B.C. to eliminate carbon tax increase before April

B.C. says it will repeal the consumer carbon tax, following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s order to remove the requirement Friday afternoon.

The federal government is immediately ending the consumer carbon price and made the change official during Carney’s first cabinet meeting.

Carney says people who have been getting a rebate on the carbon price will get one final payment for the next quarter in April.

He signed an order-in-council to make the change official while cameras were in the cabinet room.

Shortly after, Premier David Eby issued an official statement, saying the province is preparing legislation to repeal the tax in B.C.

“As the federal government removes the requirement that B.C. have a carbon tax in place, we will act quickly so the people of British Columbia don’t feel the pinch when filling their cars or heating their homes,” said Eby.

“As that work is underway, B.C. is also readying legislation to eliminate the scheduled increase to the carbon tax that would otherwise have occurred on April 1, 2025.”

Eby says the province will “continue to ensure that big industrial polluters pay their fair share” by regulating the price on carbon for big emitters.

“Our goal is to incentivize industry to adopt lower-carbon technologies while maintaining their competitiveness.”

He says the tax has been an effective part of the effort to tackle climate change, but British Columbians no longer support it, facing the cost-of-living crisis.

“We will continue our commitments to battle climate change by encouraging industry to innovate and ensuring British Columbians have affordable options to make sustainable choices,” said Eby.