Rocky Mountain House town council has unanimously passed a motion to send a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requesting a carbon tax exemption for municipalities.

The letter was sent to municipal leaders around the Yellowhead constituency by MP Gerald Soroka.

Soroka says a carbon tax carve-out targeted for municipalities is intentional, as he believes the tax levy on municipalities is downloaded on residents.

“Whether it’s going to the local ice arena or any other facility that the Town owns, there’s a cost to heat the building or run the ice plant, and there are more costs to it,” Soroka told 94.5 Rewind Radio News. “These savings could be passed back to the residents if you were able to eliminate the carbon tax.”

The letter, addressed to the prime minister, reads in part:

“As you know, Canada is facing a significant cost-of-living crisis. Many people are simply unable to afford the basic necessities that they would have taken for granted just a few years ago.

“Despite this, the Federal Government increased the carbon tax on April 1st by 23%. We are deeply concerned about the harm this increase will have on the people we serve in our
communities.

“For this reason, I am requesting you create a permanent carve-out for municipal governments in the Carbon Tax before people living in (insert place here) suffer even more.

“By doing so, you will demonstrate your commitment to making Canada a more affordable country for everyone.”

Rocky Mountain House Town Councillor Tina Hutchinson says the carbon tax has had an effect on the Town’s bottom line.

“In our utility bills, we’ve definitely seen an increase. We’ve seen it with public works, fuel, maintenance and operations,” said Hutchinson, on the phone to 94.5 Rewind Radio News. “I don’t think there’s anybody across Alberta that could say the carbon tax has not affected them in some way.”

Soroka adds that, if nothing else, the letter campaign will raise awareness about implications of the levy such as the fact municipalities do not receive a carbon tax rebate like individuals do on their home heating or fuel consumption.

Hutchinson says the Town has adopted some initiatives to offset the carbon cost such as retrofits at the Rocky Regional Recreation Centre which has yielded a decrease in utility costs.

The full letter can be read below: