By Liam Verster

Carbon Price Plan

Warkentin in favour of Conservative’s carbon price plan, but further review needed

Apr 25, 2021 | 6:00 AM

The federal Conservatives have introduced a plan for a $20 per tonne carbon pricing plan, and the Member of Parliament for Grande Prairie – Mackenzie says while he’s generally in favour of the plan, it still needs a closer, more thorough look.

Chris Warkentin says the plan is quite substantial, and he wants to make sure the plan reflects the values of his constituents in the Peace Country.

“I’m going to look at the plan in it’s comprehensiveness and definitely support those measures that reflect the reality of Peace Country residents and make sure that my voice is heard on those issues that I believe could be tweaked or articulated better so that they’ll benefit my constituents and folks that live in the Peace Country.”

Warkentin says the reality of his constituents is that they rely on oil and gas for commuting, especially in the rural areas, and for heating their homes and businesses in the winter.

Along with making sure the plan doesn’t hurt his constituents in this way, Warkentin says he wants to make sure the plan won’t disproportionately hurt more vulnerable Canadians, like low-income families and individuals or seniors on fixed incomes.

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Warkentin also says he wants to make sure the plan doesn’t hinder Alberta or Canada’s industries like oil and gas, agriculture or forestry on the global market.

While he still wants to review the plan further, he does say there are some benefits he sees right away, including the idea of taxing foreign oil that’s brought into Canada at the same rate of which Canadian energy is being taxed.

“I think that we have long said that Canadian energy producers and Canadian energy should not be penalized because it’s been produced here in the province of Alberta or in Canada, and that any competing energy source from around the world should be treated in the same way.”

The proposed Conservative carbon price plan is comprised of policy suggestions, and Warkentin says nothing is set in stone as of yet.

READ MORE: Conservatives plan to introduce $20-per-tonne carbon price in climate plan