’s not yet clear what large emitters will pay.
“We’re just waiting patiently. We’ve heard from large industry that are uncertain about the future of what they have to pay towards their emissions. So we’re hopeful that we’ll hear in the near future, ” he told the media at the legislature Wednesday.
New Brunswick was subjected to the federal backstop last spring after Ottawa rejected the former Gallant government’s carbon plan.
As a result, gasoline jumped by 4.4 cents per litre plus HST.
Carr says legislation is being introduced over the next few days and the new carbon plan should come into effect on April 1, 2020.
