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Candidate Q&As: What is your stance on the carbon tax?

In this question-and-answer series, the four St.-Albert-Edmonton candidates will address issues in our community ahead of the Sept. 20 vote.
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The 44th general federal election is well underway with only days left until the Sept. 20 vote. There are four candidates running in the St. Albert-Edmonton riding: Conservative incumbent Michael Cooper, People's Party of Canada Candidates Brigitte Cecelia, Liberal candidate Greg Springate, and New Democratic Party candidate Kathleen Mpulubusi. Each candidate was given a series of questions and up to 100 words to answer each one.

What is your stance on the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (carbon tax)?

New Democratic Party candidate Kathleen Mpulubusi: 

The carbon tax has been an important tool in efforts to reduce emissions. We will continue with carbon pricing while making it fairer and rolling back loopholes the Liberal government has given to big polluters. Carbon pricing will not be enough on its own to tackle the climate crisis. Other measures are needed, such as strict rules to prevent big companies from using the purchase of carbon offsets as a way to escape their climate obligations. The New Democrats will end subsidies to profitable oil and gas companies and redirect the public funds to supporting the transition to renewable energy.

Conservative incumbent Michael Cooper: 

A Conservative government will scrap the carbon tax and replace it with the Personal Low Carbon Savings Account. Canadians would no longer be taxed on everything from home heating to grocery bills. Individual Canadians are best able to apply their money in their savings account to make green lifestyle investments of their choosing that are most beneficial to them.

People's Party of Canada candidate Brigitte Cecelia: 

No Paris Accord. No federal interference in provincial jurisdictions.

Liberal candidate Greg Springate: 

I support it. As an accountant, I know that pollution always has a cost. That’s why the Liberal government made sure it is no longer free to pollute anywhere in Canada. Despite objections from some, our price on pollution is working and is internationally recognized as a model system. Together, we have proven to the world that what people really want is good climate policy, not political obstruction. And we know that a price on pollution can have a strong impact on reducing our emissions.

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