File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Katlyn Eriksen

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Carbon tax incentivizes us all to reduce emissions

Apr 1, 2024 | 11:25 AM

AS CANADIANS BRACE for the carbon tax hike planned on April 1, seven of Canada’s ten provincial premiers have urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reverse the decision. Most recently, the B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation visited Premier David Eby’s Vancouver constituency office on March 21, urging him to scrap the hike as it’ll have financial ramifications for everyday British Columbians. The tax on a litre of gasoline is set to increase from around 78 cents per litre to 81 cents per litre. Yet, despite this rise, taxing carbon emissions remains an effective way to incentivise Canadians to lower their carbon footprints and keep the country on track to reach its 2030 climate target.

Rebates: giving hundreds of dollars back to B.C. families

The cost of carbon taxes is largely returned to Canadians through climate action tax credits, with B.C. residents eligible to receive a maximum of $447 for the July 2023 to June 2024 benefit year. There’s also a proposal to increase that figure to $504 for the following 2024-2025 benefit year. To add to this, a March 2023 parliamentary report found 80 per cent of Canadians ultimately get more money back in rebates than they pay in taxes. And that’s not even considering the costs that climate change is estimated to place on Canadians in the future — costs which the tax is designed to offset. According to GHD, a global professional services firm, projected storms, droughts and floods may take a sizable $139 billion chunk out of the country’s economy by 2050.

Encouraging low-carbon choices

This financial incentive is offered in the hopes that Canadians will opt for less carbon-intensive energy choices in the home and on the road. For example, 64 per cent of Canadians have air conditioning — which is a must for keeping homes cool, especially as the temperatures heat up. Yet, the electricity used to power air conditioners generates excessive carbon emissions that make temperatures even warmer overall. Fortunately, air-source heat pumps are a low-carbon alternative that can both heat and cool homes without using so much energy. Energy-star certified models, in particular, use 5 per cent less energy on average compared to regular models. In the summer, these heat pumps push warm indoor air outside to keep interiors comfortable, while in the winter, they take heat from the outside air and circulate it throughout the home.

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Energy-efficient heating and cooling

By switching to air-source heat pumps, Canadians can save energy, slash their carbon footprints and lower energy bills. However, it’s important to choose a heat pump that’s the right size for each home’s individual heating and cooling needs in order to keep energy bills as low as possible. A mechanical contractor can advise on this. Regular maintenance will also keep the unit running smoothly, just as it does with any HVAC system. If air filters are allowed to get clogged up, for example, it becomes harder for the system to push air throughout the home (a problem known as high static pressure). The unit then becomes less energy efficient and energy bills go up. Simply keeping filters and coils clean will keep static pressure under control and improve the unit’s performance and longevity.

Does the carbon tax reduce emissions? Experts say yes

The carbon tax has also been proven to successfully reduce emissions. For example, B.C.’s individual carbon tax was found to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 5-to-15 per cent without impacting overall economic activity in a 2015 study. More recently, the Canadian Climate Institute released new research that shows the carbon tax may also be able to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by over 100 million tonnes per year by 2030 — although just 20 per cent of this reduction will be generated by consumers.

It’s also important to note that critics of the carbon tax have yet to offer up any better ideas on how Canada can successfully reduce its carbon footprint (the country aims to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 40-to-45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030). As Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux said last year, “Anything we do with respect to addressing or trying to curb climate change will have costs. Doing nothing would also have costs.”

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.