Local officials are providing a platform for residents who want to voice their opinions or ask questions about the proposed carbon tax through a town hall meeting.
On Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Bonnyville Seniors Drop-In Centre, residents are encouraged to discuss the tax, ask questions, and learn how it may affect families, businesses and organizations within the community.
Bonnyville-Cold Lake MLA Scott Cyr said he has heard concerns from residents throughout his jurisdiction regarding the carbon tax, and thought a town meeting would be a way of addressing and hearing some of those concerns.
“I am hoping that if there are any ideas or thoughts that need to be portrayed to the Minister of Environment or Minister of Energy that I can bring those thoughts and ideas forward (to them),” Cyr said. “It will really remove a lot of the questions out there and will bring clarity on how this will impact (them).”
Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs said she was approached by Cyr to attend the event, so they, along with MP for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake David Yurdiga, could work together for the residents that they represent.
Stubbs said Cyr has been working on a provincial level to fight the NDP's imposition of a carbon tax on behalf of Albertans, while herself and Yurdiga have been combating the imposition of a federal carbon tax.
“The carbon tax will increase the cost of everything for everybody, and it's concerning because it's also regressive so it will hurt the most vulnerable… and it's particularly imputative and damaging to rural, remote, northern communities,” said Stubbs, adding that communities who rely on energy development will feel an extra hit.
During the meeting, Cyr and Stubbs will discuss how the tax being implemented will affect the community as a whole, and will address concerns shared by the public.
Cyr said by having federal representation at the session, he is hoping they will be able to provide “a bit of a run down on what is going on with the federal carbon tax.”
“That way people will have a better understanding,” he added.
Providing a platform for residents to express their concerns is important, added Stubbs.
“The only real way to hear what everybody is thinking is by holding open houses, so I want to assemble people and be able to hear their thoughts and bring those thoughts back to the legislature,” Cyr continued. “Albertans need to know that their voices are being heard, and the only way to do that is by being out in the community with them, with the actual residents.”
Stubbs said she too has been hearing from businesses, residents and communities within her constituency that they are concerned about the imposition of the tax.
The Lakeland MP is hoping to hear the stories of those impacted by the fee on carbon, whether directly or indirectly, so she can take them back to parliament and continue her fight against the proposed tax.
“I am hoping to learn even more about how this carbon tax is going to increase costs from the people I represent… because I think a real task here is to federally get the liberals to understand, and provincially to get the NDP to understand, how this carbon tax is going to make things so much more difficult.”
In total, there will be three meetings hosted on Nov. 10, one in Cold Lake, another in Bonnyville, and a final one in Glendon.
The Cold Lake meeting will be hosted at the Lakeland Inn from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the Glendon meeting from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Glendon and District Seniors' Society hall.
“We are all just wanting to be able to hear the thoughts of our locals,” said Cyr.