WASHINGOTN, – Alberta Premier Alison Redford is pouring cold water on reports her government already has a dollar amount in mind for an increase to its carbon tax on industry.
Redford is in Washington talking up Alberta’s environmental policies to support the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.
The premier has repeatedly stressed Alberta’s existing $15 per tonne carbon tax on large emitters who don’t meet a 12 per cent intensity reduction target.
And her government has acknowledged in recent weeks that the levy may need to be raised.
Recently leaked reports suggest Alberta could move to a 40 per cent intensity reduction target with penalties of $40 per tonne–a 266% increase.
But Redford says that number is not a “magic bullet” and she warned that no one should presume that will be the final target.