Higgs champions NB shale gas development as a better climate plan than carbon pricing
New Brunswick's alternative to the federal carbon price would be to eventually ship liquid natural gas to Europe as an alternative to coal, Premier Blaine Higgs told a House of Commons committee Thursday.
Higgs, appearing virtually before the House operations committee, said there is a business case for the plan, despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's misgivings about the viability of shipping LNG out of Atlantic Canada.
There is, however, just one problem.
"We don't have a gas supply currently," Higgs said. "And that is the issue."
Higgs is one of three premiers who were invited to voice their opposition to the carbon price at the Conservative-chaired committee after they didn't get a response from the Liberal-controlled finance committee.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe appeared Wednesday, and Higgs and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith spoke back to back Thursday. They are among seven premiers who recently called on Trudeau to cancel the carbon price increase planned for April 1, arguing it costs people too much.
Smith called the carbon price "immoral," "reckless" and "inhumane," accusing the Liberals of freezing out Albertans by making natural gas unaffordable. After April 1, the carbon price will end up being more than twice the base cost of natural gas itself, she claimed.
The Liberals, for their part, say those arguments ignore the government's carbon rebates, which are designed to offset the cost of the carbon price for most families.
The Conservatives and Liberals disagree about the impact of those rebates, though they both both cite the same recent report by the parliamentary budget officer.
That report found that the rebates do indeed exceed the direct carbon price costs being borne by most families — but not once the carbon price's impact on jobs and wages is taken into account.
The Liberals dismiss the latter, arguing there would be an even greater economic cost to ignoring the climate crisis.
When asked about the premiers this week, Trudeau twice accused them of lying to Canadians about the carbon price.
"The facts matter," he said Thursday in Vancouver. "The premiers, conservative premiers specifically, are misleading Canadians."
Earlier this week, Trudeau also wrote to those premiers inviting them to suggest alternatives to the federal carbon price that would achieve the same results.
Higgs told the committee Thursday he had one.
Canadian natural gas shipped to replace dirtier coal in power plants overseas would be more impactful to global emissions than the carbon price, he said. Coal produces more emissions when burned than natural gas.
"So my plea here is across party lines to say let's think bigger," Higgs said.
"Let's look at Canada as a solution to world environmental impact and changes and reductions, as opposed to us being exactly focused on our internal affordability and the costs every day of living."
Higgs has long championed the development of shale gas in New Brunswick. The carbon price is barely going to make a dent in world emissions as long as China continues to build coal plants, he argues.
He said Canada's emissions are a drop in the bucket of global emissions and that shipping cleaner fuels overseas to replace coal would be a more effective strategy.
"In Canada we're thinking in a bubble," said Higgs. "I propose to make a difference worldwide."
A Spanish company last year walked away from a proposal to build a natural gas export terminal in Saint John, citing the high costs of shipping gas, which would have to be sent by pipelines from Western Canada.
If New Brunswick produced its own natural gas, that would not be an issue, Higgs said.
Former Liberal Premier Brian Gallant legislated a moratorium on hydraulic fracking in New Brunswick in 2014. That decision came after violent anti-fracking protests rocked New Brunswick in 2013.
Fracking is a process that pumps large volumes of water and chemicals underground to break apart layers of rock and release pockets of gas trapped inside.
Smith was also pushed by Liberal MPs about her province's decision to increase the provincial gas tax from nine cents to 13 cents a litre, restoring the previous excise tax amount that the province slashed when gas prices were high.
The provincial gas tax is less than the carbon price, she said — on April 1 the price will add another 3.3 cents per litre of gasoline for a total impact of 17.6 cents per litre.
The province's tax builds roads, she added. The carbon price does not.
Ontario Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk noted Smith recently attended an "axe the tax" rally with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Kusmierczyk asked her whether she intends to axe her own gas tax too.
That tax, Kusmierczyk pointed out, does not include a rebate.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2024
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Cybersecurity incident' shuts down London Drugs stores across Western Canada
All 79 locations of pharmacy and retail chain London Drugs were shut down Sunday after it was the victim of a “cybersecurity incident.”
CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting 'vampire facial' procedures at an unlicensed medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles.
Canucks pull off comeback, top Predators 4-3 in OT
Elias Lindholm scored 1:02 into overtime and the Vancouver Canucks came all the way back to beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Aerial photos show wide devastation left by a deadly tornado in China's Guangzhou
Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed wide devastation in part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing five people, injuring dozens others and damaging more than 140 buildings.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Australian prime minister describes domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after protests
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday described domestic violence as a 'national crisis' after thousands rallied around the country against violence toward women.
Casey DeSmith won’t start Game 4 for the Canucks
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday.
Putin likely didn't order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, U.S. official says
U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn't order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.
Local Spotlight
Haida Elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
DonAir force takes over at Oilers playoff games
As if a 4-0 Edmonton Oilers lead in Game 1 of their playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings wasn't good enough, what was announced at Rogers Place during the next TV timeout nearly blew the roof off the downtown arena.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fergus, Ont. man feels nickel-and-dimed for $0.05 property tax bill
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
'I'm committed': Oilers fan skips haircuts for 10 years waiting for Stanley Cup win
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.